The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1889-11-16

| Couiu iled' u BTedb Tunulup dUOub VI
the floor above and the trampling OF
heavy footsteps, which, If / hadn't
known that Mrs. Worleybone was out
| should have taken for those of my
aunt the horse grenadier.
"Will you step up, please" said the
slatternly girl as she flung the door
open; and l followed her to the first
floor front, my uncle's bedroom.
AS l entered the room, detected q
strong odor of spirits. The Venetian
blinds were drawn down, and, in ad.
dtion, there were heavy curtains to
the window, which made the room un.
pleasantly dark.
II hope find you we'll, Uncle John, "
1 said, walking towards the bed; and a
husky voice answered me from the
pillows.
81 amt long for this world, Joseph.
Please to take chair"
Now, for the last ten years | knew
perfectly we'll that my Uncle John had
been in the habit of replying to my
fathers's inquiries after his health in
these very words. AT first / hadn't
been able to see my Uncle John, but as
my eyes grew accustomed to the dim
religious light of my uncle's bedroom,
l perceived that my Uncle John was
as my father had described him, ven-
cradle old man, all white hair and
spectacles, wearing a tapped cap.
MY sisters sent their duty and re-
spects, SIR said.
And then my uncle gave a short
grunt.
Don't you find the room a little
dark, Uncle john" remarked.
"Its on accout of my poor eyes," re-
piled my Uncle John in the hoarse
whisper that seemed natural with him,
"that's why I'm forced to wear these
green spectacles, he said.
How stupid l was to have forgotten
my uncle's weakness of vision.
Then there was long silence, which
was broken by my Uncle John.
"You amt thinking of marrying,
Joseph, are youP" said my uncle.
"Why, bless me, no, uncle" l re-
piled. w've only thirty shillings a
week, and there are four of u.s."
But if she was heiress, Joseph?"
croaked my uncle.
I'm open to an heiress," l replied.
THAT was a likely girl that opened
the door to you, Nephew Joseph" said
my Uncle John. I'm very fond of
that likely girl" he went on, land
she's heiress," added my uncle mys-
teriously, land she's a sort of girl
as 'ud make any young man happy"
l didn't quite see myself how the
slatternly girl was calculated to make
any young man happy, but / remem-
bered that she was my uncle's step
daughter; so | remarked namely, |
"She's spanking young woman. SIR"
"She's all that, nephew" croaked |
out my uncle. "She's the very image |
of her blessed mother, and look how
happy that woman has made me. Don't
you think you'd like to walk out with
her, Nephew Joseph? Don'tyou think
you'd like to take her to the Crystal |
Palace?" said the tempter, my uncle.
Zone can afford to take girls to the
Crystal Palace on thirty shillings a
week"
"But suppose was to stand Sam,"
said my uncle. Joseph" continued
my uncle mysteriously, "she's a putin
on her Sunday clothes. You wait till
you see her when she's dressed"
Here was horrible situation. My
IN hat I
should take the slatternly girl to the
Crystal Palace in her Sunday clothes,
and all the time L was engaged to
Sophia, but didn't dare to say any
thing about Sophia to my Uncle John.
That likely girl that's dressin'
herself up for you, Nephew Joseph, in
the next room, ii have three hundred
golden sufferings the day she marries,
and Eve been saving her up for you,
Nephew Joseph, ever since my we'd
ding day. There's f5 note on the
mantel for you, Joseph, and there's a
suffering inside. Take her to the pal
ace, nephew, and let me hear you've
squared it between you when you bring
her home. Don't you spare expense,
Joseph; treat her to swings and merry
go-rounds, take her on the switchback
railway; and mind you travel fust-
class, Joseph, there's nothing fetches
a young girl like travelling fust-class.
[ was young once myself, Joseph
added my uncle with sigh. "She's
real high-stepper is Polly" GssssH
There was nothing else for it; had
% express my delight; and as / did so
he real high-stepper entered the
'oom. l should't have known her.
She was appalling--that's the only
word for it.
"She's a blessed angel" said my
lncle with enthusiasm, and the very
mage of her dear mother. Heaven
bless you, my children! Don't be later
han nine, Joseph. Goodbye, chill
lren," he said. And then and the
'eal high-stepper started for the Crys-
,al Palace.
/ draw a veil over my sufferings at
hat place of amusement Polly clung
% my arm till | felt as if we were
,iamese twins; and she made warm
owe to me upon the switchback rail-
way.
You're the first young man I've
aver walked out with" she said to me
ngenuously while the fireworks were
yoing on. / was no philanderer, and