Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1895-12-14
UNCLE COTTLE'S WOOING


Uncle Cottle sat very upright in his
chair, and spoke with an air of invinci-
bic decision.
What, again?" drawled his nephew,
wearily.
again. sir? When was married be-
fore?'''
But this isn't the first time you've
been going to do it. uncle; that's what
Il meant" Tim explained. do know
the favored lady?"
Its Miss Sybil Holt, Tim" said
Uncle Cottle, confdentially. 1.-The most
eIy-the-the-oh-h! met her the
other evening at Mrs. Dynham's silver
wedding party, and she = r- quite
seemed to take to me. I'm older than
she is" he sighed, pensively, 'but l
look a good ten years younger than |
am; don't you think SOP"
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 i'm
perturbable simplicity.
''Have you proposed?"
''Why, no. I've only seen her once. Be
Sides" Uncle Cottle sighed again, Pm
so shy, you know, Tim-so Internally
shy! The only time l ever managed
to propose was when | wrote to that
widow-you remember, you helped me
with that letter - and she never an
swered You didn't say" he added,
whether you know Miss Holt?"
81 don't remember eyer to have met
her"
"Ah! If you had you couldn't forget
her. She's an aunt you'll be proud of,
my boy"
''But she may not appreciate the hon
or CT obtaining me for a nephew"
eff she refuses me, Tim-if lose her
as I've lost all the Others" cried Uncle
Cottle, wildly, Il shall think there's a
curse on me, and I'll give in-Pll 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 jeal-
Gus eye of a sole proprietor who didn't
want anybody to NEEDLE with his bust
ness
I'm his only relative" he complained
to his crony. Ted Merrows, as he sat at
breakfast next morning in the cham
bers they tenanted in common. whats
mis- is mine. He's said so lots of times.
If he gets married, though, his wife will
expect at least half; and if he has chill
dren,-there'lI be no meat left on the
bone for mel"
They were both reading for the bar,
but Ted Merrows put aside his paper
for the moment, and placed all his in
telIect at the service of his friend.
What's the use of looking black
about it? He's been going to marry
often enough before"
but he's never seemed so determined
as he is now. He's dyeing his hair and
-cultivating figure"
Gone so far as that!" exclaimed Ted.
Then I'm afraid nothing will stop
him."
Il shall try, anyhow" growled Tim.
eff l can't hit on anything better, l
shall tell him I've found out she's en-
gagged. I've stopped him twice like
that; he's so nervous and afraid of
seeming presumptuous. That widow
was the most dangerous-threem months
ago. l really thought I'd lost him that
time He was so bewitched he was
going to call at her house, only / per-
suaded him it wasn't etiquette, and that
he ought to write first and disclose his
sentiments, and ask permission to call
/ undertook to post the letter on my
way home here to the Temple, and
- ~ = ~
swer he wished he hadn't written-felt
he had been impertinent and she was of
Tended"
Suppose he meets her and mentions
it?"
He daren't; 1 know him too well.
He'd be SO ashamed and panic-stricken
he'd run away at the sight of her."
''Well, you have been lucky so far, but
it can't go on like this forever" OBJ
served Ted Merrows. ''Take my tip
and make hay while the sun shines"
How do you mean?"
'sYou are old enough to marry, and
as your uncle's sole heir, you'd be val
liable article in the matrimonial mar
Aet; but if he marries, you'll find your
self on the shelf among the damaged
goods and remnants. Dispose of your
self while you are still heir and the fit
ting lord for an heiress. You cant
stop the cid man marrying, but you car
take care ne doesn't spoil you by marry
ing first"
But | don't know anybody" remon
-strated Tim. ''How am i to find ar
heiress, get introduced and engaged
and marry her out of hand in"
= g. .Irrf1 hon 1af
rimonial journals"
NONSENSE! Heiresses don't adver
tise"
Don't they? All heiresses are no
in society; some of them want t.
go there, and they advertise. The.
wouldn't marry gentleman with moth
ing. perhaps. unless they happened t.
be old and ugly, but they would be glat