Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1888-12-22

I sage's calculating machine could aloen
; have computed them-mere human in
| tellect would have failed. The window
| frames of the houses seemed sprouting
with holly and ''the ivy green" and no
! doubt but mistletoe hung, kiss provok-
ing, within.
Mrs. Green had made every room in
her cottage an anagram of her name, as
it was holly decked everywhere. Nor
was the sacred bough forgotten-''on
the young peoples account" she said,
though Lefty and George had long
ceased to want an excuse for kiss"
George Poynter was waiting the ar
rival of his friend Chauncey Gibbs. 4
glorious fire blazed within the CRATE; the
table was spread to welcome the coming
! guest, for whose delectation a faultless
rumpsteak pie was browning in the oven.
The train, punctual to its time, was
heard screaming into the station close
! by, and in few minutes after the two
| friends were together.
| If you are hungry it is tantalizing to
listen to- the particulars of a dinner you
are not to share; if you are stated, you
are bored by the recapitulation Of dain-
| ties you care not to touch, and therefore
|
meal in peace. Neither will we join
| their after revel when two or three old
| cronies came in and made night of it,
until George and Chauncey sought their
| beds fairly tired out with iollity.
| When breakfast was over the next
morning, and Chauncey found that
| George had excused himself from at
tendance at the timber yard, he said:
II am glad you can give the morning
| to me, as [ have some news for you that
may, perhaps, surprise and annoy you"
''Indeed!' replied George. "What
is it?'
81 would not touch upon it last night,
although think some immediate action
should be taken by you or your friends, ="
continued Chauncey, looking very ser
| ious.
pray speak out, said George.
ooh yes 1 must do that, for I have
no tact, never had, to make an unpleas-
ant matter agreeable. Have you heard
| from your uncle lately:'
eyes, two days ago-principally on
Mr.. Bawk's business, replied George.
my old boy, your uncle never in
tended you any good when he shut you
up in that log house of Bawk's. He put
you there for his own selfish purpose and
nothing else"
"Why do you say that" asked George.
''He has led you to suppose that you
were to be his heir some day, has he
not:"
He has never said that in direct terms;
but he certainly has limited at such pos
sibility."
Then he's an old scamp, if he don't
deserve a harder name" said Chauncey,
humping the table. 1.-TWO days ago he
did his best to disinherit you. You may
stare, but l saw with my own eyes, heard
with my own ears, that old ragamutfin
marry a bouncing woman Of thirty"
MARRY! Uncle Silas marry"
EAST as st. Mary Axe could do it, to
snuffseller's daughter and then
| Chauncev, to the establishment of his
| friend, narrated what we already know
of the wedding at which Mr.. Chauncey
had so officiously assisted.
This is indeed a terrible blow, said
! George, IAN unexpected blow"
| YES: l am afraid, knowing the hands
he has fallen into, that he won't have a
will of his own when few months have
passed." said Chauncey. Il found cut
| how the matter came about Old Silas
was very i'll. and wouldn't have doctor;
but-a Beadle call him-got at him,
and then introduced his daughter as
nurse. They first physicked him nearly
to death, and then brought him round
with bottled porter. They told the old
| fool they saved his life, and he be-
Iieved it; and out of gratitude, and the
| want of a nurse, he proposed to Miss
| High-dried, and married her."
''This hits me harder than you know,
| Chauncey-much harder. Poor Lefty
and | can never hope now
"Oh, nonsenser replied Chauncey.
''Keep your uncle'S secret, as he will if
he can, marry Lefty, and let Mother
| Green storm afterwards"
George shood his head, and then
said:
"Chauncey, you advise that which is
| dishOnOrable."
IAN fair in love, old boy replied
Chauncey, with laugh; 'and if were
YOU, to gain the woman who loves me,
whom love, I'd kill my uncle"
"Great heaven what do you say? But
l see-vou were joking. No; my course
is perfectly clear so far as Mrs. Green
and Lefty are concerned. | go to them
at once, and tell what has taken place.
! If am forbidden to continue my visits
bv Mrs. Green sh0 shall be obeyed.
Lefty, | know, will be always true to me;
and when can make home for her,
can claim her with honor"
'Devilish pretty speech" said Chaun-
| cev," and ali right, have no doubt. |
still say, kill old Silas Cheeseman, and
get married; or, stay-perhapS-
you shall write to him, now that he's
HONEYMOON struck-tell i'm you want
to follow his example, al require ten
| thou and pounds to do it.
| Il understand this nonsense, Chaun-
cev." replied George, with a sad smile.
'Your friendly chaff is well meant; but
my case is very serious. And so good-by
for an hour or two. You will lind me
here after that time"
The road to Mrs. Green's cottage never
seemed so long before to George Poynter
as it did now that he felt his fate. The
happiness, for time at least, of his dar-
ling Lefty depended upon the interview
he was seeking with her mother. He
was not without some justification for
the misgivings which beset him, as Mrs.
Green had more than twice or thrice
casually limited at what mothers course
should be to prevent child marrying
into poverty" Indeed, she had once told
him. when Lefty was not present, how
Glad She was when his uncle's recognition
of him produced such favorable turn in
| n e,.4,,,,oc nc it ba6 cDarnd them