The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1899-07-04
Uncle (afeb'5 win.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES

Adml1id4 AcSCuus NO abundance.
"I'm very sorry" said Mrs. Larkins
! stif1y, ''but we have but one spare
room, and that is at present occupied
OF course l should be glad to do all
could for you, but
81 understand, understand, said
Uncle Cheverel, turning coldly away.
'tI'l go to my niece Jenny 1 wish
you very good evening"
Mrs. Larkins closed the door with
Sigh Of very evident relief
81 dare say Jenny will take care of
him., /" she said philosophically. Jenny
has smaller family than have But
l don't see why be came up to London,
instead of staying peaceably down in
Tortoise Hollow, where he belongs"
Mrs. Jenny Eldertop, Mr. Cheverel's
youngest niece, had smaller family
than her sister Rebecca; but, then, she
had smaller income as well. She had
just finished a vigorous days cleaning
when Uncle Caleb was announced.
"Oh, drat the mani" said Mrs. FL
dertop, wringing her parboiled fingers
out of basin of steaming soapsuds.
"What sends him here of all the times
in the world2''
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 "We're 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
little smell Of whitewash in the spare
room
Mrs. Eldertops welcome was by no
means SO cordial. She looked, to use
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 "Ain't he your uncleP"
"a good for nothing old vagabond, I"
said Mrs. Eldertop acidly, "without a
halfpenny laid up ahead.
''For all that he's your guest, said
her husband, "and you bound to be
civil to him. And here's his overcoat
now with big zigzag rent in it. Just
mend 1t while you're waiting for the
kettle to boil.
81 won'tl" said Mrs. Eldertop.
ssAll right, retorted her lord and
master. ''Then I'll take it 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
jealousy of her for the last four years.
you'll do no such thingl" said Jen-
ny tartly. ''Hand 1t herer'
And she threaded needle with black
silk and thrust her finger into thimble
very much as determined crusader of
old might have donned sword and shield
for some encounter with the Moslem.
whats thatr' 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.
81 fancy you're mistaken, said Mr..
Eldertop. cts 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 tJust look here, Jenny 4
give and bequeath to my two beloved
nieces, in equally divided parts, the
sum of $40, 900, at present invested in
consols, and -
$50 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 rough draft, tell you. And
now what's your opinion of Uncle
CheverePs fortunes2"
''He,s 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
novels 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 be came here instead of stop
ping at Rebecca Larkins' y
And when Uncle Cheverel came down
stairs he was surprised at the sweet
smiles with which his niece Jenny well
coined him.
'tBeen mending my coat. Ell r. said
Uncle Cheverel "Thank'ee kindly,
Jenny. ! caught it on nail yesterday,
and was calculating to sew it up my
self when could borrow 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
smoked mackerel for your uncle's
breakfast. hope you found your room
comfortable, Uncle Calebf"
Before she slept that night Mrs. FL
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 sor' cried out the
astonished matrcn.
.Gospel truth" said Mrs. Eldertop
81 saw it with my own eyes.
'He must come here" said Mrs
Larkins resolutely.
mot if l know it, . said Mrs. Elder
top. "He's my guest, and my guest he
shall remain.
'.But If I'm to share equally with
you" said Mrs. Larkins, 81 ought to
show him some attention, the dear,
generous hearted old mani
"Lest he should alter his will, :"
shrewdly remarked Sister Jenny. "You
always were worldly creature Becky -
''No more than yourselfl" said Mrs.
Larkins, bristling up. "But it's my
family am thinking of, Jenny. I'll
tell you what-I'll come around and
see him tomorrow.
''But don't you breathe syllable
about the will, +" said Mrs. Eldertop, in
a mysterious whisper.
"Oh, not for worldsl'' said Mrs
Larkins fervently.
During the next week Uncle Cheve-
rel was overwhelmed with civilities.
On Thursday 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 drive in the