Smyrna times., 1899-06-28
Uncle Cdfeb'S win.

You mean that you can't put your
self out to give your mothers brother a
nights lodging'' said Caleb Cheverel
bitterly.
The March wind, bearing dust, grit
and bits of flying paper on its restless
wings, came whistling around the cor
ner, lifted the old mans faded COM
forter'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 such a way as to suggest the
familiar legend. ''No admittance.'
81 IN very sorry" said Mrs. Larkins
stiffiy, "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
81 understand, l understand, said
Uncle Cheverel, turning coldly away.
I'm go to my niece Jenny. l wish
yOn very good evening""
Mrs. Larkins closed the door with
sigh Of very evident relief
Il dare say Jenny will take care of
him, she said philOsophically "Jenny
has smaller family than l 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.. Cheverel's
youngest niece, had a Smaller family
than her sister Rebecca; but, then, she
had a smaller income as we'll She had
just finished a vigorous days cleaning
when Uncle Caleb was announced
"Oh, drat the mani" said Mrs Ell
dertOp, wringing her parbCiled fingers
out of a basin of steaming soapsuds.
''What sends him here of all the times
in the world?'
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,
said honest Will EldertOp. Were 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. j."
Mrs. Eldertop's welcome was by no
means 80 cordial. She looked, to use a
common expression, ''vinegar and darn
ing needles" at the visitor, while in her
inmost 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
race "Ain't he your unclef"
"a good for nothing old vagabond,
said Mrs Eldertop acidly, without q
halfpenny laid up ahead.
"For all that he's your guest. " saiC
her husband, land you're bound to b.
civil to him. And here's his overcoa
now with big zigzag rent in it. JUS
mend it while you're waiting for TIN
kettle to boil. 3"
81 won'tr' said Mrs Eldertop.
"All right" retorted her lord ant
master. "Then I'll take it next door +
Alexia Allen to mend. 3"
Now, Miss Allen, the tailoress, VIII
lived in the adjoining house, wa
pretty and buxOm TO look upon, an
Mrs. Eldertop.had nursed cOmfortabl
jealousy of her for the last four years
you'll do no such thing said Jen
nv tartIy. Hand it herel'
And she threaded a needle with blac
silk and thrust her finger into thim5l
very much as determined crusader
old might have donned sword and shiel
for some encounter with the Moslem.
"What's .that2" said Mr.. EldertOI
for folded paper fell from the pock'
of the garment as his wife TUNED it NJ
side down.
'Some tomfoUlery or other, answe
ed Mrs. Jenny brusquely.
81 fancy you re mistaken, said M
Eldertop. ''Its the rough draft of
will"
"But he's got nothing to leave, " +
torted Mrs. EldertOp.
''I'm not so certain of that, retoI
ed Will "Just look here, Jenny
give and bequeath to my two below
nieces, in equally divided parts, I
sum of e1O, 900, at present invested
consols, and -
"Go oni" said Mrs. EldertOp breat
Iessly. "Read the rest.
"There is no rest, said her nj
band. That's the end of the pap'
It's only rough draft, tell you. A
now what's your opinion of Un'
Cheverel's fortunesT
"He's been a miser all along, 81
Mrs. Eldertop, her face growing radlai
"making up poor mouths and travell
around the country with all this NOR
in the funds, regular old charac
lust like those one reads about
novelist Put it back, Will; put II Da
We've no business to be prylng Il
Uncle Calebs secrets. But what bic
ing it is he came here instead OF ST.
ping at Rebecca Larkins'.
And when Uncle Cheverel came do
-. l. .oa srryrised at the Sw