The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1889-09-26
UNCLE PHILO.


Sanford, in tone of CONSERVATION, star.
ing at the signature of the letter she
held.
"By Jovel" her brother John ejsculAt-
ed and emitted q long whistle, express
sive Of deep astonishment.
whats upr said John Barry, from
the doorway.
John was not one Of the houshold, but
being engaged to Jenny, he was nearly
always on hand.
"He's coming" said Jenny, sinking
into a chair despsiringly.
"Oh, by Jove ~ said Tom again, with
q Mortified intonation.
"You don't seems fond of him" John
observed.
"Fond of him" Jenny repeated. "We
detest him | Haven't we ever told you
about him He's the bane OF our lives.
You know when grandfather died, he
left most of his property to father-tbis
house among the rest. To Uncle Philo
The lives away off in Dalton; Tom and l
have never seen him) to Uncle Philo,
who is worth, nobody knows how much
father SAYS ne is the richest man in
the country-he left only a thousand
dollars, just a memento. OF course he
| WAS OuCl6 uiuh hCC0 bhO
money and father did. But Uncle Philo
WASH I satisfied" Jenny's eyes burned
with indignation. "He wouldn't touch
the thousand dollars; he wouldn't even
come 10 poor grandfather's funeral, he
declared he was gong to contest the
will Why he didn't was mystery to
US. Father says he is dreadfully de.
termined man. But this explains it.
Y IAN rrtNtN
ing lips. "Hes simply been taking his
time about it, and settling his affairs so
he can leave them safely; and now he is
coming out here--he states it boldly-to
look at the place, and see whether it will
be worth his while to contest the will.
He's a wretch ~
Jenny's feelings overpowered her.
She pulled dainty handkerchief from
her pocket and sobbed into it-Tom and
her fiance looking on compassionstely.
She was not given to such outbursts-
she, who had been dignified little wo'
man ever since she was fourteen, filling
her dead mothers place with absolute
perfection.
I'm glad poor fathers away" she
said at last, raising her blonde head.
He'd be dreadfully worried"
"It's a plagued shame !" said John,
energetirally-restraining desire to use
stronger adjective.
"I'll thrash him within an inch of bis
life If he comes here :" Tom declared.
"No; wait" he added, with something
of grin-"I'll introduce him to Mr..
Dobbin. That will settle him !!
"Mr. Dobbin ?" said Jenny.
"He's a man that's selling lightning.
rods in town." Tom explained, HE
buttonholed me yesterday, and got an
order out of me before l knew it. He's
got the longest tongue of any man ever
saw. You can't get away from him. III
present our beloved Uncle Philo, and he
will go back to Dalton on the next train
Dobhin's coming this afternoon to put
up the rods, Jenny. Don't get him
started to talk, warn you"
Jenny smiled through her tears.
you'll stay to dinner, John Z" she
said more cheerfully, and vanished into
the kitchen.
50 absorbing was the preparation oI
dinner, so entire her success-Jenny wal
born cook-and 80 gratifying were thu
praises which Tom and her future lore
had showered upon 1t, that Uncle Phil(
and the danger which threatened then
we're almost forgotten.
But as she stood IN the doorway ano
watched their departure together-Ton
and his prospective brother-in law wer'
cl, rks in the same office-she felt her IN
dignation returning,
How contemplate, in the hardness o.
his mercensry heart. and the meaunesI
of his motives, was this man who pro
p,sei to rob them of their home
He, with his houses and his lands, hi
stocks and his bonds; while her father
struggle through life had always been
hard one, and her grandfathers beques
had been unspeakably welcome to him
Was not the difference great enough
now
Jenny went back to her dishes, will
one small hand unconsciously clenched
She was putting the last bright pol
= ished glass in the cupboard, when Their
came knock at the kitchen door.
1t was loud, aggressive sort OF
4 knock, and Jenny went to answer !
timidly.
What she saw treasured her-merel.
a small man, with thin, ,grayish hair ant
bright little eyes, and carpet-bag a6ou
4 as big as himself.
1 He looked up into her pretty blond
face with sort of astonished admiration
4 and came in without being invited.
4 II don't want to buy anything" SAT-
/ Jenny, with suspicious glance at tn
/ carpet-bag. "Oh |" as sudden recol
/ lection of Toms words came into he
] mind, you're the lightniDgrod man
4 Mr.-Mr. Dobbins Take a seat"
The little man sat down in silence
/ with no diminution Of the admiration II
| his sharp eyes.
Jenny sat down, too, wondering a liz
/ tie at Mr., Dobbin's reserve.
4 1t did not agree with Toms descrip
! ton of him but Tom was slightly givel
| to exaggeration.
you'll want ladder, / suppose !?
/ said Jenny encouragingly.
Mr.. Dobbin was evidently bashful.
"But where are the rods ?"
1 Mr.. Dobbin smiled a little, an
Il coughed uneaslly.
He was overcome with timidity an,
embarrassment, evidently.
Jenny's soft heart was melted witt
s pity.
n Il was relieved to find it was you,
she said, pleasantly, with desperate de
sire to put him at his ease-whom l an
not anxious to see."
Y "Indeed ?" said Mr.. Dobbin, hndinI
8 his voice at last.
Il His tone betrayed so much interest
and bright eyes, fixed spprovingly OF
her face, shown with such frlendl
curiosity, that Jenny felt sudden lik
ing for the little man, and an impulsiv
y desire to pour her troubles into his sym
nathizinp ear
: "It is my uncle,' she said with he
, prettIest pout. "And abominate him
! I'm very unnatural, am mott" and sh
: laughed.
The lightning rod man did not respond
\ but he betrayed sudden increase Of in
terest.
Il "I'm unnatural" Jenny repeated
Y "But don't believe an angel could fee
any other way in this case"
Mr.. Dobbin coughed again, and woun,
one Of his short legs around the round
OF his chair,
"Might inquire ?" he said, mildly
"what this case is I"
\ ut is the most dreadful you could i'm
! agine p said Jenny, impressively.
/ And, with an uneasy CONSCIOUSNESS
that aha otIOhl not tn cOnfide il to