Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1899-09-05
UnCfe (aleb'S Win.

+ OltOtO \uiOU q VIII y
3-as+e+s-te+s+e+~+e+-s+s+s+:
"You mean that you can't put your
self ont to give your mothers brother a
nights lodgingP said Caleb Cbeverel
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
a shade bluer still, while Mrs. Larkins.
his eldest niece. stood in her doorway,
filing up the aperture with her ample
person in such a way as to suggest the
familiar legend. mo admittance
"Pm very sorry" said Mrs. Larkins
stifiy. "but we have but one spare
room. and that Is at present occupied.
OF course should be glad to do all ]
could for you, but
81 understand. understand" said
Uncle Cheyerel. turning coldly away.
I'll 90 to my niece Jenny / wish
you n very good evening""
Mrs. Larkins closed the door with
sigh Of very evident relief.
"I dare say Jenny will take care Of
him. she said philosophically. Jenny
has smaller family than have. But
dom see why he came mp to London.
instead Of staying peaceably down in
Tortoise Hollow. where he belongs"
Mrs Jenny Eldertop. Mr. Cheverel's
youngest niece. bad q 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 manr' said Mrs e.
dertop, wringing her parboiled fingers
ont Of basin Of steaming soapsuds
"what sends him here Of all the times
in the worldr'
And she went down stairs ungraci-
ously enough to the street door, where
her husband was welcoming the old
stranger
"Come 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 IL you don't
mind the children and their noise, and
little smell Of whitewash In the spare
room.
Mra Eldertop's welcome was by no
means 30 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
face. "Aint he your unclef'
"A good for nothing old vagabond."
said Mrs Eldertop acidly. without a
halfpenny laid mp ahead.
"For all that he's your guest. said
her husband. land you're bound to be
civil to him And here's bis overcoat
now with big zigzag rent in it. Just
mend it while you're waiting for the
kettle to boil.
81 WON'T" said Mrs Eldertop.
"All right" retorted her lord and
master. "Then III take II 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. Eldertop had nursed comfortably
q jealousy of her for the last four years
You'll do no such thingl" said Jen-
ny tartly. Hand it herel''
And she threaded needle with black
silk and thrust her finger into Il thimble
very much as determined crusader Of
old might have donned sword and shield
for some encounter with the Moslem.
whats thatf" said Mr.. Eldertop,
for folded paper fell from the pocket
Of the garment as his wife turned it up
side down.
"Some tomfoolery or other" answer
ed Mrs Jenny brusquely.
~ fancy you're mistaken, said Mr.
Eldertop ''It's the rough draft Of
will
"But he's got nothing to leave. " re-
torted Mrs Eldertop.
"I'm 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
som Of f10. 900. at present invested in
consols, and -
"Go onl" 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. / tell you. And
now what's your opinion Of Uncle
Cheverel's fortunesf"
"He's been q miser all along" said
Mr.. Eldertop, her face growing radiant,
"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
povelsl Put It back. Will; put il back.
We've NO business to be prying into
Uncle Caleb's secreta But what bless
ing il 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 vel
coined him.
"Been mending my coat, eh !" said
Uncle Cheverel "Tbank'ee kindly.
Jenny. Icaught It on a nail yesterday.
and was calculating to NV II up my
sslf when could borrow needle and
thread"
T'm glad to be Of use, Uncle Caleb,"
beamed Mrs Eldertop. Johnny. put
on your cap and run to the grocer's for
q smoked matkerel for your uncle's
breakfast. hope You found your room
comfortable. Uncle Calebp' ~ -
Before she slept that night Mrs. Ell
dertop put on her bonnet and shawl and
nn around 10 the Larkins mansion to
| impart her wonderful ti6ings to Sister
Rebecca.
"You don't say SOL cried ont the
sstonished mstron.
Gospel truth said Mra Eldertop.
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