The morning call., 1891-02-09
THE GENERALS NEPHEW
BY FLORENCE Enrol.
CHAPTER

BY FLORENCE Enrol.
CHAPTER l.
General Temple was walking backward
and forward in the trim garden that Law
around his charming and quaint house.
His tall martial figure cast black shadow
on the turf; his head was slightly bent. his
bands loosely clasped across his back. His
whole air proclaimed that he was lost in
thought; obliyious to all save the one thing
that was engrossing his mind; even forget
full for the time being of what he loved best
in the world-his PRIDE his pet, his hobby
lovely Plas Iiris.
| Plas Idris was situated in fertile Welsh
valley, through which ran the brawling.
merry Dee. All around lowered great green
mountains thickly studded with trees bean.
| tful in their garment of rich autumnal
tints, varying from a deep green TO a pale
| shostiy yellow, and numbering among their
hueS deep and light red, olive, golden, russell.
| silver, brown and purple.
| 1t originally had been a small cottage of
no pretensions, but its former owners. two
ladies somewhat eccentric, adorned and
decorated it with exquisite taste, and when
it came into the possession of General Tenn
| pie he further embellished and added to if.
using old materials for building the new
| part, so all was harmonized and matched ad-
mirably.
The cause OF the Generals abstraction was
his nephew, his younger brothers only son.
handsome, dashing Jack Temple, in whose
welfare he was deeply interested and whom
he intended to make his heir, if all went
we'll and the young man did as he, his uncle,
pleased. Up to the present he had not dis
appointed his kindly relative, except in one
| particular
He did not drink nor swear, neither did
he show an inordinate and disagreeable de-
sire to back the field against the favorite, or
lay pots of money on quadrupeds who ran
rather dark, nor patroniZe the devils prayer
book too freely, though lie was ever ready
for rubber at whist; neither did he affect
the society of those in any way below him
in the social scale, though he was by no
means prg but manly, sensible fellow,
with a deep, possibly inherited, love for his
profession, and a liking for all wholesome,
pure. healthy pastimeS, and horror Oh any
| thing mean or uISoldierliks.
| The only thing in which he had disap-
| pointed his uncle was with regard TO mar
| rage He appeared 10 have deep-rooted
and abiding AFFECTION to that ancient time
| houared, yet sometimes highly incOnvenient
| institution. He SHE'D at 1t as a badly
broken lilly does at white gate by the road
| side.
lie refused politely yet firmly TO contem-
plate sacrificing himself on the altar of mat
| rimony, and was equally steadfast in being
| bind 10 the manifold attractions of the
| damselS the General managed to have
trotted out for his benefit by his sister, Lady
| Ross.
1t was in vain the sweet girls sighed and
| looked sentimental, or turned on him a bat
terry of blue, black or brown eyes, or pouted
their lips by lisping like tile heroines of a
| bygone time "iruneS, plums, priSms," or in
timated in yelled and petite language that
| they thought him adorable, and were ready
to fall, like ripe fruit, into his arms if he in
| vited them 10 perform that easy aud agree
| able feat.
In vainl The Idol" as his brother-oificers
called him-possibly because his name was
| Temple and he had PASSED some time in In
! pretty attentions in languid fashion, and
told the General that really none Of them
were This style"
He shall marry, and that soon," ex-
claimed The General bringing his foot down
| with mighty stamp, ''or will know the
their elders, set our wishes at naught and
| selhShly study their own pleasures and
desires. 1t is quite time he was settled.
! IEirty-two next birthday. He'll be a con-
hrmed bachelor in year or two more,
welded to his clubs and a single life, aud
then adieu TO my plans and hopes"
So General Temple gazed rather eagerly
| down the road leading TO the station for
| some sight or sign of that tall figure so
familiar TO him, and as he gazed round
| corner came a young man whistling gayly
| and walking with regular springy step
| peculiar 10 soldier.
Late, Uncle Dick, as usual" said the
new conner as he threw up the latch of the
| old entrance gate, on which was quantity
carved The Potter's Triumph" and let
himself into The garden.
We'll, never mind. Since you are here. it
| Is oil little consequence that You are twenty
minutes late. Let us go and discuss dinner,
| and then | want to talk to you on a matter
OF great importance to me and to yourself
| Another damsel," groaned Jack TO him
sell dismaliy, as lie followed his uncle to the
| dining-room.
CHAPTER IL
Now for the assault and battery" NUT
| tered Jack, as the General settled down, and
| locking al him over a glass of ruby-hued
fluid, asked genially:
ell, what news, my boy"
Nothing much" responded the young
man. assuring nonchalant air
How do you like your new quarters ?''
| Fairly we'll VI cource, c. is dull after
town"
That means you would prefer being back
| at the Tower?'
Certainly | would"
despite the gates being closed at lip"
So' IL was EASY 10 get an order from the
! governor t. stay out later"
How Is Gabrielle
- "Oh, the chief is all right He never alIs.
Nothing ever seems to effect him"
mat Is because he has good wife" re-
marked Temple, trifie sententinusly.
he Is tile only man in the regiment. then
mat IS SO blessed, for Acrimeenie's wife
Dolted week ago with an Italian count:
| Luttrells Is so eXtravasant that tney saw
ne IL become a bankrupt and have to leave
tne service Denlson's presented him with
| tril lets few days back, and he's the POOR
est man OF Ours; M0rgan's bride has be-
| come suddenly jealous Of him, and passes
the day III screaming and Mysteries: and
LaldlaW came on parade this morning with
an ugly scratch across his face, which be
said the children's cat had given him, but
shrewdly suspect the cat was Nine Laid
law, and that 1t was a reward for his losing
60 pounds 10 he chief last night at eeartr'
which will keep her short of furbelows for
the next month or two"
Quite list of matrimonial catastrophes ,,
remarked his uncle bandly.
Quite Bolsoyer, Jones and myself are
the only happy-lookng fellows in the regi-
ment, except the youngsters"
And you are all bachelors? ?"
Exactly So" he replied, adding to him.
self, land long may we continue So"
=" AT any rate, Jack, observed the Gem
eral graveiy, fixing his keen eyes on his
nephew,s handsome. slightly troubled face.
trust you will soon alter your condition"
Heaven forbidl' calculated the vonna
man, with pious fervor. '"n
want you to think seriously of marrv-
ing, and doing so soon." continued the other.
taking no notice of his ejaculation.
My dear sir" exnostniatat "
trepidation visible on every line Of he
| countenaDce. VI MS
have" went on the General tranonillv.
recently met an old friend and brother
S en- NOT long returned from India, who
e Oh, heaven" groaned Jack soto yoce. lit
is an OLD untouched negative [ am to VINO
tbis tlmeP) and, went on his uncle s'his
daughter, most charming young creature
oil IL, beautiful, accomplished. gentle and
vel bred a woman | shnuld. h. nron5 and
| pleased to welcome as your wife and INV