Evening journal., 1889-11-14
TIE UNCLE FROM ABROAD.


postponed, if not entirely prevented, the
marriage of her daughter, besides cutting
short the studies of her second son, who was
obliged to come home at once and seek for
work. But in the midst of the anxieties Of
the poor family an unexpected ray of hope
appeared.
A letter was received from Bruno Mm
vaire the widows hrother-in-law, who had
left home us a sailor twenty years before. He
wrote from Dieppe, which was but few
miles away, and said that he had just come
from America with all his worldly goods, and
intended Immediately TO visit Ormondville,
his native place At that time it was not
very unusual to see at Dieppe merchants,
whose ships crowded the halbor, and who
had left home years before, in the dress of
common sailors, and the sight Of these fortu.
nate ones was a constant source of encourage.
ment to the ambitious, and Of hope to the
pennilass. The unexpected news Of their un.
Gle from America, therefore, gave rise to the
most delightful conjectures in the Mauvaire
family, for although he did not state the ex-
act amount OF his fortune, it was easy to see
from the jovial tone of his letter that he was
a man of wealth and prosperity. Once start
ed, imagination ran riot, eeeh one adding
Something to the arst supposition.
Perhaps If he had come before my poor
pidier need not have worked SO hard, . sighed
the widow.
Julienne, her goddaughter, who helped with
the hehousework, replied quickly, But there are
his children to be provided for. and besides
the rich uncle viii no doubt see TO it that
Miss Clemenee has a rich marriage dowryn
"That would be no use now, said the young
girl, shaking her head hopelcssly
mo useln repeated Julienne. "Isitnot for
the want Of dowry that MIR. Marks parents
have refused their consent to his marriage
and sent him of to seal Your uncle has but
to say the word and the young man viii soon
come back again.
perhaps he does not want to come back, p
said Clemence in a low tone, and turned away.
But her brother, thinking less of the man
than of the marriage, added consolingly: III
he does not another win. You may be sure,
sister, that pretty girl with an uncle from
| America need never want for a husband.
| Very likely be win bring young friend with
him, some millionaire that he has chosen for
a nephew
II hope he viii do nothing Of the kind, y
cried Clemence in dismay. II am in no
hurry to get married.
"What is most urgent is to find good posi-
llOn iuf gous sdlu bhe MiuOM III an
anxious tone to her son.
"The count has almost promised me the
overseer's place, said the young man
His mother answered: "But he seems to be
in no hurry That is always the way with
the rich. They think only Of their own pleas
ures, and when at last they happen TO remem-
Der the bit Of bread promised to a fellow
creature the poor man has starved to death. y
ftIfnrla uftll nf
| Martin. 1.-THE letter says, j shall be in Or
| mondville tomorrow with all my worldly
/ goods He will soon be here.n
"Clemence, is everything readyT' asked the
mother, bustlihg about
For answer her daughter opened the pantry
/ and showed the well filled shelves. Near to
a rosst leg Of lamb was huge ham, flanlled
Il by two dishes Of wheat cakes and bowl OF
sweet cream, while several jugs Of cider and
a butter tart completed bill Of fare which
| made the children exclaim in delight The
widow had taken from her linen chest her
best tablecloth, which had grown yellow
through want Of use, and Julienne now hast
ened to set the table, putting in the place oi
honor the only silver spoon. just then one
Of the children who had been watching out
side rushed into the house exclaiming; "Her'
he is; here he isn
"Who is itgn asked the others
"Uncle Bruno, of courseln answered q
CHEEKY voice, and there appeared in the door
way an old, bearded sailor, holding in on
hand a small bundle and on his other wrist
green parrot, while on his shoulder perchee
monkey. The younger children in ahrigh
ran behind their grandmotheris chair anS
the grown persons gazed at the newcomer il
| dismayed silence
''You need not be afraid Of my menagerie
said the sailor, laughing. sCome and kis
| me, children, for have Travelled three thou
sand leagues 20 have that pleasure.
Martin Mauvaire was the first 10 recove
himself sufficiently TO greet his relation; the
Clemence, her mother and the eldest OF th
children followed his example, but nothin
could induce the three little ones TO stir.
"My faithi / thought ] would never b
here, said the uncle; lit is long walk fror
Dieppen
His nephew glanced down and saw that tn
travellers boots were covered with mud.
"Do you mean to say that you walked a
the wayF' he cried.
Indeed, / did. Do you think I could sa
across the feldsln
"But-your baggagegn
Il have my baggage on me-"
81 beg your pardon, uncle, but we though
, from your letter that you wouldn-
! That would come in a three decker, m
boyf'
/, 'sNo," replied Martin, forcing laugh, "br
!. with your trunks for a long stay
! "Mes TrunksN
! "xes; you said you would bring all yor
I goods
"And have brought them-my parrot an
my monkey
"ls that allg'
"Al excepting my bundle, and there
nothing in this but some heelless socks al
old shirts But what does it matter, as Ion
as ones conscience and digestion are goo
Excuse me, sister-in-law, but / see cider
your pantry, and ] am thirsty after my wal
Come, Rochambeau, say how-do 70 your 7
lationsn
He made sign TO the monkey, who leap'
r from his shoulder and turned three some
o saults across the room, then sat up, GRIMM
u and scratching his hesd. HIS master tn
seated himself at the table and, with CLAN
e at the half open pantry, declared that be W
e nearly famished. There was nothing TO
4 done but 70 set before him the ham and {
= cider which he ha,. seen, but Mime. AsaYa!