Sullivan republican. [volume] (Laporte, Pa.) 1883-1896, 1896-01-03

rr~mE Again, sir?
1 'stsss'n 'ss, thi. ISM. the
first time you've been going to do it,
uncle; that's what meant" Tim ex-
planned. "Do I know the favored
lady?"
''It's Miss Sybil Holt, Tim." said
Uncle Cottle, confidentially. "The
most lovely-the-the--oh-h! met
her the other evening at Mrs. Dynham's s
silver wedding party, and sheer -
quite seemed to take to me. I'm older
than she is" he sighed, pensively,
''but 1 look a good ten years younger
than I 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 imperturbable simplicity.
"Have You proposed?"
'!Why, no; I've only seen her once.
Besides" Uncle Cottle sighed again,
'I'm SO shy, you know, Tim--so infer
nally shy! The only time I ever man
aged to propose was when I wrote to
that widow --you remember, you helped
me with the letter-and she never ans
wered. You didn't saw" he added,
"whether you knew Miss Holt?"
81 don't remember ever to have met
her."
"Ah? If you had, you couldn't t for
get her. She's an aunt you'll be proud
Of, my boy"
"But she may not appreciate the
honor OF obtaining me for nephew. Z"
eff she refuses me. Tim-if lose
her as I've lost all the Others" Dried
ULclo Cottie, wildly. 81 shall think
there's curse o2 me, and I'll give in
I'll never love again. Ill 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
jealous eye of sole proprietor who
didn't want anybody to moddle with
his business.
"I'm his only relative" he COM
planned to his crony. Ted Merrows, as
they sat at breakfast next morning in
the chambers they tenanted in com.
mon. "What's his 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 children -there'll
be no meat left on the bone for me I"
They were both reading for the bar,
but Ted Merrows put aside his paper
for the moment, aud placed all his in.
tellect at the service OF his friend.
"What's the use looking black about
it? He's been going to marry often
enough before"
''But he's never seemed SO deter
mined as he is now. He's dyeing his
hair and cultivating a figure"
"Gone~so far as thatl" exclaimed
Ted. "Then I'm afraid nothing will
stop him."
~ shall try, anyhow, growled Tim.
"lf ! can 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. He was so bowitched, he
was going to call at her house, only
persuaded him it wasn't etiquette, aud
that he ought to write first and dis
close his sentiments, and ask permis-
sion to call. ! undertook to post the
letter on my way homo here to the
Temple, and put it in the fire. When
he got no answer, he wished he hadn't
written--feit he had been impertinent
and she was offended"
Suppose he meets her and men
tions itp"
"He daren't; know him too WELL
He'd bo SO ashamed and panic-stricken
he'd run away at the sight of her."
"Well. you have been lucky SO far.
but il can't go on like this forever, "
observed Ted Merrows. "Tako my
tip. and mako hay while the sun
shines"
"How do you mean?" u
"You are old enough to marry. and.
as your uncle's sole heir you'd be a
valuable ARTICLE in tho matrimonial
market; but II he marries. you'll find
yourself on the self among the damaged
goods and remnants. Dispose of your.
self while YOU are still hoir and the
fitting lord for an heiress. You can't
stop the old man marrying. but you
eau take care he doesn't spoil you by
marrying tirst."
"But don't know anybody" re-
monstrated Tim. "How am I TO fnd
tho hsiress, get introduced aud en-.
gagged. and marry her out Of hand
in"