Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1899-07-28

on your cap and run to the grocer'a for
a smoked mackerel for your uncle's
breakfast. / hope you found your room
comfortable, Uncle Calebf'
Before she slept that night Mrs. III
dertop put on her bonnet and shawl and
ran around to the Larlins mansion to
impart her wonderful tidings to Sister
Rebecca.
"You don't say sol" cried out tho
astonished matron.
Gospel TRUTH said Mrs. Eldertop.
II saw it with my own eyes"
'He must como here" said Mrs.
Larkins %resolutely.
"Not if ] know It, said Mrs. Elder
top. Hes my guest, and ny guest he
shall remain"
'But If I'm to share equally with
you" said Mrs. Larkins, II ought 20
show him some attention, the dear.
generous hearted ola MANI
"Lest he should alter his viii, "
shrewdly remarked Sister Jenny. lyon
always were a worldly creature Becky g.
ono more than yourselfr' said Mrs
Larkins, bristling up. "But it's my
family l am thinking Of, Jenny. I'll
tell you what-In come around and
see him tomorrow.
"But don't you breathe a syllable
about the will" said Mrs. Eldertop. in
a mysterious whisper.
ooh. not for worldsl" said Mrs
Larkins fervently.
Daring the next week Uncle Cheve-
rel was overwhel,ued with civilities.
On Thursday q new suit OF clothes ar
rived. with Mrs. Larkins hest love and
compliments. On Friday Mrs. Lakina
came with an open %bagouche to take
dear Uncle Caleb fer q drive ia the
park. Aud Gu Saturday Ms. EldertoD
burst into tear5 and declared she should
be never happy again II her mothcr's
only brother didn't pledge himself then
and there to make his future home with
herself and Will.
Uncle Caleb looked q little puzsled
"Well,' said he, 'if you really make
g point of it-but was intending to
meet Cousin John at Gravesend.
Dear uncle, proaaise me 20 stay here
always, " cried Mrs. &iertop.
"Just ss yen say. Niece jenny" as-
scented the old man complacentIy.
Mrs Eldertop felt that she had car
ried her point.
Bat vixen lIr. and Mrs. LarsiDs
came on Sunday afternoon, to press a
similar petition. Uncle Caleb opened
his eyes.
my Importance seems to have gone
mp in the market" he observed
quantity. II never was in such demand
amoug my relatives before. But l can'i
be in two places at once. that's plain. .
And he decided to remain with Mrs.
Eldertop, greatly to the Indignation 81
the Larkins family, who did not hest
tate to hint boldly at unfair advantages
AID undue irpartiality.
But just as Mrs, Larkins was rising
to depart. with her handkerchief to her
eyes, little johnny Eldertop came clam.
oring for 2 piece of paper TO cut a kite
tail from.
$50 along" enid Hrs. Eldertop i'm.
patiently.
"N eve no paper here. Go to Anne
lio."
"Hold OF, little chop-hold ont" said
Uncle Caleb, fumblirg in his o%vercoat
pocket-ho had been jest about starting
for a walk when the Lar6ins party ar.
rived-'heres a bit as is Of no uae to
nobody"
And he produced the "rough draft
and bestowed it en- Johnny.
Zone sides written on, said he,
"and t'other amt. II was lying on the
floor in Mr.. Watkins law office when
stepped in to see if Joseph Hall was en-
ployed there as porter still. An old
chum Of mine Hall was, in Tortoise
Hollow. l can't bear to see even a bit
of paper wasted, SO l axed the clerk if il
was Of any use. He said mott was
only a draft Of DR.. Falcons will. DR..
Falcon made a new will every six
months, he said, so | jest picked II M
and pat it in my pocket. Everything
comes in use once in seven years, they
say, and this IS just right for little
Johnny's kite tail.
Mrs. Larkins looked at Mrs. Elder.
top. Mr.. Eldertop stared into the spec,
tacled eyes Of Mr.. Larkins.
Uncle Caleb chuckled benevolently az
little Johnny skipped away with the
piece of paper which had been freighted
with such a wealth Of anticipation.
The Larkinses took leave without any
unnecessary formula Of adieu, and Mrs.
Eldertop took occasion to tell UnclC
Caleb that perhaps he had better prose
cute his original design Of the Graves,
end visit.
Because we're expecting company
tomorrow" said she, land our best
oom will ba wanted for a while. And, ,
she added. within herself, II will take
good care that it shan't be empty again.
just at present.
So Uncle Caleb Cheyerel went tc
Gravesend. where Cousin John was a.
poor and warm hearted as himself, and
he was never invited to return to Lon.
don again.
Five years later Uncle Caleb departed
this life and left behind him $40, 0OC
in consols-willed to John Clark. Tc
his "dear nieces," Jane Eldertop and
Rebecca Larkins. he left 60 each to pay
for the trouble he put them to when he
visited them. To say that there was
JOY in the nieces' households when the
will was read would be to say what il
false, for, if the old man could have