The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1889-11-16

| JnlnK.
''If you don't mind, think I'd like
to come in and see my aunt" | replied.
Mothers out" said the slattersly
girl; but I'll step up and ask the old
gentleman.
She didn't let me in though; she left
me waiting on the doorstep, and she
left the door upon the chain. She
wasn't gone long; and when she re-
turned she opened the door slowly
enough. and, ushering me into little
front palor, she said: "Will you please
to take chair, and Mr.. Worleybone
will see you in minute or two"
| did as | was bid. | sat down and /
waited. The houses in the Araminta
terrace are little two-story dwellings,
masterpieces Of the Jerry-builder' art.
l could hear great running about on
the floor above and the trampling of
heavy footsteps, which, if l hadn't
known that Mrs. Worleybone was out,
| should have taken for those of my
aunt, the horse grenadier.
Twill you step up, please" said the
slatternly girl as she flung the door
open; and | followed her to the first
floor front, my uncle's bedroom.
AS entered the room. l detected a
strong odor of spirits. The Venetian
blinds were drawn down, and, in adj
dition, there were heavy curtains to
the window, which made the room I'M
pleasantly dark.
II hope find you we'll, Uncle John"
I said, walking towards the bed; and a
| husky voice answered me from the
pillows.
81 amt long for this world, Joseph.
| Please to take a chair"
Now, for the last ten years l knew
perfectly well 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 l 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 tapped cap.
my sisters sent their duty and re-
spects, sir,' l said.
And then my uncle gave a short
grunt.
Don't you find the room a little
dark, Uncle john" remarked.
'It's 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 was to have forgotten
my uncle's weakness of vision.
Then there was a long silence, which
was broken by my Uncle John.
'You amt thinking of marrying,
Joseph, are you?" said my uncle.
"Why, bless me, no, uncle" l re-
piled. "Tve only thirty shillings
week, and there are four of us"
"But if she was heiress, Joseph?"
croaked my uncle.
I'm open to an heiress," l replied.
"That was likely girl that opened
the door to you, Nephew Joseph" said
my Uncle John. Pm very fond of
that likely girl" he went on, land
she's heiress," added my uncle mys-
teriously, land she's sort of a girl
as 'ud make any young man happy"
didn't quite see myself how the
slatternly girl was calculated to make
any young man happy, but l remem-
bered that she was my uncle's step
daughter; so remarked namely,
"She's a 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 cant afford to take girls to the
Crystal Palace on thirty shillings a
week"
"But suppose l was to stand SAM"
said my uncle. Joseph" continued
my uncle mysteriously, "she's putin
or her Sunday clothes. You wait till
you see her when she's dressed"
Here was horrible situation. My
uncle was about to propose that /
/ should take the slatternly girl to the
Crystal Palace in her Sunday clothes,
and all the time 1 was engaged to
Sophia, but l 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, I'll have three hundred
! golden sufferings the day she marries.
and I've 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 whom 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.
I