Oakes weekly Republican., 1894-05-25

bors were ut last nearly done and he
was about to return to the city, when,
one evening, he called at the Heaths
and took the father and mother into
his confidence. Tho proposition he
made met their assent aud aftor lit.
tie they summoned Julia and with.
drew.
AS Julia entered Mr.. Westbrook rose
and greeted her.
"Julia," said he, III wish to recall an
interview we had some years ago, in
which you said that ii l ever succeed
ed in winning your love it would be
when l became ambitious and made
something of myself. | have fulfilled
the conditions can l now redeem the
pledgca"
"Mr. Wcstbrook," answered Julia,
"you waited so long before asking for
the redemption that cannot but be-
lieve that your early love has long
since perished. The casual death of 4
relative and business necessity called
you here, ENt affection for me. Is il
not SOP"
you are partly right" he answered,
"with ambition came business cares
and pcrplexitles and the memory OF
the past was dimmed in the glare OF
everyday activity, but the relaxation
of q few days recalls the fact that |
loved you once and doubtless fur
ther intimacy would revive love it.
self"
The formality of the words and the
tone in which they were uttered SEEM
ed SO frigidly different from what
would seem TO be the proper manifes-
tation of the tender passion that Julia
almost shrank from him, and yet it
was he, the same Joe Wcstbrook, for
whom she had waited so many years.
Could she learn TO love him, II mere
calculating. soulless automaton? Had
she not herself been responsible for
the change, and did not duty now de-
mand that she fulfill her part? These
distressing questions kept revolving
themselves in her mind and left her
undecided, so finally she demanded
until the following Friday for rcllcc-
tion.
Julia heard much of Mr. Westbrook
during this interval and everything in
his praise. His keen perception, his
close attention to details, his lireless
activity, his shrcwdness, his adminis-
trative skill, all were frequently COM
mented upon. Her father and mother
pointed out these attributes us an
urgent inducemcnt to speedy mar
riage:
"Of course, Julia, you will accept
Mr. Wcstbrook. 1t would be utter
folly to do otherwise" said her father.
Thursday she heard of an unusually
shrewd and successful deal that had
just been engineered by Mr.. West
brook. 1t was 4 masterpiece, every
body said, of cool, calculating fore
thought.
Julia was doubtless affected by this
news in a very unreasonable manner,
but it decided her, nevertheless, and
she Immediately sat down and wrote a
note, refusing the offer of marriage
and laid it aside to post. A little later
on the same day her father returned,
looking much gloomicr than had been
his wont since Mr.. WcsLbrook's advent
to the village. "Joc Westbrook is still
a fool" he said.
"You know he is next of kin to old
Hi Dunstone, deceased or rather
everybody supposed so, and that
means since old Hi died inteslatc that
the whole thing goes to him, doesn't
it? We'll. it don't go to him, and just
because Joe Westbrook lacks ordinary
common sense. for what has he gone
and done but looked up another next
OF kin, whom no one else ever heard
Of, and luggcd him into court and
hired lawyers and investigated and
sweated just to defeat himself and
now he has succeeded, and little
child about 10 years old is to have all
Mysteries. That wrongcd creature,
the housemaid, did her work with a
mop in one hand and in the other a
handkerchief wet with innocent tears
But to return TO Uncle Poifkins. The
tenth day after the earrings had dis
appeared, rs he was brushing his
hat before leaving the house and look
ing at my aunt's tear-be-dewed visage,
his conscious smotc him and he SO far
forgot Smsclf rs to eNclaim audibly:
"l'm blamed if can stand this any
longer!" The folly of the man was in
credible. l had him now. In an in
slant l was after him. He took bus,
| took a cab, and STATED for the city.
Now came the odd thing Uncle Poif-
kins disappeared. How it happened l
do not know. but when the bus pulled
up at the bank Uncle Potlkins was not
to be seen. l questioned the conduc-
tor, but he had evidently been
bribed, and told me very rudely that
he had something better to do than
answer my riddles. He drove on, and
was left for the first time ut fault.
1t was evening before saw Uncle
Poffkins. | was going home in q very
disconsolate state, when about two
hundred yards from our gate, espied
him ahead of me. Quickening my
pace stcalthily approached him. He
opened the gate and passed in: noise
lessly followed. A little farther on,
sheltered by the shrubbery, he stopped,
and after Il stealthy glance toward the
house took from his overcoat pocket a
small morocco case. | stood on tiptoe
just behind, and, with mingled horror
md satisfaction as looked over his
shoulder, l saw the earrings! l was
right! Uncle Pofrkins sighed. "Shall
l give 'em to her or not" he said to
himself. ITS rank waste. Still ii
will keep her quiet" watched the
struggle between his good and evil
angel. Clearly his good angel had
triumphed so far as to bring The ear
rings within fifty yards of Aunt Poff.
kins; but now came the tug of war.
1t was severe, and it ended in the vic.
tory OF evil. Uncle Potfkins, shutting
the case with snap, eNclaimed:
'1ts all blamed nonsense! I'll take
'cm back to Abraham's tomorrow"
Abraham no doubt was the receiver,
for my uncle wc1t on, III satisfied
tone:
Hell make no trouble about taking
en-"
He was putting the case into his
pocket when my feelings overcamc
me. Respect for ones elderly re.
lativcs is a praiseworthy feeling, but
it must not be allowed to override
higher duties. flung myself on I'm
Gle Poffkins, crying:
Surrender! You cannot escape
mel"
My uncle fell heavily OH the gravel
path. l fell heavily on top Of him
and pinioned his arms to the ground.
"Tom!" he exclaimed, "what the
mischicf--are you drunk?"
sc -, 7