The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1899-11-03
AiScellamenms
UNCLE CAEB'S WILL.

You mean that you can't put your.
self out to give your mother's brother
| a nights lodging!" said Caleb Chever.
ell, bitterly.
The March winds, bearing dust,
grit and bits of flying paper on its
| restless wings, came whistling around
| the corner, lifting the old mans faded
| comforter's ends and turned his blue
nose shade bluer still, while Mrs.
Larkins, his eldest niece, stood in her
doorway, filling up the aperture with
her ample person In su3h way as to
suggest the familiar legend, mo ad.
mittance."
I'm very sorry" said Mrs. Larkins,
stihiy, but we have but one spare
room, and that is at present occupied.
or course l should be glad to do all I
could for you, but-N
Il understand, / understand" said
Uncle CheSerei, turning colby away.
IN go to my niece Jenny. l wish
you a very good evening""
Mrs. Darkins closed the door with a
sigh Of very evident relief.
Il dare say Jenny will take care of
hiM." she said, philosophically.
Jenny has a smaller family than 1
have. But don't see why he came
up to London, instead of staying
peaeebly down in Tortoise Hollow,
where he belongs"
Mrs. Jenny Eldertop, Mr.. Cheverel's
youngest niece, had a smaller family
than her sister, Rebecca; but, then,
she had a smaller income as well.
She had just finished a vigorous days
cleaning when Uncle Caleb was
announced.
ION, drat the many said Mrs.
Eldertop, wTinging her parboiled
fngers ouF OF a basin of steaming
eoapsud's, "What sends him here of
all the times in tho world"
And -he went down stairs ungra-
oiously enough to the street door,
where her husband was welcoming
the old stranger.
Come in, Uucle Cheverel, come in,
said honest Will EIdertop. 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
q common expression, VINEGAR and
darnips assdies'' at the visitor, while
il Her utmost soul she calculated the
probability of the cold boiled ham
and turnips holding out for one more
at supper.
Come, Jenny, don't scoWl so,"
said Mr.. Eldertop, when uncle Caleb
had gone up STAIRS to wash his hands
and face, "Ain't he your uncleH"
IA good. for.n old vagabond,"
said Mrs. Eldertop, acidly, without
a half-penny laid up ahead"
For all that, he's your guest" said
her husband, land you're bound to be
civil to him. And here's his overcoat
now with a big zigag rent in il. Just
mend it while you're waiting for the
II WON'T" said Mrs. Eldertop.
cali right,a 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 housewas pretty
and buxom to look upon, and Mrs.
Eldertop had nursed comfortably u
jealousy of her for the last fonr years.
You'll do no such thingr' said
Jenny, tartly. Hand it herer'
And she threaded a needle with
| black silk and thrust her finger into a
thimble very much rs q determined
crusader of old might have donned
sword and shield for some encouptey
with the Moslem.
whats thatg'' said Mr.. Eldertop,
as a folded paper fell from the pocket
of the garment as his wife turned it
upside down.
'"Some tomfoolery or other,'
answered Mrs. Jenny, brusquely.
II fancy you're mistaken" said
Mr.. Eldertop. Its the rough draft
of will"
But he's got nothing to leave" re-
torted Will. Just look here, Jenny
L give and bequeath to my two be.
loved nieces, in equally divided parts,
the SUN of e1o,Oe& at present invested
in consols, an"
80 onr' said Mrs. Eldertop, breath
lessly. Read the rest"
There is no rest" said her hus'
band.
"That's the end OF the paper. Its
only rough draft, tell you. And
now what's your opinion Of Uncle
Cheverel's fortunes?"
He's been miser all along" said
Mrs. Eldertop, her face growing radi
ant, making UP poor mouths anC
travelling around the country with al
this money in the funds, a regular old
oharacter-justl like those one reads
about in novelsl Put it back, Will
put it back. We've no business to b.
prying into Uncle Caleb's secrets
But what a blessing it is he came
here instead of stopping at Rebecc'
Larkins'."
And when Uncle Cheverel cam,
down he was surprised at the swee
smiles with which his niece, Jenny
welcomed him.
Been mending my coat, ehf" suit
Uncle Cheverel. "Thauk'ee, kindly
Jenny. caught it on nail yester
! day and was calculating to sew 1t u
! myself when could borrow needl
and thread.
: II am glad to be Of use, Uncl
Caleb" beamed Mrs. Eidertop.-
Johnny, put on your cap and run t
: the grocer's for smoked mackere
for your uucle's breakfast. l hop
, YOU found your room comfortable
, Uncle Caleb2n
Before she slept that night Mr.