Evening journal., 1899-12-07
UNCLE CALEB'S WILL.

you mean that you can't put your
self out to give your mothers brother
a nights lodgingl" said Caleb Cheverel,
bitterly.
The March wind, bearing dust and
grit and bits of flying paper on its
restless wings. came whistling around
the corner, lifting the old mans faded
comforter's ends and turning his blue
nose a 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. mo ad-
mittancei"
Mrs. Larlins was stout and bloom.
ing and cherry-cheeked. dressed in sub
stanual alpaca, with gay gold brooch
and eardrops, which bespoke anything
but abiect poverty.
Uncle Caleb was thin and meager
and shabbily dressed. with glossy
seams in his overcoat and fnger-ends
protruding from his worn gloves like
ancient rosebuds coming out of their
calyx.
I'm very sorry" said Mrs Larkins,
stiffly: .but we have but one spare
room, and that is at present occupied.
VI fLONA sc Dn0AAA nN EAaA 70 w NNAA a
could for you. but
Il understand, I understand said
Uncle Cheverel, turning coldly away.
''I'il go to my niece Jenny. ] wish you
a very good evening
Mrs. Larlflns closed the door with a
sigh of very evident relief
Il dare say Jenny viii take care OF
him." she said philosOphically. Jenny
l I0t.n 70 Ilfff
| don't see why he came up to London
instead OF staying peaceably down in
Tortoise Hollow. where he belongs"
Mrs. Jennie Eldertop, Mr.. Cheverel's
| youngest niece. had a smaller family
than her sister Rebecca. but then she
! had a smaller income as WELL She hac
Just finished a vigorous days cleaning
when Uncle Caleb was announced.
"Oh, drat the mani" said Mrs. Elder
top, wringing her parboiled fingers Ou
of basin of steaming soapsuds. "Wha
sends him here. just now of all times
in the world?"
And she went down stairs ungra
ciously enough to the street door
where her husband was welcoming tn,
| old stranger.
Come in. Uncle CheY CONT
l IN hAlA nNntcA WIZ LAAlA Aofs " 70 AZ
| all upside down here-we mostly are
now that the spring cleaning is goinl
on But there's room for you If yOl
| don't mind the children and their nois
| aud a little smell Of whitewash IN tn
| spare room.
Mrs Eldertop's welcome was by nj
means so cordial. She Looked, TO us
a common expression. vinegar AM
darning needles" AZ the visitor. Will
in her inmost soul she calculated tn
probability of the cold boiled ham an
turnips holding out for once more a
i. supper.
Come. Jenny, don't scowl SC" sal
Mr.. Eldertop, when Uncle Caleb ha
gone upstairs 10 wash his hands an
face. "Ain't he your uncle?"
"A good for nothing old vagabond,
said Mrs. Eldertop, acidly. without
half-penny laid up ahead
For all that he's your guest" sal
her husband. "and you're bound 10
civfl TO him. And here's his overcOa
now. with g zig-zag rent in It, Jus
,, mend fl while you are waiting for tn
! kettle to boil"
81 WON'T" said Mrs Eldertop.
IAN right" retorted her lord an
master. "Then I'll take II next door {
Alexia Allen TO mend.
Now. Miss Allen, the tailoress, VIII
lived in the adjoining house was prett
and buXom to look upon. and Mrs. E
/ dertop had nursed comfortably a jea
ousy OF her fer the last four years.