The Florence tribune., 1892-08-25
UNCLE OR NEPHEW.

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 Allowing for disparity of years Geoffrey Middleton, nephew, was as like in person t. Godfrey Middleton, uncle, as be was in nasne and nature.
 The two were the last representatives os their race, Middletons, of Middleton Castla. and strangers who saw them together were sure to fancy them father and son until in- formed to the contrary. They were both tall, thin and muscular-justifying in their degree the arrogant Lancashire proverb which afirms that ''the south grows trees, the north grows men" Their features were rugged and boldly defined, speaking. without words, of force of character and vitality of will. None could look either uncle or nephew In the face-as they looked their neighbors- and read weakness there. But the nephew, as became stalwart seven-and-twenty, had pretensions to be described as handsome tupon the family pattsrn), which his kins- man lacked.
 As has been hinted, the physical resem- blance was supplemented by analogy of tenn per. Each was stiff, reticent, locked in the prison house of a natural hauteur, and capa- bse of 8 smoldering, dangerous resentment.
 And in the case of old Godfrey these at- tributes had of late come every one into play. In his own fashion he was showing his extreme disapproval of the sayings and doings of his heir, now on visit to Elgin house, Sefton Park.
 The prosperous Liverpool shipbroker saw the maxims of his life, those rules of caution and exactness by which he had built up a house the envy of thousand rivals, appar- ently set at naught by harum-scarum young surgeon. He had wanted young Godfrey to come into the office, and, mis- liking the outlook of perpetual quill driving and equally systematic supervision, Godfrey refused This was first offense, and it had been condoned Funds wers found to edu- cate the refractory one for the profession he selected; and later, to purchase for him 6 share in practice where be might still be under his uncle's eye. Fairly launched thus, young Godfrey had incontinently exchanged with a dissatisfied brother of the scalpel located at York. The score against him on bis uncle's tablets of memory was herewith doubled
 And after many days he had come back in anything but the prodigars role of hu- mility and contrition, though the main pur- pose of his cross country journey seemed to be to invite extrication from financial difficulty.
 ssIt's an awful nuisance, of course, I'm dis gusted with myself at having to come to you on such an errand, sir. But never dreamed that it would turn out more than what Ar buthnot called it-'a mere form,'" be said. "And after all suppose it's that will be the loser in the long run"
 Whether young Geofrey's native talents were few or many, that of diplomacy was not among them If it had been, he would instinctively have avoided at this iuncture the remotest reference to bis uncle's well un- derstood intentions concerning the ultimate disposition of his wealth. It was inevitable that such an allusion must, under the circum- stances, grate upon the listeners ear.
 In reality it stimulated old Geofrey's anger to perilous pitch. The shipbroker's brow was furrowed like warped plank of one of his own vessels, the cold gray eyes scintillated with scorn, the lines deepened and grew rigid at the corners of the infexible mouth. Yet the bridle was upon bis tongue. He wss never the man to bandy futile re brooches or reveal the depth of his indigna- tion in scathing, impetuous speech. The pas sion of his wrath found its familiar outlet sarcasm
 ssMost genially and pleasantly said," hs answered "Yes, it is you who will be the sufferer There cannot be doubt of that And quite acquit you of intending to sub init me to this trifing annoyance-the fgure' you mentioned were q, 300, thinkP
 Young Godfrey writhed upon his chail and felt uncommonly hot, although he wal sitting at an open window with the Junt breeze flaming him Foolish he might be, { sad blunderer he was; but be had plenty oi wit to see his error after committing it-nC great thing, perhaps, to say in his favor, ana certainly no unusual phenomenon. And h, recognized both the storm signals on hi sncles countenance and the irony of the olG mans tone and words Yet such was thi turn of his own mental and moral idiosyn crasies that he made no pretense of apology but frightened his lips and replied to the su perfuous query in accents equally frigid ant calm.
 "Yes-rather more, in fact; fifteen hun dred and eighty"
 "And you expect me to find you this sunni
 ssTo whom else shall I apply, sirl I hav' no other resource. IT my father were lly1nl it would be different. But you've stood il the place of both parents to me for many year. And this is how repay youIn
 It was sudden climax, and not the less stroke of happy augwy. If the young sur geon had paused there. there might be D story to tell. His spasm of emotion, his re pentance, genuine if destined to be shor lived, had favorably affected old Godfrey who loved his adopted boy with every faul ppon his head
 But surely some mischievous sprite mus have stood at young Geoffrey's elbow an have dictated new words of strife.
 And you can punish me, sir, by leavin as much more away to the office boy, if yo like. rather wish you would, he fatuousl added, as the lull grew harassing.
 Hs had whistled for the wind, and th tempest was bis reward, if such an epithe may properly be applied to the measured an restrained condemnation to which he ws compelled to attend
 sYou are still harping on the same cheel ful string" said old Godfrey, with blan yet bitter smile upon bis face-it was .