The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1899-06-09
Uncle (afeb'S win.

Observation-Disclosures
"You mean that you can't put your
self out to give your mothers brother
nights lodging!" said Caleb Cheverel
bitterly.
The March wind, bearing dust. grit
and bits of flying paper on it's restless
wings, came whistling around the COR
ner, lifted the old mans faded COM
forter's ends and turned his blue nose
a shade blucr still, while Mrs. Larkins,
his eldest niece, stood in her doorway.
filling up the aperture with her ample
person in such way as to suggest the
familiar legend. ''No admittance.
"I'm very sorry" said Mrs. Larkins
stiff1y. "but we have but one spare
room, and that is at present occupied.
OF course should be glad to do all
could for you, but
81 understand. understand, said
Uncle Cheverel, turning coldly away.
'sI'll go to my niece Jenny. wish
you very good evening""
Mrs. Larkins closed the door with a
sigh Of very evident relief.
81 dare say Jenny will take care Of
him." she said philosophically. "Jenny
has smaller family than I 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.. Cheverels
youngest niece, had q. smaller family
than her sister Rebecca; but, then. she
had smaller income as well. She had
just finished vigorous days cleaning
when Uncle Caleb was announced.
"Oh, drat the mani" said Mrs. Ell
dertop. wringing her parboiled fingers
out Of basin Of steaming soapsuds.
.sWhat sends him here of all the times
in the worldf"
And she went down stairs ungraci-
ously enough to the street door. where
her husband was welcoming the old
stranger.
"Ccme in, Uncle Cheverel. come in, Z"
said honest Will Eldertop. ssWe'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 a
common expression, 'vinegar and darn
ing needles" at the visitor, while in her
Utmost soul she calculated the prob
ability of the cold boiled ham and tur-
nips holding out for one more at supper.
"Come. Benny. don't scowl SO" said
Mr.. Eldertop, when Uncle Caleb had
gone up stairs to wash his hands and
face. CANT he your uncle1"
"a good for nothing old vagabond. %
said Mrs. Eldertop acidly. without a
halfpenny 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 zigzag rent in it. Just
mend it while you IRE waiting for the
kettle to boil.
81 won'tl" said Mrs. Eldertop
"All 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. Eldertop had nursed comfortably
jealousy of her for the last four years.
you'll do no such thingi" said Jen-
ny tartly. Gland it herel''
And she threaded needle with black
silk and thrust her finger into thimble
very much as determined crusader Of
old might have donned sword and shield
for some encounter with the Moslem.
"What's that7" said Mr.. Eldertop.
for a folded paper fell from the pocket
Of the garment as his wife turned it up
side down.
"Some tomfoolery or other. " answer
ed Mrs. Jenny brusquely.
81 fancy you re mistaken" said Mr..
Eldertop ''It's the rough draft Of 9
will. I"
"But he's got nothing to leave" re-
torted Mrs Eldertop.
"I'm not SO certain of that" retort-
ed Will "Just look here, Jennyl q
give and bequeath to my two beloved
nieces, in equally divided parts, the
sum of 100000, at present invested in
consols. and p
go onl' said Mrs. Eldertop breath.
lessly. "Read the rest.
"There is no rest" said her hus
band. "That's the end of the paper.
It's only a rough draft, 1 tell you. Ani
now what's your opinion Of Uncle
Cheverel's fortunes?''
"He's been miser all along" sale
Mrs. Eldertop. her face growing radiant
making up poor mouths and travelling
around the country with all this money
in the funds, regular old character
just like those one reads about il
novelist Put it back, Will; put it back
We've no business to be prying int,
Uncle Caleb's secrets. But what bless
ing it is he came here instead of stop
ping at Rebecca Larkins'."
i And when Uncle Cheverel came dowi