Connecticut western news., 1899-11-30

never shown to them the color of his money, and as he lives simply and in. duIges sparingly in life's luxuries he is at length accounted an eccentric indi. yidual of small means and left religious. ly alone.
 Alone and uncared for-that is, if we except the little friendly "runnings in" of Plantagenet, his grandnephow, who has taken to the gentle old man from the first, and who is never weary of hearing of tho professors late trip to the petrifled tree tract of Arizona or | looking at the rare specimens so careful | ly collected, for Uncle Job is a learned geologist and has written several re- markable treatises on the subject, his Sermons In Stones'' having been adopted as a textbook in many oolleges And from stones Plantagenet easily leads the conversation to scarcely less adamantine subjects-the hearts of his unyielding parents-for, cold, calculat. ing and worldly, they have softened not one whit under the warmth of Plan. tagenet's young love, and 1t is Uncle Job who unconsciously encourages him | in his grim determination to brave the ire of his parents and marry his sweet Nan in the teeth of all opposition. And so they are quietly married Plantagenet Altick and Nanette Gray and go to housekeeping in pretty lit tie cottage, in pretty suburb, some miles from the splendid city home of his father.
 Uncle Job, who has begun new work on geology, shuts himself up in his third story back room and allows the world without to wag as it will.
 And it soon begins to wag in very cheerless manner for the two welded young folks.
 But though shut out from one loved paradise, he has his Nan-his dear, lit. tie, brave Nan, who smiles through great, unshed tears upon him, when suddenly she meets his sorrowful gaze after many long quarter of an hours silent retrospeotion.
 "Oh, it must come right soon, Plant they never would shut you out of their lives foreveri'
 "You don't know them," mutters the boy.
 I'm pretty we'll acquainted with you, dear, and if any father or mother could treat such son as you are so sourvily-there, that's an ugly word, know, Plant, but it's tho right one to use in this instance-all have to say is that they don't deserve such good ohild-there and two pretty arms, barred to the elbow for kitchen conven. fence, find their fond way about the neck of her chosen lord.
 Her chosen lord smiles faintly at this speech and tries desperately to rally his dropping spirits.
 It was a very humble position that the college bred Plantagenet Altick found himself obliged to accept to keep the little house going-the only position open to him when be- beside himself with just indignation at an unreason. able opposition and great and absorb ing love, broke bounds and besought the faithful Nan to leave her position as governess in a wealthy family and share his five roomed cottage and his meager salary.
 Nan, too used to poverty to let 1t frighten her, and imagining, innocent soul, that no one could long be angry at so dear boy as Plant, consented, and the home coming. though lone. some little anair, brought %Itn ir nap piness enough to last fortnight at least.
 Then Plantagenet saw that there was to be no relenting on the part of those he loved and reverenoed with all the strength of his boyish nature, and his grief grew greater with every passing hour. To crown all, he had lost his po- sition the second week in the November following owing to the insolvency of the firm by which he had been employ ed, and. though they have given him splendid recommendations. there is no position easily obtainable.
 One morning stray thought, finding its way from out that great, mysterious silence so full of untried possibilities, comes to him suddenly and sends him upon its own little errand straight to Uncle Job.
 Up long flight of front stairs, up a short back flight and several knocks upon a door's panel cause 1t to open and | discover to young Altiok room Uttered | with papers, books, trays of specimens and two or three volumes of Hugh Mil | Ter.
 Good morning. Uncle JobW
 "How dye do Plantagenetr"
 "I do miserably, thank you, sir. Un- ole Job, I've lost my position, and-and If could help you in any way-copy- ing or the like-I write tolerably de- cent hand. sir, and l thought perhaps you'd like to hire mel
 "No-no-noi Not, even though you're Yale fellow well met I'd not trust you with theml Not a soul save myself shall do line of writing on these particular manuscripts. Whats the matter?'
 "Firm worked for failed"
 "Humphi How's Nan?''
 How should she bey Happy and joyous as befits a bride-the bride of man shut out from home, and who has not red cent in his pocket Heaven knows where tomorrow's bread and butter will come fromp'
 And it won't tell. It's sort of hab. it 1t has got into, you see, about be. ing sort of mysterious over the ends 1t has in view. But there, you may sort out the numbered pages for mo from among the litter yonder, and we'll see about the bread and butter for tomor. row. Tomorrow is Thursday-bless me, boy, it's Thanksgiving
 Thanksgiving So it is Thanks giving"
 "Your tone of voice would suggest that you hadn't the dearest little wife in the world to be thankful for. Shame upon you, my nephew. There, I'm not a rich man, as rich men go, but take this bill to Nan and tell her it's from her Uncle Job."
 Late upon this same afternoon Pro. lessor Altick, basket on arm, goes from greengrocer to butcher shop, intent upon his purchase of Thanksgiving tnrkav The fowl he meang to buy he