The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1890-04-19

tone little. Then you know my bro
Their, Mr.. Whipple Norris, in the city?
He is relative am proud of-worth
half million if he is cent"
II often heard of Mr.. Whipple Norris"
replied the young man frankly; "but ]
owe my introduction to Miss Picnic
Norris to her Uncle William-ah-ah."
The young man suddenly remembered
that he did not know Uncle Bills last
name.
"Her Uncle William!" repeated Mr..
Norris. "Euphemia, does young How
ard allude to your poor mothers unfor-
tunate brother Billf"
Phemie bowed her head.
"Young Howardr' repeated Mr.. Nor
ris. "That person has no authority to
introduce my daughter. Consider your
self stranger to her henceforth."
Picnic looked at Fred. Fred looked
at Picnic.
at is too late, sir, the latter said 81
love your daughter, and have won her
heart. She has promised to be my wife"
Mr.. Norris stared at him, lifted his
eyebrows; stared again through his dou-
BILE eyeglass, and spoke sternly:
81 have one daughter who is a credit
to me. Lord McTab paid great attention
to her last winter. He has written to
ask my consent to their nuptials, which
shall give, and he will return in fall to
be married to her. An English noble
man would hardly like brother-in-
law who makes, perhaps, twenty
dollars a week. My eldest daughter,
Mrs. Timpkins Trotter, has married
gentleman who is esteemed the
wealthiest man in Mineville. My son is
with my brother in New York-a man
fuss about Picnic. l only tell you
this: If she marries you disown her.
You can take her if she chooses. | shall
never give her penny. She may have
her clothes and trinkets and go. If she
obeys me she shall be, married or single,
well provided for. She is plain and UMPIRE
possessing; but 1 know young clergy
man who will attain eminence who only
needs my permission to propose. She
might do very well with proper por-
ton for him. She has thick waist, q
large mouth and ordinary features" con-
tinued Mr.. Norris, turning his eyeglass
on his daughter, "but a clergyman should
not look for beauty"
"She is the prettiest girl know, and
if may earn her bread and butter lean
do it," said Fred Howard. "You give
her to me, sir?'
"No," replied Mr.. Norris. ''She may
give herself to you if she chooses to be a
beggar." asN Is
Then he walked away.
AS Picnic and Fred stood looking at
each other old Uncle Bills head arose
above the shrubbery.
II give my permission" he said, with
more than usual dignity; "and am her
mothers brother. think you will make
her happy, young Fred Howard
The maiden aunt and the sister, who
was to be the bride of an Englishman,
led Phemie sad life of it for while;
but one morning she walked out of her
home in her simple church going cos
tune, and was married in the little chapel
of st. John. Old Uncle Bill, in his old
fashioned broadcloth suit, went with
them, and gave the bride away. Mrs.
Howard was there, and school friend
of Phemie's, and fellow clerk of Freds.
None of the Norris family. And after
the wedding they were to go upon a
little trip. Phemie's trunks had been
sent to Fred's mothers little house. The
bride was not as happy as she might
have been under other circumstances,
but at home no one had ever loved or
considered her since her mothers death;
and Fred loved her, and she loved him.
Her only trouble was that she must
leave old Uncle Bill.
'That is hard, the old man said, Every
l.ard, Pi.e..ai~.,'@-...3 sl.s,. E.sa lesll e>-t
his hand.
"Uncle Bill" he said, 1--WE shall live in
very plain way, but if you will live
with us we will do our best to make you
happy and shall be happy ourselves"
"Will you be SO, boyY' cried Uncle
Bill. ga poor old man like mech! re-
allyn
"Really!' cried Phemie, dancing with
joy.
"Really and truly, heaven knowsp
And Fred graspcd his hand and shook
it. "You brought us together, Uncle
Bill" he said
sits lucky" answered Uncle Bill, 'sfor
Brother-in-law Norris has turned me out
of his house for aiding and abetting you
told me that might be town poor if 1
liked. didn't, but I just said: Very
well; I'll co."
"rll get your things and take them to
mothers" said Fred. "You'll be COM
pany for her while we're gone; after
that, one home for all of u.s."
Then the old man looked at them with
smile; looked at Mrs. Howard with
another, and laughed his sweet, good
natured laugh.
you're two good, honest, generous
children" he said. "And you're Fred's
mother, ma'am. But I've an explana-
ton to make. Five years ago my sister
Susan heard that was sick and at a
hospital, and took me to her house. She
nursed me back to tolerable health, and
was very good to me. Then, sweet
angel, she died. She thought that being
in hospital meant poverty. was pay
ing fifty dollars week there. have
fortune that even Mr.. Norris would
respect, but seeing what he was, took
fancy that I'd find out what his chill
dren were. / have. I've lived about the
place as old Uncle Bill, poor relation.
l wasn't wanted, even at table. I was
despised by all but Picnic. She, dear
little soul, has been a daughter to me.
told now Sister Susan the truth on her
death bed, and promised to do my best
by this sweet girl; and my money has
been growing under good care for five
years. Why, had been the beggar they
thought me, I'd have gone to an aims
house rather than eat Norris bread all
these years. AS it was, I enjoyed the
joke. To think how he would have re-
spected me if he had known the truth.
How he scorned me for being poor, when
/ was wealthy man; but let all that
pass; we are happy together and what
need we carer"
There was great excitement at the Nor
ris mansion when the news reached its
inhabitants, and Mr.. Norris sent formal
forgiveness to his daughter.
She was good girl and felt glad that
this was so, but she only began to know
what real happiness was in the home
where she and those who truly loved her
lived contentedly together for many long
and pleasant years.
West African Spiritual Beliefs.
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