The Penn's Grove record., 1896-11-13
THE HELMET.
"But, uncle, l love my cousin"
Get out.w

Get out!'
"Glve her to mel"
Don't bother mel"
at viii be my DEATH"
"Nousensei You'll console yourself
with some other girl"
"Prly-'
My uncle, whose back had been to-
ward me. whlrled around. his face was
red to bursting, and brought his closed
fist down upon the counter with a heavy
thump.
Never" he cried; "neverl Do you
hear what say?"
And as | looked at him beseechingly
and with Joined hands he went on;
"a pretty husband you look like!
Without a sou and dreaming Of going
into housekeeping! A nice mess should
make OF 1t by giving you my daughter!
It's no use your insisting. You know
that when ! have said No nothing un'
der the sun can make me say 'Yesr"
! ceased to make any further appeal.
I knew my uncle-about as headstrong
an old fellow as could be found In a
days search. contented myself with
giving vent to a deep sigh, and then
went on with the furnishing Of a big
do~uble-handed sword, rusty from point
to hllt.
This memorable conversation took
place. In fact, In the shop Of my ma
ternal uncle, a well-known dealer In an
Equities and objets dart, SO Rue des
ClaQuettes, at the sign of the Maltese
Cross"-a perfect museum Of curiosi.
ties.
The walls were hung with Marseilles
and old Rouen china. facing ancient
culraSSes. sabers and muskets and pie
ture frames; below these were arranged
old cabinets. Golfers of all sorts and
statues Of saints, one-armed or one
legged for the most part and dilapidat-
ed as to their gliding; then, here aud
there. in glass cases, Theoretically. clos
ed and locked, there were knickknacks
In Infinite yaylety-lachrymatorie tiny
urus, rings, precious stones. fragments
Of marble, bracelets, crosses, neck
iaces, medals and miniature ivory stat
uettes, the yellow tints Of which In the
u took m~omentarlly a ieshliks trans
parency,
Time out Of mind the shop had be-
longcd to the Coduberts. 1t passed reg
ularly from father to son, and my uh-
cle-hls nelghbors said-could nc bur
be the possessor Of a nice little fortune.
Held In esteem by all. a municipal coun-
c!llor, impressed By the Importance and
gravity of his office, short fat highly
cholerie and headstrons, but al bottom
not in the least degree an unkind sort
OF man-such was my uncle Corubert,
my only living male relative, who as
soon as l left school bad elevated me tc
the dignity Of chief and only clerk and
shopman of the Maltese Cross"
But my uncle was not only a dealer
IN antiquities and a municipal council
lor, he was yet more, and above all,
the father Of my cousin Rose, With
whom was naturally in love.
To come back to the point at which l
dlgressed
Without paying any attention to the
signs which exhaled from my bosom
while securing the rust from my long,
~two-handed sword. my uncle, magnI.
flying glass In hand. was engaged In the
examination Of a lot Of medals which
he had purchased that morning. Sud-
denly lie raised bis head; 6 o'clock was
striking.
"The %councIlrf he cried.
When my uncle pronounced that au-
gust word 1t made a mouthful; for a
pin he would have saluted 1t barehead-
ed, But this time, after q moments
consideration, he tapped his forehead
and added, In a tone of supreme relief:
mo, the sitting does not take place
before to-morrow-and l am forgetting
that have to go to the railway station
to get the consignment of which l was
advised this morning"
Rising from his seat aud lying down
bis glass, he called out:
Rose. give me my cane and hat"
Then. turning toward me, he added,
in a lower tone and speaking very
quickly:
AS TO you-don't forget our CONVEX
sation. II you think you can make me
say Yes try it!-but don't think youth
succeed. Meanwhile, not a word to
Rose. or, by St Barthelemy, my patron
of happy memory, I'll Instantly kick
you out Of doorsl'
At that moment Rose appeared with
my uncle's cane and hat, which she
handed to him. He kissed her on the
forehead; then, giving rue a last but
eloquent look, hurried from the shop
a went ca securing my double-handed
{ gG I. Rose came quietly toward me.
What Is the matter with my faith
erT she asked. He seems to be an,
Cry with you"
| looked al her-her eyes were Sc
black, her lock so kind, her mouth SO
rosy and her teeth SO white that / told
her ail-my love, my suit to her father
and his rough refusal. l could not help
it-after all, It was his fault, He was
NOT there; ! determined to brave his an
ger, Besides. there is nobody like timid
rsFsna4 for displaying courage under
certain circumstances.
Ny cousin said nothing; she only held
down her eyes-while her cheeks were
as red as those Of cherries in May.
checked myself.
Are you angry with meT l asked
trembiiagly, "Are you angry with me,
RoseF'
She held out TO me her hand. On that.
my heart seething with audacity, my
head on FIRE. | cried:
"Rose-I swear Ill l will be your
husuaLd! And as she shook her head
and looked al me sadly l added; .0h.
! well know that my uncle Is self-wili-
ed, but | will be more self-willed still;
and, since he must be forced to say