The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1895-05-23
AGENUTNE love AFFAIR

"Ha!" said Unclo Obed, with Lis
most disagreeable and forbidding II.
$50 you expect me to pay your deb.',
do you, sir?'
II thought that perhaps you would be
kind enough to help me-" answered is
nephew Jim humbly.
''Did you2 Then you thought wr, g,
young man. Do you suppose ] Lave
nothing better to do with my money
than to sqc3ader it on nh idle young
reprobate like yourself?"
81 admit that l have been-cr--y-hat
you say III the past, uncle, but 1 l. &c
given it all up now and taken to ste, y
ways. I have, upon my honor, and be-
lieve that if could once get rid of my
debts should do very WELL
''That's the old story, sneered Uncle
Obed. "Penitence and reformation when
the sinews Of self indulgence fail and
while the discomforts of debts are press
ing. But once set free, with a rehabili-
tated credit, you'd launch out like
lord. I know you, jim"
Upon my word, uncle, replied Jim
earnestly, "you wrong me, indeed you
do My one am and object now is to
settle down into quiet, steady fellow.
'And there's another thing, ," the old
gentleman went on, without noticing
his nephew's protest. "What takes you
down to Bigham so often, ehP'
II 60 down there to play golf," said
Jim. coloring, however, under his
uncle's sorutinizing gaze
IA nice occupation for struggling
young barrister to be wasting time and
money upon, even if the excuse were
true! But it isn't, sir. A girl is at the
bottom of your constant journeys to
Bigham, and you can't deny it."
"Unclep'
Don't uncle me, you reprobate, you
silly, philandering young idiotl al.
ways knew you were fool, but hard
ly suspected you Of such abjeot folly as
this. To think of running after penni-
less girl, pauper, a poor relation, de-
pendent entirely ON her aunt's bounty,
and you situated as you are It's worse
than suicide, sirl''
Uncle Obed by this time had grown
very red and was evidently working
himself up into one of his most violent
RACES.
81 do not quite know what you have
heard or from whom you have heard
it," began Jim, nettled by his uncle's
overbearing tone, "but"-
''Never mind the butts, " the other in
terrupted him rudely. "It'sno use, your
trying to throw dust in my eyes. heard
the whole truth only yesterday from
Miss Bailey, the young lady's aunt, and
with whom she lives as companion.
And properly disgusted the aunt is too.
Says she shall send the girl away unless
she gives up her insane engagement to
you. And serves her right. Poor rela-
tions have no business to fall in love
with one another"
"Look here. Uncle Obed," exclaimed
Jim, firing up, "you may pitch into me
as much as you please. I'm used to it
from you, but not word against
Gladys Boyd She's everything that's
good and true and pure and"-
"Ugly," interposed his uncle, stop
ping Jim's outbreak. "She has monopo-
lized all the plainness of the family"
"And all their brains, retorted Jim.
''She has none of their money, you
idiotr'
'And none Of their vulgarity."
Uncle Obed was now very red-in.
deed almost purple.
''This is nice tone to assume to your
uncle" he said, especially when you
come asking favors from him."
81 can't help it, uncle. It's your
fault for abusing Gladys She's the best
and dearest girl in the world. I love |
her with all my heart, and I mean to |
marry her.
"How do you propose to marry on
nothing year?" demanded his uncle.
perhaps you think the girl will get
some Of her aunt's money. But she
won't-not penny. That I have ascer.
tained.''
"No difficult matter" said Jim scorn
fully. Miss Bailey never ceases to i'm
press that fact upon all her acquaint-
ances.
''She is quite right, you puppy, in !
spite OF your sneers," retorted Uncle
Obed. "In these matters little present
candor saves great future misery. You
had better be equally candid with that
silly chit of girl and tell her that your
prospects as regards my fortune are, to
say the least of it, remote. -
''She knows it, answered jim curt.
ly, too much annoyed now to think of
diplomacy. 81 told her that when I
asked her to marry me-.
"Yes; l have no doubt you represent.
ed me to her in pretty light. But you
don't suppose care, do you? Your bad
opinion of me is infinitely more fiatter-
ing than your good, assure you
Jim acknowledged the compliment
with a sarcastic emile, which made
Uncle Obed's red face turn a distinct
shade redder.
"This is enough of your impudence,"
he said angrily. "I will give you my
ultimatum without further waste of
words. Although you re sn Idle, worth.
less fellow who deserves no assistance.
yet for your poor mother sake should
be sorry to see You drift into the work
hOnSa I'm that