News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1890-04-24

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The young man blushed, but answered
'But have, sir-by MY friend, her un
cle."
"Oh!" replied Mr. Norris, lowering hi:
tone little. "Then you know my bro
ther, E[r. Whipple Norris, in the city
He is a relative l am proud of-wortl
half a million if he is cent"
II often heard of Mr.. Whipple Norris,
replied the young man frankly; ''but
owe my introduction to Miss Phemie
Norris to her Uncle William-ah-ah.'
The young man suddenly remembered
that he did not know Uncle Bills last
| name.
"Her Uncle Williamr repeated Mr..
Norris. "Euphemia, does young How
| ard allude to your poor mothers unfor-
tunate brother Bill?"
Phemie bowed her head.
Young Howard!' repeated Mr. Nor
ris. THAT person has no authority to
introduce my daughter. Consider your
self a stranger to her henceforth."
Phemie looked at Fred. Fred looked
at Phcmie.
cit 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-
bic eyeglass, and spoke sternly:
Il have one daughter who is 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 a brother-in-
law who makes, perhaps, twenty
dollars a week. My eldest daughter,
Mrs. Timpkins Trotter, has married
a gentleman who is esteemed the
wealthiest man in Mineville. Ny son is
with my brother in New York-a man /
am proud of. Now l shall never make
a fuss about Phemie. 1 only tell you
this: If she marries you 1 disown her.
You can take her if she chooses. / shall
never give her penny. She may have
her clothes and trinllets and go. If she
obeys me she shall be, married or single,
we'll provided for. She is plain and unpre-
possessing; but 1 know a young clergy
man who will attain eminence who only
needs my permission to propose She
might do very well with a proper por
tion for him. She has a thick waist, a
barge mouth and,ordinsry features. con-
tinued Mr.. Norris, turning his eyeglass
on his daughter, but q clergyman should
not look for beauty"
''She is the prettiest girl 1 know, and
if l may earn her bread and butter | can
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
beggar."
Then he walked away.
As Phemie and Fred stood looking at
each other old Uncle Bills head arose
above the shrubbery.
81 give my permission" he said, with
more than usual dignity; ''and l 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 a 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 a school friend
of Phemie's, and fellow clerk of Fred's.
None of the Norris family. And after
the wedding they were to go upon a
little trip. Phemies trunks had been
sent to Fred's mothers little house. The
bride was not as happy as she might
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
hard, Phemie." And then Fred held out
his hand.
"UncIe Bill he said, "we shall live in
a very plain way, but if you will live
with us we will do our best to make you
happy and shall be happy ourselves"
"Win you be SO, boy?' cried Uncle
Bill. ga poor old man like mech! re-
slly?"
'"Reany!' cried Phemie, dancing with
joy. -,
) "ReaIly and truly, heaven knowsr'
And Fred grasped his hand and shook
it. ''You brought us together, Uncle
BILL" he said.
Its lucky" answered Uncle Bill, ''for
| Brother-in-law Norris has turned me out
of his house for aiding and abetting you
told me that l might be town poor if
liked. didn't, but l just said: Very
well; I'll CO."
''Pll get your things and take them tc
mothers" said Fred. you'll be com
pany for her while we're gone; after
that, one home for all of us"
Then the old man looked at them witt
smile; looked at Mrs. Howard with
another, and laughed his sweet, goof
natured laugh. '''
you're two good, honest, generous
children" he said, "And you're Fredi
mother, maam. But I've an eXplana
ton to make. Five years ago my sistel
Susan heard that l was sick and at {
hospital, and took me to her house. Sht
nursed me back to tolerable health, anC
was very good to me. Then, swee
angel, she died. She thought that being
In hospital meant poverty. l was pay
ing fifty dollars week there. 1 hav
a fortune that even Mr.. Norris woulC
respect, but seeing what he was, tool
a fancy that I'd find out what his chill
dren were. have. I've lived about tn
place as old Uncle Bill, a poor relation
l wasn't wanted, even at table. | wa
despised by all but Phemie. She, dea
little soul, has been g daughter to me
l told now Sister Susan the truth on he
death bed, and promised to do my bes
by this sweet girl; and my money ha
been growing under good care for fiv
years. Why, had l been the beggar the
thought me, I'd have gone to an aims
house rather than eat Norris bread al
these years. As it was, / enjoyed tn
] joke. To think how he would have re
!, spected me if he had known the truth
] How he scorned me for being poor, whe
| was wealthy man; but let all tina
! pass; we are happy together and wha
need we careY
) There was great excitement at the MOI
> ris mansion when the news reached il