Middletown transcript., 1891-02-19
crack that nut satisfactorily.

There is some one else who has
captured not only my fancy. but my
whole heart-all the best of me. II
you only once saw her, my dear aunt,
| know you could not help loving
her too. If YOU will just let me
bring her-if you will just see her"
NeverP Mrs. Upcher banged the
table te.ween US hard with her flat
hand her withered face flushed a
little, her bead like eyes glittered
How dare you talk to me of graft
tude A fine way you have of show
ing your affection, indeed Have |
not paid for you schooling at Eton,
and given you an allowance in your
crack cavalry regiment, and made
you the promise Of being my heir
WHAT right have you, to cross my
wishes ?"
The right of every individual
man or woman" came from me in q
stifed tone, for we were not of the
same stock for nothing, and my
temper had risen to no less height
than that of my opponent. "You
did not buy my body and soul, even
with all these benefits. Did not
win prizes at school, and pass third
with some honor in my examination
for the army? Have / not distinguish
ed myself since in active service, and
even done SO again lately, as you said
yourself not ten minutes ago |"
Well, sir p
I" "Well, Aunt Agg, may be poor,
but I can claim to be no longer. The
money you spent on me I have used
we'll. Please recognize that l have
won fair place for myself in life ;
even in the army could, and would,
support myself on my pay and by the
abilities iG has pleased Heaven to
give me, were it necessary"
Yes! You have made use of my
money" the old lady screamed, inter-
spersing her words with sudden pauses
and snorts of warmth. You own
it! It has got you on has placed you
where you are. And now you dare
turn against me, and bite me in the
heel like serpent. You would crow
over me-would you ?"
81 am neither Growing nor biting.
Only"
!" say you are! Now listen to me,
Henry Upcher," (and my aunt smart
ly smacked her old and bony fore
finger on the table). az tell you this
(smack), l like Margaret Macintosh
She has been sort of daughter to
me, and l am growing old and lonely.
I'm not going to leave her out in the
cold (smack), SO either you give up
this foolishness Of yours, or | give you
up There !"
A final smack, which made me
long to shout Cut me off with a
shilling, if you like, but stop doing
that"
Silently rising, | said gravely:
There is no choice possible for me;
I cannot in honor give up my
promised wife to please you, and
would thousand times refuse if /
even could. Margaret is good girl
and will bear her no grudge if you
make her your heiress ?"
"You are a fool-a fool, Harry
shrieked my aunt. "I won't! Fl
leave it all to Dicky Colston, your
cousin. He will jump at Maggie
though she, poor goose, would have
given her eyes for you."
Good,by, Aunt Agg," I interrupt
ed, firmly and gravely," God bless
you," and l marched straight out of
the room, retreating. with all the
honors of war. Even as I closed the
door scornful grunt or two annoyed
my ears, with bitter taunt. "Ho'
So we are on our high horse !: but
just wait six months my fine young
man, and see if you don't come t
your senses" Six months later wa
married and on my way out to India
having got an appointment on the
staff Of friendly general whose
galloper | had been in our last cam.
paign. And here ends fytte the first
as the old poets used to say.
j. X X