Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1899-08-23
Uncle Cafeb'S wifi.

You mean that you cant put your
self ont to give your mothers brother
nights lodgingp" said Caleb Cheyerel
bitterly
The March wind. bearing dust. grit
and bits of flying paper ON it, 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.
filling mp the aperture with her ample
person in such way as to suggest the
familiar legend, "Nc admittance.
I'm very sorry" said Mrs. Larkins
stiffly, "but we have but one spare
room, and that is at present occupied
OF course i should be glad 10 do all
could for you. but
Il understand. l understand. -" said
Uncle Cheverel. turning coldly away.
III 20 TO my niece Jenny. l wish
You very good evening
Mrs. Larkins closed tine door with a
sigh of very evident relief
Il dare say Jenny will take care of
him, she sid philosophically Jenny
has smaller family than have But
l don't see why he came up to London.
instead of staying peaccably down in
Tortoise Hollow. where he belongs"
Mrs. Jenny Eldertop, Mr. Cheverers
youngest niece. had smaller family
than her sister Rebecca; but. then. she
had smaller income as we'll She had
just finished vigorous days cleaning
when Uncle Caleb WAS announced.
"Oh, drat the mani said Mrs. FL
dertop, wringing hcr parbciled fingers
out of a 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
Gene 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 Won don't
mind the children and their noise. and a
little smell of whitewash in the spare
room.
Mrs. Eldertop's welcome was by no
means SO cordial She looked. 10 use a
common expression, vinegar and darn
ing needle" at the visitor. while in her
inmOst soul she calculated the prob
ability of the cold boiled ham and tur-
nips holding ont 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 uncler"
\ good for nothing old vagabond, "
said Mrs. Eldertop acidly, without a
halfpenny laid up ahead.
For all that he's your guest" " said
her husband. "and you're bound to be
civil 10 him. And here's his overcoat
now with "A big zigzag rent in it. Just
mend it while you re waiting for the
kettle To boil.
Il won't" said Mrs Eldertop.
''All right. retorted her lord and
master. Then III take il next door to
Alexia Allen to mend.
Now. Miss Allen. the tailoress. who
lived in the adjoining house, was
pretty and buxom 10 look upon, and
Mrs. Eldertop had nursed comfortably
jealousy of her for the last four years
You II do no such thing said Jen-
ny tartly. Hand it herei"
And she threaded a needle with black
silk and thrust her finger into IL thimble
very much as a determined crusader of
old might have dOnned sword and shield
for some encounter with the Moslem.
Whats thatf" said Mr. Eldertop
for a folded paper fell from the pocket
of the garment as his wife TUNED it up
side down.
''SOme tomfoolery or other" answer
ed Mrs. Jenny brusquely.
II fancy you re mistaken. " said Mr..
Eldertop. Its 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
sum of e1O, O0O, 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 rough draft. l tell you And
now what's your opinion of Uncle
Cheverels fortunes?"
Hes 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 il back.
We've no business To be prying into
Uncle Caleb's secrets. But what bless
ing 1t 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 wei
coined him.
Been mending my coat. eh ?" said
Uncle Cheverel ''Thank'ee kindly.
Jenny. caught it on nail yesterday,