The Monmouth inquirer., 1898-08-04
UNCLE AND NEPHEW.


my life" quoth Mrs Marley elevating
her two rheumatism-twisted old hands
in the air. Dust on them beautiful
velvet carpets; glass in the conserva-
tory windows all broken; chickens
scratching up all the geraniums on the
front lawn, and the lazy servants
dawdling away their precious time,
while poor dear Mr.sAvenel and Harry
don't know any more what's going on
than if they were boarders. Says /,
Dear heart alive, Mr.. Avenel this is
enough to make your poor wife turn
in her grave. Says he-you know his
pleasant way-fWell, I know it isn't
lust right, Mrs. Marley; but what can
[ do?" And answered, says |, Get
a housekeeper' Says he, Where?
Says I, ADVERTISE Says he, Mrs.
Marley, you've hit the nail on the head.
I'll advertise Tomorrow And that's
how that paragraph happened to be in
the papers.
Here Mrs. Marley stopped to catch
breath, and nodded emphatically at her
auditor, pale woman dressed in deep
mourning, with the unbecoming frame
work of widows cap around her face.
"And do you think should suit the
gentleuan?s the latter asked, tfmidly.
You can but try" was Mrs Narley's
encouraging response. Mr. Avenel's
as easy as a lamb, and not one of them
as is everlastingly checking off bills
and counting nickel pennies; and
Harry's dreadful pleasant-tempered
Anyway, if l was you, Mrs Hawkhurst
I'd go and see."
And Mrs. Hawkhurst, holding her
pretty daughter by the hand, went up
accordingly to the handsome stone
house on the hill
There she found Mr.. Avenei in a state
of temporary siege; for others besides
herself had seem the tempting adver-
tisement, and made haste to answer it.
There were fat women and lean, tall
women and short Scotch women and
Germans. smiling, slovenly women and
trim, sharp visaged women; women
who had seen better days. and women
who evidently hadn't.
Mrs. Hawkhurst looked around some
what discouraged by the formidable
array of rivals.
There's no hope for me-" she
thought despairingly, and was just
about to turn away with timid Juliet
clinging to her hand, when Harry Ave-
mel advanced.
did you wish to see my uncle,
ma'a ?" he asked, courteously.
II called about the housekeeper's
situation" meekly murmured the
widow.
And Harry showed her in at once.
The fat and the tall, the German and
the Scotch, the sour and the sweet.
went. Mr.. Avenel decided to engage
Mrs. Hawkhurst as his housekeeper,
with permission to keep Juliet with
her.
"She is all I have, sir" said the
housekeeper, apolegtically, "and she
will try to be useful about the house"
How old is she?" asked Mr.. Avenei.
Fifteen, sir
"Well, let her stay" said the wild
over, good-humoredly. She'll eat no
more than chicken, and | dare say
she can do great many odd things
about the house"
Mrs. Hawkhurst proved herself an
executive oficeress of the greatest abii-
ity. Gradually the chaos and old
night" of Avenel place was reduced to
system and order The wheels of
housekeeping revolved so softly that
no one knew they moved, yet these
were the results. You scarce ever saw
the housekeeper gliding about the halls,
yet the servants declared she was ON
nipresent Mr. Avenel found himself
actually the inhabitant of a home once
more as the years slowly passed away.
: He was sitting on the piazza one day,
smoking his cigar, and watching the
graceful movements of Juliet Hawk
hurst, as she was planting trailing
vines in a marble vase that occupied
the centre of the lawn, when Mrs.
Marley came out.
"a nice evening, sir, said Mrs. Mar
ley. "Oh, there she isl"
"Who?" Mr. Avenel asked
"Why, that foolish child, Juliet"
answered the old lady, sharply. Il
hain't no patience with her, that l
hain't."
What has she been doing now?"
asked the widower, with an amused
face.
why. she's refused Ben. Nichols's
eldest son, as likely and forehanded
young feller as there is in the country.
Mr. Avenel started. Ben Nicholsl
Why, Mrs. Marley, she is only child. :"
= "She's seventeen next week" nod
ded Mrs. Marley. and high time she
thought o. settlin'."
Mr.. AveneI looked across to where
Juliet stood in her pink gingham dress,
the soft summer winds stirring her
curls, and her cheeks as softly tinted
as the standard moss rose on the lawn.
Seventeen Was it possible that little
Juliet Hawkhurst had grown to be sew
enteen years old? Oh, relentless time.
that would not stand still Oh, cruel
years, that went by and stole the fair
brightness of childhood away! So
Ben Nichols had actually asked Juliet
Hawkhurst to be his wife.
II wish you an Harry'd talk serious
to. her about it" went on Mrs. Marley.