The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1895-03-27
BEHIND THE SCENES,

"You see, my boy" said Uncle Ho-
bart, "matrimony is dangerous thing.
You take house for, say, a year, and
if it doesn't suit at the years end you
give it up and take another. You buy
a horse, and if it balks you send it off
to auction to be sold. But with wife
it is altogether different. You can nei-
Their sell nor exchange her-it's life
long bargain.
"But, Uncle Hobart, said the nephew
and heir apparent of that gentleman,
''let's take another view of the matter.
Suppose that she is all that is lovely,
excellent ana drsiruDie?''
Uncle Hobart Renshaw rubbed his
nose.
As an inveterate bachelor of five and
fifty he was naturally inclined to take
the less sanguine view Of the case.
paul, said he, "it's of no use to
argue the matte. A young man in love
is young man mad for the time being.
If you've made up your mind to get
married, not all the arguments in crea-
ton will avail against it. Only be sure
you make a right choice Remember
how much depends upon it. -
Paul Fontaine laughed good humored-
ly. Like all young men, he thought SO
much caution quite unnecessary.
"There are two sisters of these Lind
leys, you say?" said Uncle Hobart re-
fleotively, polishing his glittering spec
tacle glasses.
/ 81 ilxTo f,kE
both of 'em pretty?"
GAS twin blush roses, sir u
"There you gol" said Uncle Hobart
testify. Fright into sentiment. just like
q three volume novel; f"
"Well, sir, isn't it natural enough to
compare q pretty girl to beautiful
flower? If ! could think of any other
comparison
"You needn't trouble yourself, in
terrupted Uncle Hobart "What want
to find out is what they are like. :"
Esther is bright and sparkling;
Emily is all softness and refinement.
Esther is brunette, with the blacklist
hair / ever saw. Emily has chestnut
curls and blue eyes, and lovely, fair
complexion.
Exactly" Uncle Hobart hummed
an old tune which had been popular in
his youth:
Black eyes most dazzle at ball;
Blue eyes most please when shadows fall.
"And which do you like best, Paul,
chr"
''They are both of them chariningl'
energetically answered the young man.
"Upon my life, uncle, sometimes wish
that the Turkish system prevailed here,
and that could marry both of them. F"
Difficult to decide which is the most
fascinating?" questioned Uncle Hobart
''But the thing is, my lad. which will
wash and wear the best for everyday
life?''
"That is question which the future
| will decide, uncle. Unfortunately we
have no chemical test to decide the mat
| ter -
"Think not?" said Uncle Hobart dry.
ly. Look here, Paul, up to the present
time you have only seen these girls
| through the chiaroscuro Of visiting dress
and company manners. What would
you give to behold them as they really
are-to get peep behind the scenes?"
"Half that am possessed of, uncle"
cried out Fontaine, with animation, ''if
only to be able to satisfactorily prove to
you, sir, how pure and noble and high
souled they are But all this is nom
sense OF course it is an impossi
Nothing of the Sort" said Uncle
| Hohart ,ftVor1 that mn To tho y1roc-
ent these girls do not know me personal
ly or of my connection with the board
of health. Well, it is true that l am
neither wizard nor magician, but l
am what is quite as useful in this mat
ter--a sanitary official. go into peo-
pies back doors when wish il. Istride
remorselessly through their kitchens and
cellars when want to see for myself
rather than trust my inspectors. am
at liberty to take down stairs view Of
the world. Eth, young man, what do
you think of that?'
Paul Fontaine stared.
IT don't understand how
"But you will, doubtless, when tell
you that the Lindleys' house is in my
district; that have decided to 60 there
tomorrow morning to see personally
that all the drainage is perfect. II you
choose to volunteer little help, I'll
disguise you as one of my men and
with all my heart, unclel" cried
the young man, with glittering eyes
and heightened color. II fear no ordeal
to which you can subject Esther and
Emily. Believe me, the metal will ring
truel"
"Well, we'll see, said Mr.. Renshaw.
SIN the meantime suppose you ring for
tea. /"
Mr.. Hobart Renshaw was a man Of
property, but he was also man Of Pc
culiarities. One of these was to earn
his borough surveyor Is salary as hon
estly as IL he depended on it for his
daily bread.
People call him miser, but little
cared he for that. The widow, the IA
therless and he that was ready to perish
could tell different tale, and Hobart
Renshaw, quaint and eccentric though
he was. could read the book Of human
character with an almost unerring eye.
run, Betty, runl It's that nuisance
Of drainman again. It does seem to
me as IL he came about great deal Of
tener than is at all necessary.
The Lindleys were people who kept