The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1899-07-15
/OU mean that you can't put your
Y self out to give your mothers
brother a nights lodging ~ said

wings, came whistling around the corner,
lifting the old mans faded comforter ends
and turning his blue nose shade bluer
STILL while Mrs Larkins, his eldest niece,
stood in her doorway, filling up the aper-
ture with her ample person in such way
as to suggest the familiar legend, 'No
admittance ~
Mrs. Larkins was stout and blooming
and cherry checked, dressed in substantial
alpaca, with gay gold brooch and eardrops,
which bespoke anything but AFFECT poverty.
Uncle Caleb was thin and meager and
shabbily dressed, with glossy seams in his
overcoat and fhger-ends protruding from
his worn gloves like ancient rose-buds COM
ing out of their calyx.
"I'm very sorry" said Mrs. Larkins,
stiflly but we have but one spare room,
and that is at present occupied. OF course
l should be glad to do all could for you,
but"
81 understand I understand" said
Uncle Cheverel, turning coldly away. "pll
go to my niece Jenny wish you a very
good morning."
Mrs. Iarkins closed the door with sigh
OF very evident relief.
81 dare say Jenny will take care of him,
she said philosophically. Jenny has
smaller family than l have. But don't
see why he came up to London instead of
staying peaceably down in Tortoise Hollow,
where he belongs"
Mrs. Jennie Eldertop, Mr. Cheverel's
youngest niece, had smaller family than
her sister Rebecca, but then she had a
smaller income as well. She had Just fin
ished vigorous days cleaning when Uncle
Caleb was announced.
ooh, drat the man ~ said Mrs. Elder
top, wringng her parboiled fingers out of
basin Of steaming soap'suds. "What
Hends him here, just now of all times in
the world 2"
And she went down stairs ungraciously
enough to the street door, where her hus
band was welcoming the old stranger.
Come in, Uncle Caleb come in ~
said honest Will 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 little smell,
of whitewash in the spare room.
Mrs. Eldertop's welcome was BY no
means so cordial. She looked, to use a
common expression, Vinegar and darning
needles" at the visitor, while in her inmost
soul she calculated the probability of the
cold boiled ham and turnips holding out
for once more at supper
''Come, Jenny, don't scowl 3d." said
Mr.. Eldertop, when Uncle Caleb had gone
upstairs to wash his hands and face.
"Ain't he your uncle?"
"a good for nothing old vagabond, " said
Mrs. Eldertop acidly, without 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 overcoat now, with a
zig-zag rent in it, Just mend it while you
are waiting for the kettle to boil"
81 won't " said Mrs. Eldertop.
GAN right" retorted her lord and
master "Then I'll take it next door to
Alexia Allen to mend.'
Now, Miss Allen, the tailoress, who
lived in the adjoining house, was pretty
and buxom to look upon and Mrs Elder
top had nursed comfortably jealousy OF
her for the last four years.
"You'll do no such thing" said Jenny,
tartly. Gland it here"
And she threaded a needle with black
silk and thrust her finger into a thimble,
very much as a determined crusader of old
might have donned sword and shield for
some encounter with the Moslem.
whats that % said Mr.. Eldertop for
folded paper fell from the pocket of the
garment as his wife turned it upside down.
''Some tomfoolery or the other, an
swered Mrs. Jenny, brusquely.
81 fancy you're Mistaken said Mr..
Eldertop. cts the rough draft of the
will"
"But he has got nothing to leave"
shrieked Mrs Eldertop.
"Im not so certain of that" retorted
Will. "Just look here Jenny 4 give
and bequeath to my two beloved nieces, in
equally divided parts, the sum of go, 900,
at present invested in consols, and"
"Go on !" said Mrs. Eldertop, breath
lessly. "Read the rest"
"There is no rest" said her husband.
That's the end of the paper. OTIS only
rough draft, tell you. And now, what 8
your opinion of Uncle Cheverel g fortunes ?"
'He's been a miser all along" said Mrs
Eldertop, her face growing radiant. "Mak-
ing up poor mouths and travelling around
n From u 8 ,TOLrng, rysf,,c,ns