The Republican., 1892-01-01

Eyes, / agree"
You have thought about it?" de-
manded our family tyrant.
II have thought about it." was my
brief, decided reply. given gravely. My
manner ought to have warned her that
man does not generally confess to
having thoughts seriously on marriage
without having some special reason
needing these, the old lady announced,
in much the same way as she would
have called attention triumphantly to
some skillful placing of her pieces on a
| chess board.
Very well, ther! 1 am glad to hear
1t. So now l will tell you what is my
wish on the subject-that you shall
marry Margaret Macintosh"
'What?" l pushed back my chair
and stared at my aunt, disbelieving my
own ears. MARRY Maggie?"
"Yes. Why not, pray?" And Aunt
Upcher's face took slight flush of
rising anger 81 am fond of Maggie,
though you may not know it, and l
wish to provide for her as daughter.
Atthe same time you are the one of my
two nephews who is not fool. You
are an ornament to my family, and, as
! never hold with leaving money away
from ones relations or splitting for
tunes, it is my intention to leave every
penny possess to you! You knew this
vaguely before, fancy. Now you have
the matter in a nutshell"
Perhaps so. But OIL how to crack
that nut satisfactorily?
Whereupon / said desperately:
'There is some one else who has cap
tured not only my fancy but my whole
heart-all the best of me- If only you
once saw her, my dear aunt, know
you could not help loving her, too. 1t
would be impossible, l verify believe,
not to admire her and grow fond of her.
II you will just let me bring her--if you
will just see her -"
"Neverv' Mrs. Upcher banged the
table between us hard with her fat
hand; her withered face flushed lit
tie, her bead-like old eyes glittered.
How dare you talk to me Of gratitude?
A fine way you have of showing your
affection, indeed! Have not paid for
your 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?"
"rhe right of every individual man
or woman" came from me in as st;fed
a tone, for we were not of the same
stock for nothing, and my temper had
risen to no less a height than that of
my opponent. "You did not buy me
body and soul, even with all these ben
efits. Did l not win prizes at school,
and pass third with some honor at my
examination for the army? Have l
not distinguished myself sin ce in active
service, and even done so again lately,
as you said yourself not ten minut es
ago?"
"Well, sir?"
''Well, Aunt Agg, I may be poor,
but can claim to be no beggar. The
money you spent on me 1 have used
well. Please recognize that have won
a fair place for myself in life; even in
the army l could, and would, support
myself on my pay and by the abilities
it has pleased Heaven to give me, were
it a necessity"
"Yes! You have made use of my
money" the old lady screamed, inter-
spersing her words with sudden pauses
and snorts of wrath you own it! 1t
has got you on; has placed you where
you are And now you dare turn against
me, and bite me in the heel like a SER
pent. You would crow over me-would
you?"
n am neither growing nor biting.
Only"
81 say you are! Now, listen to me-
Henry Upcher" land my aunt smartly
smacked her old and bony fore finger
on the table). 81 tell you this (smack),
like Margaret Macintosh. She has