St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1895-12-06
UNCLE COTTLE'S WOOING.

Ills Nhti' 'A'N SISA~ "'N' N''A $50 ~
invncible decision.
what, again?' drawled his
nephew, YEARLY.
again, sir? When was married
before ?"
"Bnt this isn't the first time you've
been going to it, uncle; that's what
l meant" Tim explained. do |
know the favored lady?"
Its Miss Sybil Holt, Tim" said
Uuncle, conhdentially. "The most
lovelv-the-the-oh-h met her
the other evening at Mrs. Dynham's
silver wedding party, and she-er-
quite seemed to take to me. I'm old
er than she is, he sighed, pensively;
"but | look a good ten years young
err than am; don't you think so :"
Young Tim regarded him critically,
without hazarding an opinion. He
was past middle age, and looked it:
full.bodied little gentleman, with
short dumpy legs and bland, moon
like face whose prevailing expression
was OF imperturbable simplicity.
Have you proposed "
"Why, no; I've only seen her once.
Besides Uncle Cottle sighed again,
"l'm so shy, you know, Tim-so
Internally shy The only time ever
managed to propose was when
wrote to that widow-you remember
you helped me with the letter-and
she never answered. You didn't
say" he added, whether you knew
Miss Holt ?"
Il don't remember ever to have
met her"
"Ah! If you had, you couldn't for
get her. She's an aunt to be proud of,
my boy
But she may not appreciate the
honor of obtaining me for nephew. "
"If she refuses me, Tint lose
her as I've lost all the Others" cried
Uncle Cottle wildly, II shall think
there's a curse on me. and III give IN
I'll never love again. I'll live and
die single!"
Young Tim hoped he would. Uncle
Cottle had been his guardian ever
since he was quite boy, but since he
came of age, some six years ago, he
had rather reversed the position OF
affairs, and looked upon Uncle Cottle
with the Jealous eye of sole proprie'
tor who didn't want anybody to
NEEDLE with his business,
I'm his only relative" he com
planned to his crony, Ted Merrows
as they sat at breakfast next morn
ing in the chambers they tenanted II
common. whats hisis mine. He:
said so lots of times. II he gets mar
ried, though, his wife will expect al
least halt; and if he has children
there'll be no meat left on the bon'
for me !"
They were both reading for tn
bar, but Ted Merrows put aside hi
paper for the moment, and placed al
his intellect at the service OF hi
friend.
whats the use looking blacI
about it? He's been going to MARI,
often enough before
"But he has never seemed so deter
mined as he is now. He's dyeing hi
hair and cultivating figure"
Gone so far thatP' exclaime'
Ted, "then I'm afraid nothing WI
stop him."
Il shall try, anyhow groW'e'
Tim. "If can't hit on anyth'h
better, shall tell him I've found on
she's engaged. I've stopped MI
twice like that he's so nervous an
afraid of seeming presumPtuou'
That widow was the most DANCE
ous-three months ago. l reail
thought I'd lost him that time II
was so bewitched, he was going |
call at her house, only persuaue
him it wasn't etiquette, ana that
ought to write first and disclose Il
sentiments, and ask PERMISSION I
call. l undertook to post the lett'
on my way home here to the Temp
and I put it in the fire. When ne g.
no answer he wished he hadn't VIII
ten-felt he had been impairment d
she was offended"