, 1898-12-16

- 49, pun 4 hafo htHl.f
your story, and in all honor and hu-
mani'y think y0ur claims are Just. If
you cannot get the share of Absalom
Bosle's property 10 which you are
morally entitled, yon are welcome to
all you can get i'll the name of my wife.
How is that, Kate:"
II agree with all my hearth cried
Kate.
The rich moisture in Jedediah's eyes
gave token Of the feelings which he did
not speak. He sat down and ate dinner
with tue happy young couple and said
no more upon the subject of business.
The weeks rolled on, and the morn
ing of the 4th of December at length
arrived. In the great, old, shambling
house which had been vacant since the
day of Absalom Bogle's funeral an
anxious crew We're assembled.
On that very morning Jack and Kate
Winthrop had been visited by Mr..
Spoonor, who had asked their attend
ance on the coming occasion. They had
replied to aim that they had no interest
i'll the matter.
But, . said Mr.. Spoener, ''Jedediah
Sprout tells me that you will give your
share TO him.
IF he can get it, added Jack.
IF he is to get it at all, " said the
attorney, lit viii be necessary that You
and your wife shouldabe there to relin.
quish it,"
"On your honor, Mr., Spooner, do
you think our presence would help poor
Jedediah Sprout:" asked Kate.
The attorney replied that he thought
it would.
Then" said Kate, Eve will &c.
What say you. .Jack?'
Jack consented, and so it transpired
that Kate Winthrop and her husband
We're present at the %eventful meeting,
The cousins of closer degree scowled
upon them when they entered, and one
wheezy old spinster informed them that
it would have looked better if they had
remained away.
mot nearer than the sixth or eighth
remove at best" put in an ancient
maiden of asoetic aspect. "Uhl The as
surance of some folks!"
The hsur slipped on, and the impor-
NdlN me- lhAdh was L4uEt dN udll. All
had assured themselves that Jeptha
Boyle wasnot in the land of the living
At all events he had not been heard
from. And then followed a comparing
of notes touching respective nearness of
relationship Genealogical registers of
all kinds We're at hand, aud it was very
evident that not a few of them had
been recently altered and amended.
Crimipation and recrimination result
ed, and a belligerent outburst was ON
the tapis when the clock struck IL, aud
with the last stroke of the fateful bell
Mr.. Spooner appeared upon the scene,
and with him came the man called Jed
ediah Sprout.
"Ladiesand gentlemen and very good
friends, said the attorney with a form
al bow, Il have the pleasure of intro
dRcing to you your very obedient and
humble cousin, Jeptha Boyle. He bids
yon welcome to his mansion and begs
that you will honor him with your
company to dinner.
"BosleH' cried spinster number one.
starting up, what Bogle?"
Its a base deception exclaimed
the ancient maiden of ascetic visage.
WHO is Jeptba BogleY' demanded a
low proved haberdasher, upsetting his
chair ms he arose and coming very near
to upsatting "a wien faced old bachelor
who sat next to him.
Il am Jeptha Boyle, - said the attor-
ney's companion. He now appeared in
a suit of bluok velvet and looked like a
very kind hearted. benign old gentle
man. Il am the only brother of Absa-
lom Boyle, who died one year ago in
this house. | came from South America
six months ago and made myself known
to Mr. Spooner. | told him i had no
use for all the money my brother had
left, and that l was willing to divide
the greater part of it with the distant
relatives.
Mr.. Spooner %applauded my motive,
but advised me to examine for myself
and select the worthy mes. So l called
myself Sprout and went at the work.
As you would have done unto Jedediah
Sprout, | give you full permission to do
unto yourselves. Dinner will be ready
in half IN hour. but You will excuse me
vi s'ttiuE ~ tdhie WIN yOu, ds l an
engaged elsewhere-Jack and Kate
Winthrop will come with me. As they
were not Of the heirs expectant their
presence in this assembly is no longer
necessary"
From establishment to indignation
and from Indignation to boiling wrath
surged the cousins OF all degrees, and
in such wrathful mood they found no
appetite for dinner, and one by one or
in muttering, cursing pairs they crawl
ed away, invoking all sorts of maledic-
lions upon the head of the returned
brother who had SO deceived and en-
trapped them, as we'll as upon the heads
of the young couple who. they were
very sure, were to bask in the sunshine
of Jeptha Bogle's good intent.
And in this last surmise they vera
not mistaken. Old Jeptha found a home
with Jack and Kate. and be did not
wait until death had cut short his share
of the enjoyment before giving to them
of the wealth which he had resolved
should be theirs .-Cincinnati Post.
PuiiIng GA Hats.
Il have not yet lived 1000, 900
years" said Mr.. Goslington, "but so
far 1 observe that there is one form Of
play that all boys haveplike during
considerable period of their Youthful ex-