The Forrest City times., 1890-05-10
Uncle Archie's Wife.
CHAPTER I.

CHAPTER I.
 "You will come to Mrs. Marshall's s this afternoon, mother? Oh, yes, it will do you good to make the little effort! 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 thought l saw signs of yielding. Ger tainly she looked longingly over our pretty front garden and on to the sum- ny highsroad.
 'I suppose you are right, and 1 ought to make the effort, Irene, my dear" she said, with dis eonsolate sigh; but 1 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 to him or Mrs. Gerard; and. if we shut ourselves up, people, l suppose, would talk.
 'sThey will do that in any case, mother. do not suppose the Lud- leigh folks have discussed anything for the past ten days but the Squire $ extraordinary marriage; but of course 1t rests with us to give the gossip u good or ill natured turn"
 ..Then we will direct it into the right channel at once" answered mother, with quick flush, and 1 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. solation badly; for, though she had as matter of fact, no real reason to complain of actual injustice, she had been startled out Of pleasant sense of security lately, and. as she observ- cd, made to look downright ridicu- ious in the eyes of all her friends y Uncle Archie-.-or Archibald Conrad, Esq. of Ludlelgh Hall to give him his more dignifed title-was my fathers ~ eldest brother, and had been looked upon as confirmed old batchelor--so my mother pathetieally informed me --before l was born. When l had reached the mature age of nineteen he was bachelor still, with apparently us little idea oi entering the holy estate ol matrimony as had of entering con- vent--which l was not very likely to do, for l became engaged to Dick Mar tineau just then.
 Uncle Archie brought us to l.ud- leigh after my fathers death. and es- abolished 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 iions
 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; ''and we can see us much of one an other as we please. should like to have Walters little girl brought up under my own eyes; and yet l am too much of an old bachelor aud absentee to have the Hall arranged for ladies occupation now"
 l WAS eight years old then, but l remember that scene of our home coming so we'll how l perched on my uncle's knee and asked. with all the pert boldness of spoilt child d-
 Why don't you like ladies at the Hall, Uncle Archie9 Aren't there any pretty things for them to see therep'
 Very pretty things, Irene"
 And must not l see them some day soonp' l asked anxiously. and Uncle Archie smiled and patted my head.
 ''Assuredly you shall, little girl us soon as your mother likes to bring you. No one has so much right to 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 gravely. and, l fancy now, more to himself than to mo, but naturally l only understood the superficial mean ing of words then, and my juvenile curiosity was aroused.
 '.Why?N I asked earnestly---..be- cause l nm good little girl. Uncle Archiepn
 ''Because you are my niece and the Inst of the Gerrards," he answered. with such heavy sigh that mother who had been sitting in the comforta blc chimney-corner warming her slim white hands and listening to onr con vcrsation with an expression of inf nite content on her face. suddenly ia- terfered. and. calling me to her. told me, with unusual sharpness. not to tease my uncle any more.
 ''She does not tease mo. Gertrude; and she may us we'll grow up to un- derstand her responsibilities. said Uncle Archie simply. .sAs told poor Walter, I wish he had left son to succeed us both; but. us it Is. sup pose some day little Irene will be the lady of the Hall."
 My mother wiped away the tears that had risen in her eyes at tho men, tion of her dead husbands name, and essayod n polite and plaintive protest against this speech.
 "You may marry ono day yourself, dear Archibald. and leave sons oI your own to succeed you" she said
 But Uncle Archie waved tho protest sternly aside; apd, for the first and last time in my remembrance. an swered my pretty. gentle, and con- ciliatory mother with harsh abrupt. ness
 "l shall nevcr marry, Gertrude, Do not make such suggestion againr' he exclaimed angrily; whereupon mother apologized with tears in her eyes, and promised never to repeat the offence.
 From that time forward it came to be understood, not only between