Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser., 1889-03-15
MY WICKED UNCLE.

1t was raining quite had nova
straight, steady downpour. which
scarcely looked like clearing; the sky
above was of that dull. leaden hue,
such as generally precedes much wet
weather. and though scanned it until
my eyes aehed, | could n",. Itch =
glimpse OF the tiniest bit = bl.
had been watching III e"of pass
to aud fro beneath tbe I'D se' ndow
mot by any meansau amusil.s. occu-
patton; anything. howsvcI. g,s- better
than, sceiug nursie knit her I'VE. ssting
sock. or playing with u "e'!-worn
dolls.
was feeling miser..hle utterly
fnliorn as any child could possibly be,
but then. rs nursie said. it was hard
to lnse my dear father so unexpected
". and be left to the tender mercy of
an unknown uncle. Not that I could
remember papa very we'll. he had been
away such q long. long time. ever
: since mamma died; still. used TO hear
from him sometimes, and his letters
never failed to bring happiness to bis
lonely litfle child. - :
s, ....;:...a mx::keek -e,,.r s,s. 80, 70 sss.
crossed my mind. and a few hor Tears
gathered in my eyes. IN another in
slant | should have given way to the
grief weighing so heavily upon my
heart. but the abrupt entrance OF one
of the maids etIectuslly reused me-
Betty" she said exci,edly. laying
her hand on the old woman's shoulder,
Mr.. Richards come"
Nurse gave a little shrek. and lifted
her two hands-sock and all-iu evil
dent terror
Lord bless my soul. Have you
seen him. Susan?'
Yes; and ! don't like. the look Of
him ut ALL" Susan answered emphatic
ally. Il can't think what possessed
master to leave the child to such u
man"
HE always was one of the wild
sort; still he may be kind TO my poor
lamb"
Its great temptation to have en-
tire control of So much money, and no
one TO interfere except Miss Nelly"
Susan went on sagcly.
Poor child-poor child, | only
hope hc will be kind To her. If lie
isn't, I'll" Here nursie paused
aud added in startled tone. Bless
nv soul
Susan turned aud fixed her bright
eyes on mine.
had been attracted by their animat-
ed voices. and creeping from my cold
place. gradually neared them.
Probably my presence disconnected
her. for she bounced somewhat hastily
from the room.
"Nurse. l began TREMENDOUSLY.
''who is Mr.. Richard2"
"Your uncle. Miss Nelly. dear-your
poor fathers own brother"
''ls he going to live here always?"
'Goodness knows; he NAV or lie may
not settle down Christiau-like. instead
of rushing off to furrin parts"
sighed. and dragged my little vel
vet chair from its corner, sat down be-
fore the blazing fire. holding out my
chilled hands 10 the genial warmth.
Nursie. after a rather doleful glance at
me, rescued her knitting from the
kittens clutches. and recommended
work.
dare saw she wondered what made
me so unusually silent. why forget
even to play with Floss; she would
have been still more surprised had she
only guessed the thoughts busy in my
mind-thoughts brought there by her
own rash words.
NV unknown uncle was wicked-of
that | was quite certain, ami perhaps
he would be cruel to me-the fragile
child who stood between him and SO
much wealth.
| had read of such dreadful things
as unnatural uncles doing away with
young children left to their care; there
was the story of two poor princes
smothered in the Tower, which nursie
said was quite, quite true; then, too,
the sad tale of the babes lost in the
wood.
l shuddered, an instructive horror
creeping through my veins. If Uncle
Richard chose to kill me who could
prevent himp Nurse was old and
feeble. and tile other servants were
easily scared. My heart gave "A great
hound when Susan suddenly entered
the room, grim smile on her rosy
face.
Miss Nelly is to go down to the
dinlng-room; Mr.. Lyle desires to see
her" she announced slowly, and each
word fell like death-knell upon my
soul. -
Nursie's trembling hands smoothed
my roughened curls, and united the
big white pinafore.
l was rather small child for nv
nine years, and the new heavy mourn
Ing l now wore made me look smaller
and paler still.
PROBABLY that accounted for the
qn'ck intent glance Uncle Richard
nxed upon me: when went reluctantly
INTO the big dining-room-a glance
1uli OF deadly, double meaning for me,
which made me shiver from head to