The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1898-12-15

his eldest niece, stood in her doorway
filling up the aperture with her ample
person in such way rs to suggest the
familiar legend, "No admittance.'
Mrs. Larkins was stout and bloom
ing and cherry checked. dressed in sub
stantiai alpaca, with gay gold brooch
and eardrops. which bespoke anything
but abject poverty.
Uncle Caleb was thin and meager and
shabb:ly dressed, with glossy seams in
his overcoat and iinger-ends protruding
from his worn gloves like ancient rose
buds coming out of their calyz.
I'm very sorry" said Mrs. Larkins,
| stifily; but we have but one spare
room. and that is at present occupied.
OF course | should be glad to do all 1
could for you, but"
Il understand, | understand" said
Uncle Cheverel. turning coldly away.
I'll go to my niece Jenny. | wish you
n very good evening
Mrs. LarkinS closed the door with Il
sigh of very evident relief.
Il dare say Jenny will take care of
him. she said philosophically. Jenny
has a smaller family than have But
| | don't see why he came up TO London
instead of staying peaceably down in
Tortoise Hollow. where he belongs
Mrs. Jenny Eldertop, Mr.. Cheverers
| Youngest niece, had Il smaller family
than her sister Rebecca, but then she
had a smaller income as well. She had
G,ie ,-;,, L., Il.
when Uncle Caleb was announced.
"Oh, drat the man." said Mrs. FL
dertop, wringing her parboiled fingers
out of basin of steaming soapsuds.
What sends him here. just now of all
the times in the world!'
And she went downstairs ungra-
ciously enough to the street door,
where her husband was welcoming the
old stranger.
Come in. Uncle Cheverel-come in
said honest VIII Eldertop We're all
upside down here-we mostly are, now
that the spring cleaning is going on
But there's room for you if you don't
mind the children and their noise and a
little smell of whitewash in the spare
room"
Mrs. Eldertop's welcome was by no
means so cordial. She looked, to use
common expression. vinegar and darn
ing needles at the visitor. while in her
inmost soul she calculated the proba-
bili;y of the cold boiled ham and tur-
nips holding out for once more at sup
PEI"
Come. Jenny, don't scowl so.'' said
Mr.. Eldertop, when Uncle Caleb had
gone upstairs to wash his hands and
face. Amt he your uncle:"
~ good for nothing old vagabond."
said Mrs. Eldertop, acidly, without a
half-penny laid up ahead"
For all that he's your guest" said !
her husband, and you're bound to be |
civil to him. And here's his oyercoat !
now. with a zig-zag rent in it. Just /
mend it while you're waiting for the
kettle to boil"
II WON'T said Mrs. Elderto3.
"All right retorted her lord and
master. Then III take it next door to
Alexia Allen to mend
NoN, hlSS -Nllet, tUt tdllOTeSS, VINO
lived in the adjoining house. was prct-
~ and buSom to look upon. and Mrs.
Eldertop had nurscd comfortably a
jealousy of her for the last four years.
You'll do no such thing said Jen-
ny. tartly "Hand it here
And she threaded needle with
black silk and thrust her finger into
very much rs determined
crusader OF old might have donned
sword and shield for some encounter
with the Moslem.
whats that:' said Mr.. Eldertop:
of the garment rs his wife turned it !
upside down.
''Some tomfoolery or the other" an
swered Mrs. Jenny, brusquely.
Il fancy you're mistaken said Mr..
It's the rough draft of
Will"
But he's got nothing to Leave"
shrieked Mrs. Eldertop.
I'm not so certain OF that" retorted
VIII. Just lock here Jenny. 4 give
and bequeath to my two beloved
nicceS, in equally divided parts, the
sum of 100000 pounds, at present in
vested in consols, and
Go on.' said Mrs. Eldertop, breath
eSsly. Read the rest
There is no rest said her husband !
That's the end of the paper. It's only
A rough draft. 1 tell you. And now.
what's your opinion of Uncle Cheverers
,ortunes?"
Hes been miser all along" said
Mrs. Eldertop. her face growing ra-
liant. Making up poor mouths and
travelling around the country with all
his money in the funds. y regular old
Ike those one reads +
lbout in novels. Put it back. Will-put
t back. We've no business to be pry-
ne into Uncle Caleb's secrets: but
what blessing it is he came here. in
stead of stopping at Rebecca Larkins'."
And when Uncle Caleb Cheverel came
downstairs he was surprised at the
sweet smiles with which his niece Jen-
ny welcomed him.
'Beeni mending my coat, eh?' said
l. uNtC 1liGN tltl. Ilduh te hllltllN. | ,
Icnny. / caught it on nail yesterday,
md | was calculating to sew it up my
elf. when | could borrer needle and
bread
I'm glad to be of use, Uncle CALEB" ,
'eamed Mrs Eldertop johnny.
N your tap and run to tie groccr's Tor
smoked lnackGrcl for your uncle's
breakfast. | hope you found your
oom comfortable. Uncle Calcb?'
Before she slept that night Mrs. FL
lertop put on her bonnet and shawl and
an ,ound 10 the Larkins mansion to
mrart her wonderful tidngs to Sister I
2cbecca.
You don't say so.' cried out the as
,0nished matr0p. IL