The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1899-07-13

~ IN not so certain of that retort-
ed Will. Just look here. Jenny Il
give and bequeath to my two beloved
nieces, in equally divided parts, the
sum of e10,000 at present invested in
consols, and -
go on'' 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, l tell you. And
now what's your opinion of Uncle
Cheverel' $ fortunes2'
Hes been a miser all along" said
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 in
novelsl Put it back. Will; put it back.
We've no business to be prying into
Uncle Caleb's secrets. But what bless
ing it is he came here instead of stop
ping 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 "ThGnk ee kindly,
Jenny caught it on a nail yesterday,
and wac calculating to sew it up my.
self when / could borrow a needle and
thread.
''I'm glad to be of use, Uncle Caleb, "
beamed Mrs. Eldertop. johnny, put
on your cap and run to the grocer's for
a smoked mackerel for your uncle's
breakfast. hope you found your room
comfortable, Uncle CalebY'
Before she slept that night Mrs. Ell
dertop put on her bonnet and shawl and
ran around to the Larkins mansion to
impart her wonderful tidings to Sister
Rebecca.
"You don't say sol" cried out the
astonished matron.
Gospel truth said Mrs. Eldertop.
II saw it with my own eyes.
"He must come here, said Mrs.
Larkins resolutely.
Not if know it, " said Mrs. Elder
top Hes my guest, and my guest he
shall remain.
But if I'm to share equally with
you, said Mrs. Larkins, II ought to
show him some attention, the dear.
generous hearted old man p
Lest he should alter his will, .
shrewdly remarked Sister Jenny. "Yon
always were a worldly creature Becky =
"No more than YOURSELF" said Mrs.
LarlSins, bristling up. "But it's my
family am thinking of, Jenny. III
tell You what-Ill come around and
zee him tomorrow.
But don't you breathe syllable
about the will, said Mrs. Eldertop in
a mysterious whisper.
"Ob, not for worlds' said Mrs
Larkins fervently.
During the next week Uncle Cheve
rel was overwhelmed with ciyilities
On Thursday a new suit of clothes ar
rived, with Mrs. Larkins' best love and
compliments On Friday Mrs. Lakins
came with an open barouche to take
dear Uncle Caleb for a drive in the
park And on Saturday Mrs Eldertop
burst into tears and declared she should
be never happy again if her mother 5
only brother didn pledge himself then
and there to make his future home with
herself and Will
Uncle Caleb looked little puzzled
"Well said be, 'if you really make
a point of it-but | was intending to
meet Cousin John at Gravesend. .
Dear uncle promise me to stay here
always, cried Mrs. Eldertop
Gust as you say, Niece Jenny" as
sented the old man complacently.
Mrs Eldertop felt that she had car
ried her point
But when Mr. and Mrs Larkins
came on Sunday afternoon, to press a
similar petition, Uncle Caleb opened
his eyes.
"My importance seems to have gone
up in the market, he observed
quantity. q never was in such demand
among my relatives before. But | can t
be in two places at once, that plain. "
And he decided to remain with Mrs.
Eldertop, greatly to the Indignation of
the Larkins family, who did not hest
tate to hint boldly at unfair advantages
and undue impartiality.
But just as Mrs. Larkins was rising
to depart, with her handkerchief to her
eyes. little Johnny Eldertop came clam.
oring for a piece of paper to cut kite
tail from
"Go along said Mrs. Eldertop inn
patiently.
"We've no paper here Go to Anne
Ito.
Hold on, little chap-hold onl" said
Uncle Caleb, fumbling in his overcoat
pocket-he had been just about starting
for walk when the Larkins party ar.
rived-"here bit as is Of no use to
nobody"
And he produced the trough draft
and bestowed it en- Johnny.
lone side $ written on, said he,
land t'other amt. 1t 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. | can bear to see even bit
of paper wasted so | axed the clerk if it
was of any use. He said not was
only draft of DR.. Falcon s will DR.
Falcon made new will every six
months, he said, so | jest picked it UP
and put it in my pocket. Everything
comes in use once in seven years. they