The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1896-07-30


NY uncle, whose back had been to-
wards me, whirled round, his face red
TO bursting, and brought his closed
fist down upon the counter with q
heavy thump.
"Nover /" be cried; "Dever DO you
hear what say?"
And rs ] looked ut him beseech-
inglP and with joined hands, he went
on
"a pretty husband you look like -
without sou, and dreaming of going
into housekeeping A nice mess
should make OF it, by giving you my
daughter It's no use your insisting.
You know that when have said no,
nothing under the sun can make Inc
say yes
/ ceased to make any further appeal.
knew my uncle-abolt as headstrong
an old fellow as could be found in II
days search. | contented myself with
giving vent to deep sigh, and then
went on with the furnishing of a big,
double-hapded sword, rusty from
/ point to hiIt.
This memorable conversation took
| place, in fact, in the shop OF my
maternal uncle, a well-known dealer in
/ antiquities and objects dart, No, SO,
Rue dos Claquettes, at the sign of the
"Nlaltese Cross"-a perfect museum
| Of curiosities.
The walls were hung with Marseilles
md old Rouen china, facing ancient
cuirasses, sabres, and muskets, and
| picture.irames below these were
ranged old cabinets. Golfers OF all
sorts, and statues OF saints, one-armed
or oue-legged for the most part and
dilapidated as to their gliding; then,
here and here, in glass cases, herme-
tically closed and locked, there were
knick -knacks in infinite variety
lachrymntories, tiny urns, rings, pre-
cious stones, fragments of marble,
bracelets, crosses, necklaces, medals
and miniature ivory stG.He,tes, the
yellow tints Of which, in the sun,
took momentarily a hesh-like trans
parency.
Time ont ,of mind the shop had be-
longed to the Cornuberts. IL passed
regularly from iathcr TO son, and my
uncle-his neighbors said-could not
but be the possessor of nice little
fortune. Held in esteem by all, a
Municipal Councillor, impressed by
the importance and gravity of his
office, short, tat, highly choleric and
headstronp, but at bottom not in the
least degree an unkind sort of man
such was my uncle Cornubert, my
only living male relative, who, as soon
rs l lett school, had elevated me to the
dignity of chief and only clerk and
shopman of the "Maltesc Cross.
But my uncle was not only dealer
in antiquities and Municipal Coun'
cilor. he was yet more, and, above all
the father of my cousin, Rose, with
whom | was naturally in love.
70 come back to the point at whicl
/ digressed.
Without paying any attention to tn,
signs which exhaled from my bosom
while securing the rust from my long
two.handed sword, my uncle, magni
flying glass i'll hand. was engaged il
the examination of lot of medal
which he had purchased that morning
Suddenly he raised his head; fiv,
o'clock was striking.
"The Council |" he cried.
} When my uncle pronounced tina
august word it made mouthful; fo
pin he would have saluted it bare
headed. But this time, after q mo
mens's consideration, he tapped hi
forehead and added, in a tone o
supreme relief
, "No, the sitting does not take plac,
before eto-morrow-andl / am forgettinI
that | have to go to the railway station
to get the consignment OF which | wa
s advised this morning."
, Rising from his seat and laying dow
his glass he called out;
"Rose, bring me my cane and hat I
. Then, turning toward me, he added
I in n lower tone and speaking yer
quickly:
"As to you-don't forget our con
versatiop. If You think you can max
e me say yes, try-but don't thin
you'll succeed. Meanwhile not wor
to Rose, or by Saint Barthelemy, m
patron of happy memory, I'll instantl
kick you out OF doors!"
}, At that moment Rose appeared wit
Q my uncle's cane and hat, which sh
}. handed to Kim. He kissed her on til
forehead; then, giving me last bu
: eloquent look, hurried from the shol
Il 81 went on securing my doubl,
n handed sword. Rose came quietl
= toward me.
=, what is the matter with IN
father?" she asked; she seems to b
angry with you"
looked at her her eyes we're &
n black, her look SO kind, her mouth t
o rosy, and her teeth so white that
a told her all-my love, my suit to he