The times., 1899-05-21
VERY LIKE HER UNCLE.

/ can get along Win MIN, IN very
sure" cried Joscelnd Darkridge.
Nobody could get along with him." cho-
rused the three other Misses DarlIridge in
unison.
Uncle Black was the parsonage of whom
they spoke-a grabbed, ill-tempered, little
old man-who lived in a superb old coun-
! try seat among the Ca,skills
He had money TO leave but his nieces
and nephews secretly believed that it
would be deal easier to go to California
or Golconda and dig fortunes out, nugget
by nugget, than TO stay at home and earn
them by making themselves acceptable to
an ole gentleman who had as many angles
/ as rose diamond and as many prickly
| spikes of temper as a porcupine
Naomi Darkridge had tried it first.
NO enc can help loving Naomi said
/ Mrs. Darkridge, as she kissed her daugh-
ter gocdby.
But in three weeks Naomi came back
half frightened out of her wits.
/ Magdalena Darkridge went next; but
Magdalena, although fine, tall girl, with
spirit of her own, was cowed by Uncle
| Blacks savage eyes in less than week.
! I'D sooner sweep crossings for a liv-
ing" said she, than be Uncle Blacks
heiress."
Rhoda Darkridge, in no wise abashed by
the successive failures OF her sisters, was
the third one TO try Black Grange and its
possibilities. But she also succumbed be-
| fore the terrible scouTge of Uncle Blacks
savage tongue.
ITS scold, snarl, snari scold, from
morning till night" said Rhoda, as in
three days time she tearfully related her
experience to her parents.
| But here Joscelind, the youngest, tallest,
and prettiest of the four girls, spoke up:
Il can get along with him. I'm very
sure" said Joscelind, brightly.
| II was sunset-a red flaming sunset
when she came up the terraced flight of
steps that led to the house. Uncle Black
stood on the steps.
so you are Joscelind" said he. sur
veying her with little twinkling eyes, like
| glass beads.
Yes. I'm Joscelind," said the bright
| checked girl. giving him a kiss.
You're late said Uncle Black.
Il am late" said Joscelind. Il thought
the old beast of stage never would have
got here. The horses fairly crept and the
roads were horrid''
It's a dreadful warm day" growled
Uncle Black.
I'm almost roasted" sighed Joscelind
THE whole summer has been intolerably
/
I'VE might as well be In the tropics and
be done with it, retorted Joscelind, fling
ing off her shawl and tanning herself We
hementIy
Uncle Black gave her the keys that
night, just ne had three times before
given them to her three sisters.
Il shall expect you to take charge OF the
whole establishment, said he. The SER
wants are miserable"
NO more than one might expect" inter-
rupted JOscelind. with a deprecatory mo-
tion Of the hand. Servants are mere
frauds nowadays"
And nothing goes right about the
place"
Nothing ever does" said Joscelind.
At breakfast next morning Uncle Black
began TO scold as usual.
Fish again." said he. This makes four
mornings this week we've had fish,
Il detest fish" said Joscelnd, pushing
away her plate with a grimace.
And the rolls heavy againi" growled
Uncle Black, breaking one open.
please give me the plate Uncle BLACK -
said Joscelind, and she rang the table bell
sharply.
Betty, the cook. stout, good -humored
Irish woman, made her appearance.
Betty" said Miss Darkridge be so
good as to throw these rolls out of the win
dow"
But what am to eat for breakfast -
bewailed Uncle Black.
Crackers. Of course said Joseelind.
Anything is bettc' than imperiling ones
digestion with such stuff as this. And
Betty, if yoI send up any more fish in a
month you may consider yourself dis
charged-do you hear?'
But. my dear, ! am rather fond OF fish. -
put in the old gentleman.
"One cant eat fish the whole time" said
Joscelind. imperiously. Here, Betty-this
coffee isn't fit to drink, and the toast is
burned, and you must have put the cook
ing butter on the table by mistake, Let
these errors be rectified at once
Betty retired with an ominous rustic of
her stifiy starched apron.
My dear said Uncle Black. apprehen-
sively Betty is very old servant,
and
Il don't care if she is the age of Me-
thuselah," said Joscelind; nobody can be
expected TO put up with suct wretched
cooking this!"
Il really think she is not so bad, if
"Oh, pray don't apologize for her, Uncle
Black said Joscelind. "They are all
shiftess, lazy creatures, who must be dis
charged promptly if they don't do their
duties"
Uncle Black began to look frightened.
| He had kept Betty, Sylvia, and old John
LOT zen years. Ndh IL posSlDie tnat he had
| scolded at them for ten years, only to have
Joseclind Darkridge outscold him now?
| Uncle Black ate the rest of his breakfast
with but little appetite. Sylvia, the house
maid, finishing busting his library
when he entered it.
Not through yet" growled Uncle Black
the fretwork OF wrinkles once more com
ing into his brow.
Sylvia" said Miss Darkridge, severely
IF this happens again | shall dispense
with your services, Look at that clock.
Is this the time of day TO be dawdline
about the rooms with broom and duster!
Remember Mr.. Black does not pay ex-
orbitant wages to lie in bed until noon!
| MY dear. said Uncle Black, Sylvia is
generally very good girl, if
Dear uncle" interrupted Joscelind
pray permit me to be the Judge of these
matters You have ruled your household
with a slack and indulgent hand alto
gether too long. l shall now institute
reform
Old John, the gardener. was not exempt
from his share of the general turmoil
Miss Darkridge CHANGED TO hear her uncle