Chicago eagle., 1894-03-17
R0l!!auCE Of 4 HELnEr.

"But uncle, I love my cousinp
"Get out!"
"Give her to me-"
Don't bother mel"
ut will be my deathp
Nonsense! you'll console yourself
with some other girl"
"Pray-"
MY uncle, whose back had been to.
ward me, whirled round, his face red
to bursting, and brought his closed
fist down upon the counter with q
heavy thump.
"Never" he cried; never! DO
you hear what I say?"
And US I looked ut him beseechlng-
ly and with joined hands he went
on:
"A pretty husband you look like
without sou, and dreaming Of going
into housekeeping! A nice mess l
should make Of 1t by giving you my
daughter! It's no use your insisting.
You know that when have said NO, ,
nothing under the sun can make me
say 'Yes'"
ceased to make any further appeal.
I knew my uncle-about rs head
strong an old fellow as could be found
in q days search. ! contented my.
self with giving vent to deep sigh,
and then went on with furnishing Of
o big double-handed sword, rusty
from point to hilt.
This memorable conversation took
place, In fact, In the shop Of my ma
ternal uncle, u well-known dealer In
antiquit les and ojects dart, 50 Rue
des Claquettes, ut the sign Of the
"Maltese Cross"-a perfect museum
Of curiosities.
The walls were hung with Mar
seilles and old Rouen china, facing
ancient cuirasses, sabres and mus
kets and picture frames; below these
were ranged old cabinets, Golfers Of
all sorts and statues of saints, one.
armed or one-legged for the most part,
and dilapidated as to their gliding !;
then, here and there, In glass cases
Theoretically sealed and locked, there
were knickxnacks In infinite variety
-lachrymatories, tiny urns, rings,
precious stones, fragments OF mar
BILE, bracelets, crosses, necklaces,
models and miniature ivory statu-
cites, the yellow tints of which, In
the sun took momcntarily Il ilesh-like
transparency.
Time out OF mind the shop had be-
longed to the Cornuberts. 1t passed
regularly from father to son, and my
uncle-his ncighbors said-could not
but be the possessor OF nice little
fortune. Held in esteem by all, n
municipal councillor, impressed by
the importance and gravity Of his
Office, short, fat, highly choleric and
headstrong, but ut bottom not in the
least degree an unkind sort Of man
such was my uncle Cornubert, my
only living male relative, who as
soon as left school elevated me to
the dignity Of chief and only clerk
and shop man OF the Maltese
Cross"
But my uncle was not only a
dealer In antiquities and municipal
councillor--he was yet more, and
above all, the father Of my cousin
Rose, with whom ! was naturally In
love.
To come back to the point at whicl,
! digressed:
Without paying any attention to
the sighs which cxhaled from my
bosom while securing the rust from
my long, two.handed sword, my uncle,
magnifying glass in hand, was en-.
gagged In the examination OF a lot OF
medals which he had purchased that
morning. Suddenly he raised his
head; 5 o'clock was striking.
"The Council!' he cried.
When my uncle pronounced that
august word 1t made mouthful; fol
pin he would have saluted 1t bare.
headed. But, this time, after mo-
ment's consideration, he tapped his
forehead and added, in Il tone OF su.
preme relief
mo, the sitting does not take place
before o-morrow-and l am forget
ting that ] have to 60 to the railway
station to get the consignment OF
which I was advised this morning" "
Rising from his seat and laying
down his glasses he called out:
"Rose, give me my cane and hat!''
Then, turning toward me, he added,
in o lower tone, and speaking very
! quickly,
"As to you, don't forget our con.
versation. II you think you car
make me say yes, try-but ! don't
think you'll succeed. Meanwhile
not word to Rose, or by St. Barthel
emy, my patron OF happy memory
I'll instantly kick you out OF doors -
At that moment Rose appeared
with my uncle's cane and hat, whicl
she handed to him. He kissed hel
on the forehead; then, giving me ,
last but eloquent look, hurried from
the shop.
went on securing my double
handed sword. Rose came quietly
toward me.
"What Is the matter with m!
father?" she asked; she seems to b.
angry with YOU"
looked ut her-her eyes were 81
black, her look so kind, her mouth 81
rosy, her teeth so white that told he
all-my love, my suit to her father
and his rough refusal. could no
help it-after all, it was his fault
He was not there; determined Il
brave his anger. Besides, there i
nobody like timid persons for display
ing courage ubaer certain circuza
! sfanOes.