Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1896-02-06
UNCLE COTTLE'S WOOING
I'm going to get married. Tim,

been going to do it, uncle; that's wins
l meant" Tim explained. DO kno,
the favored lady?"
ITS Miss Sybil Holt, Tim," sal
Uncle Cottlc, confidentially. 1.-THE mos
loyely-the-the-oh-hl met her tn
other evening at Mrs. Dynham's silve
wedding party, and she -er- quit
seemed to take to me. I'm older thal
she Is" he sighed, pensively, "but
look good ten years younger than
nm; don't you think sol"
Young Tim regarded him critically
without hazarding IN opinion. He wa
past middle age and looked IT; a 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, I'm
so shy, you know, Tim-so infernall,
shy! The only time | ever managed
10 propose was when wrote to tina,
widow-you remember, you helped IN,
with that letter and she never an
swered You didn't say" he added
whether you know Miss HoIt?"
II don't remember ever to have met
her"
"Ahl Ifyou had you couldn't forget
her. She's an aunt you'll be proud Of
my boy"
"Eut she may not appreciate the hon.
or OF obtaining me for q nephew"
III she refuses me, Tim-if l lose her
as I've lost oil the others" cried Uncle
Cottle, wildly, II shall think there's q
curse on me, and I'll give in-I'll never
love again. I'll live and die singled"
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 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
his Is mine. Hes said so lots of times.
II he gets married, though, his wife will
expect at least half; and If he has chill
dren, -there'll 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
tellect 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. Hes dyeing his hair and
cnltlyating figure"
Gone so far as that" exclaimed Ted.
Then I'm afraid nothing will stop
him."
II shall try, anyhow" growled Tim.
IF ! can't hit on anything better, |
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-three months
ago. really thought I'd lost him that
time. lie was so bewitched he was
going to call at her house, only per-
studded 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 |
put it in the fire. When he got no an
swer he wished he hadn't written--felt
he had been impertinent and she wasof-
Tended"
Suppose he meets her and mentions
it?"
"1le daren't; 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 60 on like this forever" OBJ
served Ted Merrows. TAKE my tip,
and make hay while the sun shines"
"llow do you mean?'
you are old enough to marry, and,
as your uncle's sole heir, you'd be val
liable article in the matrimonial mar
ket; but II 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 can't
stop the old man marrying, but you can
take care he doesn't spoil you by marry
ing first"
but don't know anybody" remon-
strated Tim. "llow am to find an
heiress, get introduced and engaged,
and marry her out Of hand in"
you might find one through the mat
rimonial journals"
"Nonsensel IIeiresses don't adver-
tise."
Don't they? All heiresses are not
in society; some of them want to
go there, and they advertise. They
wouldn't marry gentleman with moth
Ing, perhaps, unless they happened to
be old and ugly, but they would be glad
to snap up man like you, moving in
good society, with liberal allowance
from your uncle and hopeful prospects.
Then, II your uncle deserts you after
ward, her money will keep the wolf
from the door and save you from work.
ing yourself to death"
Young Tim had a morbid borrow Of
poverty and overwork, and that story
haunted him all day. kshone through
his dismal forebodings like the moon
ihrnrnh n mist. Il scanned almost foo