Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1892-09-05
Uncle Georges Visit.

BlC ne WASN'T. 1n0ro was mourning
blue blooded or princely about him
He was only plain George Lewis, a
rough, hardened old miner, who had
gone to the Black Hills when he was
n boy, and by long years of toll had
amassed a fortune.
And now he had come east to enjoy
and visit with his fashionable but by
no means wealthy relatives.
f'Mr. Leslie" that gentleman's wife
announced one evening at the dinner
table, "my uncle George, whom have
never seen, is coming to visit US with
in a few weeks, and he says he may
stay month or two, and may con-
-cIude to make his home with us if
fEMake his home with us?'' snorted
Mr. Leslie, putting down his cup of
coffee with vicious jerk. E'Well, I
guess not. / don't object to your
poor relations coming here once in
awhile for few days, but as for one
quartering himself with us for the
rest Of his natural life time it's too
much. Haven't told you"
eff it's agreeable" went on Mrs.
Leslie, calmly resuming at the point
where she had been interrupted by
her irate spouse, as though nothing
had happened.
S'And he says that he made large
fortune and thinks, as he is over sixty
years of age and in rather poor health,
he wants to enjoy a few years Of
rest before he dies"
No stage Transformation scene was
ever half so wonderful as the change
that took place on the chubby face of
Mr. Leslie. His gray side whiskers
fairly bristled with new-found joy.
But he tried hard to conceal his
change of sentiment. That was diplo-
macy. And one of Mr.. Leslie's fond
est decisions was that he was a sec
ond Machiavelli.
F'Well, guess we can find room
for him. How would it do to put him
in the front room upstairs? Don't you
think it ought to be repapered. Mrs.
Leslie?'' inquired the husband.
And, of course, Mrs. Leslie, who had
been asking for such an Improvement
for some weeks, eagerly assented and
thanked her stars for more than one
reason that her uncle was coming.
''Won't it be splendid to have him
here?" said Miss Florence Leslie,
rather tall, stately young woman,
whose ideas ran much to society.
<'Maybe now I'll get that pair Of dia-
nlond earrings I have been waiting
for SO long"
sSHe may be such a horrid old guy
we shall all be ashamed of him." sug-
gested slangy Miss Bessie, a year
younger than her sister Florence.
Clancy him sitting on our veranda
with big SLOUGH hat and his trousers
tucked into his boots when the De
Goodleys drive by. How they will
laugh at us?"
''Do you think Uncle George would
buy me a pair of ponies, mamma?"
queried young Robert, who, though
but nine years of age, appeared keen
ly alive to the situation.
Uncle George came. He was very
modest, unassuming gentleman, with
q bronzed face and the quiet ways of
a man who had been an exile from
society for years. And, strange to
say, he was rather averse to talking
about the family history.
sfHe's a very modest man, Uncle
George is" said Mrs. Leslie explaining
this popularity to a neighbor. "But
do you KNOW" she said, in mysteri
Gus whisper, che must be very wealthy.
L know he must be getting ready to
make us some splendid present. For
I saw him counting over an enormous
roll of bills the other day, as though
he were studying what to buy.''
ME. Leslie, too, was likewise eager
expectant. He had really begun to
like Uncle George least he thought
he did.
And SO it went down to the young
est member of the family Uncle
George, it must be owned, Jared pref
6y well.
They even gave grand party in
honor of the newly arrived relation
from the west. All their friends were
invited. The caterers were given
carte blanche. 1t was really fine af
fair
GIVE wish to spare no pains to make
my dear uncle feel at home," said
Mrs. Leslie to her friend Mrs. Gordon,
that night.