Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1899-11-06
UNCLE CALEB'S WILL.

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 and
grit and bits of flying paper on its
restless wings, came whistling around
the corner, lifting the old mans faded
comforter's ends and turning 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 such a way as to
suggest the familiar legend, mo ad-
| mittance."
Mrs. Larkins was stout and bloom
ing and cherry checked, dressed in sub
stantial alpaca, with gay gold brooch
and eardrops, which bespoke anything
but abject poverty.
Uncle Caleb was thin and meager
and shabbily dressed, with glossy
seams in his overcoat and finger
protruding from his worn gloves like
ancient rosebuds coming out of their
calyx.
I'm very sorry" said Mrs. Larkins,
stifiy; but we have but one spare
room, and that is at present occupied.
OF course l should be glad to do all l
could for you, but"
Il understand, l understand" said
Uncle Cheverel, turning coldly away.
"Ill 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 l have. But
l 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 a 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. Elder
top, wringing her parboiled fingers out
of basin of steaming soapsuds. What
sends him here, just now of all times
in the world?"
And she went down stairs 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 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 bar IN, ,ha
probability of the cold boiled ham and
turnips holding out for once more at
supper.
Come, Jenny, don't scow, so," said
Mr. Eldertop, when Uncle Caleb had
gone upstairs to wash his hands and
face. "Aint he your uncle?"
"a good for nothing old wagabond,"
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 overcoat
now, with zig-zag rent In it. Just
mend it while you are waiting for the
kettle to boil"
Il won't!" 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. FL
dertop had nursed comfortably a jeal-
ousy of her for the .asa four years.
You'll do no such thing" said Jenny,
tartly. Hand It here
And she threaded a needle with a
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 up
side down.
Some tomfoolery or the other" an
swered Mrs. Jenny, brusquely.
Il fancy you're mistaken" said Mr..
Eldertop. tits the rough draft of
will
But he has got nothing to leave"
shrieked Mrs. Eldertop.
I'm not so certain of that" retorted
| Will. Just look here, Jenny! L give
and bequeath to my two beloved nieces,
in equally divided parts, the sum of
1000, 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. It's only
rough draft, l tell you. And now,
what's your opinion of Uncle Cheverel's
fortunes?"
Hes been a miser all along" said
Mrs. Eldertop, her face growing radi-
ant. Making up poor mouths and
travelling around the country with all
this money in the funds. A regular old
character-just like those one reads
about in novels. Put it back, Will
put 1t back. We've no business to be
prying into Uncle Caleb's secrets; but
what blessing it is he came here in
stead Of stopping at Rebecca Larkins."
And when Uncle Cheverel came down
stairs he was surprised at the sweet
smiles with which his niece Jenny well
coined him.
Been mending my coat eh?" said
Uncle Cheverel. "Thank'ee kindly
Jenny. l caught it on nail yesterday,
and | was calculating to sew II up N.Y.