The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1890-07-24
gist. "It,s nature, Mr. wood

y
man in light blue stockings and a liner
duster standing at the door of his hack
Ut was Mr.. Dobbs.) Uncle 'Zekil stepped
, out.
"Thunder and lightning?n he heart
the young man say, and the heavens i'm
mediately answered with resoundinl
peal of thunder. Now if there was ont
thing that made uncle 'Zexil nervous i
was thunderstorm.
"What do you mean," he said to hi
, nephew, talking to rascally, swearing
, actor You, sir, stand out of my way,
and uncle 'Zekel slammed the carriage
door in Mr.. Dobb's face and drov'
off.
George settled back in the corner ant
, fixed his eyes resignedly on the curtain
tassel.
Crash bang went the thunder, and LITTLE
dashes of wind, and little dashes of rain
and tongues of lightning came and went
until with a rush the torrents descended
and blotted out the world.
81 hope the poodle is in" unused
uncle 'Zekel. 81 shall speak to your
father, George, about your peculiar con.
duct and the company in which found
you"
As he spoke he produced plaided
neck-scarf from his valise. "Put this
around your neck"
81 shan't,n blurted out George.
"There's some people at your house"
Just then the carriage drew up at uncle
'Zekel's door. 1t stood Hospitality open
and the hall was filled with gayer
assembly than had ever graced its pre-
cincts before. Violins were playing,
there was laughing, exclaiming, a per
feet hubbub in the quiet old place.
"rve saved the lemonade, George"
shouted the Indian. "Ohrn He dropped
the lemonade, punch-bowl and all, upon
the ground.
There was a sudden hush.
Uncle 'Zekel looked about him. "Pray
continue to enjoy yourselves" he said,
huskily, and selecting an umbrella
from the rack he stepped out into the
rain.
"we'd better 60" said one and an
other
'Wait till after the Storm" said Re-
becca, calmly. 'How can we get the
carriages?"
"Send George"
Never! Haven't we sent him once?'
Rebecca burst into tears.
Darling Rebecca,n said the girls.
George, how you make her cry!"
''It was detestable trick, George"
''To bring him in hack!"
"You are smart George" said Ran
dolph, sternly, "but college man would
scorn thing like that.
"You may say it ifyou like hummed
George, as he turned to the back door
There were tears in his eyes. Even Amy
blamed him, and come to think of it lie
was always blamed. He looked blindly
at the ruined decorations of the garden,
at the dripping flags, the salad left out
in the rain, the plates, the forlorn Ian
terms. He heard Mr.. Dobb's voice in the
hall. "a rascally, swearing actor" Mr.:
Dobbs was saying. A three-cOrnered
smile squeezed itself into Georges face.
Mr.. Dobbs was so funny in his drip
ping blue satin, so courageous, so gay,
that had George turned to look at him
lhis anger must have vanished. He
sneaked off down the cellar stairs
and sat down on barrel facing the
poodle.
81 wish l was poodle" sOliloquized
George. mo brothers. No sisters. It's
easy, easy, easy all the time"
The poodle whined.
81 say it is said George. ''It's easy,
easy, easy all the time"
George" said voice from the dark
ness, "come here"
"Oh, crackity!" murmured George,
He found his uncle seated on broken
chair, before the furnace door.
George, there is great change OF
temperature. Ishall light fire."
Eyes, sir!h
"Get the kindlers."
Just then the music struck up ovel
their heads and Mr.. Dobb's voice could
be clearly heard.
'Bow to partners" said Mr.. Dobbs
"First couple forward and back
"There's paper in the ash-barrel," said
uncle 'Zekel. 81 have the matches"
(Ladies to the rightly
"If you were to exchange with th'
poodle, George"
| ("Turn partners"
at would be bad thing, a shirkint
thing"
| c'Gentlemen to the centre.'O
I SIS the actor upstairs?n
"He's Mr.. Dobbs," said George.
| ('Chassee al.m
"Dobbs, Bobbs, Cobbs, he's rascal
sir,n cried excited uncle.
"Say it if you like" said George. III
not true"
After that silence reigued in the cellar
| Above the music ceased, and the soun'
, of carriage wheels was heard as tn
S guests drove away.
'Now, Rebecca, let's find your uncle,
said the same voice that had directed tn
3 dancing.
. George said uncle 'zekil, brinj
r down Mr.. BObbs."
/ George had done many errands tina
day, but here was the worst one.
"Uncle 'Zekers in the cellar, an
e you're to come down." said he withou
looking at Mr.. DObbs.
n Mr.. Dobbs threw his arms gayly abou
: Georges shoulders. mo one goes wit
me but George" he said.
h Soon uncle 'Zekil stood face to fac
!. with the rascally swearing actor.
g "Mr. Wood, it's all my blame" he sal
) lcheerfully. This blaze is something lik,
= I'm drenched."
d "You deserve your death" said uncl
s 'Zekil.
"That's So" assented the young MAJ
8 'But it's not that I've got, Mr.. Wood.
@ He drew a long breath. 81 hope you wi
like me, because your niece, Miss Il
d becca-Oh, it's really true-I am engage
II to your niece"
= Mr.. Dobbs threw his arms about unc
~ I'Zekel in the exuberance of his good fee
IS ing. He might as well have embraced
IS stone.
is "Your profession is that of an actor,
O Judge" said uncle 'Zekel, calmly.
N Mr.. Dobbs laughed. 81 enter the the
m logical school in the fall"
"A minister of the Gospel" Unc
v 'Zekel was aroused for once. /
/. stood up to survey this blue satin youl
ID man.
10 'Eh!"
e For now Rebecca, clad also in bll
nj satin, stood beside Mr.. Dobb.
,e Uncle 'Zekel turned with great sudde
n, ness upon his nephew, George.
George, you may go. YOn are of h
Q. curious adispOsition, sir altogether b
curious"
70 "You may say so If you like
+. hummed George, as he went up q
stairs.
IN This last mental shock had restor,
10 George to his usual philosOphic calm.
M went to have ice-cream with Amy in i
10 own back yard
to "George, hasn't it been queer?' sa
ne Amy.
a. George closed his eyes the better to G
Joy his ice-cream.
at ''It's queer" he said, ''and it's queer
than you think. No, l shan't tell
in --Mdrgdret Neiocomb, In the Sprinaft
Republican.
"Hunger Is the Best Sauce"
lg As a rule, person who has good a
petite has good health. But he
'e' many there are who enjoy nothing to {
and sit down to meals only as an u
u' pleasant duty. Natures antidote
this condition are so happily cOmbin
UT in Hoods Sarsaparilla that it soon
- stores good digestion, creates an apI