Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1890-05-10
Uncle Arches Wife.
CHAPTER /.

A1AI i EN- 4.
s'You will come to Mrs. MarshalIs
this afternoon, mother? Oh, yes, it
will do you good to make the little
efortl You have grown quite pale
through shutting yourself in the house
so long,
My mother shook her head at this
appeal, as she had shaken it at so
many similar appeals of mine within
the past few days; but this time I
thought saw signs OF yielding. Ger
tainly she looked longingly over our
pretty front garden and on to the sun
ny high-road.
II suppose you are right, and I
ought to make the effort, Irene, my
dear she said, with a disconsolate
sigh; .'but l would rather hide my
self away till have somewhat recov-
cred from this cruel shock. However,
though your uncle Archie has not used
us well, have no wish to be unkind
90 him or Mrs. Gerard; and, if we
shut ourselves up, people, l suppose,
would talk.
They will do that in any case,
mother. do rot suppose the Lud-
leigh folks have discussed anything
for the past ten days but the Squire's
extraordinary marriage; but Of course
it rests with us to give the gossip a
good or i'll natured turn"
Then we will direct it into the
right channel at once" answered
mother, with quick flush, and am
sure the consciousness of acting mag
unanimously more than half consoled
her for the effort she was making and
the disappointment she had endured.
Poor mother, she needed some con-
ISOLATION badly; for, though she had
as matter OF fact, no real reason to
complain of actual injustice, she had
been startled out OF a pleasant sense
of security lately, and, as she observ-
ed, made to look downright ridicu-
lous in the eyes of all her friends y
Uncle Archie-or Archibald Gerrad,
Esq. OF Ludleigh Hall to give him his
more digniied title-was my fathers
eldest brother, and had been looked
upon as a confirmed old batchelor-so
my mother pathetically informed me
before was bora. When l had
reached the mature age OF nineteen he
was bachelor still, with
apparently as little idea OF
entering the holy estate OF
matrimony as 1 had of entering a con-
Vent-which was not very likely to
do, for became engaged to Dick Mar
tineau just then.
Uncle Archie brought US to Lud-
leigh after my fathers death, and es-
tablished US, not, as mother rather ex-
pected he would, at the Hall, but at
the pretty, old red-brick Queen Ann
house in the High street, that had
been tenanted by unmarried and
widowed Gerrards for many genera
tons.
''You will be more comfortable than
at the Hall, Gertrude" he said, in the
grave, kind, courteous way that was
natural TO the stately old gentleman;
land we can see as much OF one an.
other as we please. / should like TO
have Walters little girl brought up
under my own eyes; and yet am toe
much OF an old bachelor and absentee
to have the Hall arranged for ladies
occupation now"
/ was eight years old then, but
remember that scene Of our home
coming so well-how perched on my
uncle's knee and asked, with all the
pert boldness Of spoilt child
''Why don't you like ladies at the
Hall, Uncle Archie? Aren't there any
pretty things for them to see therePr
VERY pretty things, Irene"
"'And must not / see them some day
;soong" asked anxiously, and Uncle
Archie smiled and patted my head.
'tAssuredly you shall, little girl, as
soon as your mother likes to bring
you. No one has so much right tC
see them-no one shall take so much
interest in the pretty things at Lud
leigh Hall as you"
The last words were spoken more
.grayely, and, fancy now, more II
himself than to me; but naturally
only understood the superficial mean
ing Of words then, and my juvenile
curiosity was aroused.
"Why?" / asked earnestly-"be
cause am good little girl, Uncle
ArchiePp
because you are my niece and the
last OF the Gerrards,p he answered
with such heavy sigh that mother
who had been sitting in the comforta.
BILE chimney-corner warming her slim
white hands and listening to our con
versation with an expression OF inf
mite content on her face. suddenly in
teriered, and, calling me to her, tol'