Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1905-03-16
TIVE BACHELOR UNCLE
~ Helen Forrest Graves.
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Ig gI never will marry" said his
n three nieces.
-O-I Now there was no foun
lI9I llsII dation for this rather
sweeping assertion. except that 1.-The
wish is father to the thought"
Squire John Jennifer was a hale,
handsome man of forty, with merry
brown eyes, teeth as sound and white
as the inside of Brazil nut. and long
silky beard, but then Squire Jennifer
was worth money" as the saying
goes, and should he marry the three
Misses Jenifer would cease to be 1.-THE
ladies" of the substantial old red brick
house.
"Of course never shall marry" I'm
Gle Jennfer himself had said. and he
really believed ii.
Had he not outgrown the age of
hearts and darts, billetdouX and senti-
mental valentine verses? y man of
forty is supposed to have outlived the
tender passion, as he has outgrown
scarlet fever, mumps, measles and
whooping cough. Besides, Sarah Ell
dredge, his first sweetheart, had mar
to Boston to live, ana the squire natnr.
ally imagined that that finished the
chapter of love experience for him.
SO when Miss Juliet Packenham
came to the honeysuckle embowered
cottage next door to live with her
mother, her poodle and her aquarium,
the three Misses Jennifer-sKatc. Belle
and Salle-madc much of the ncwcOm-
er, for she was neither very pretty,
very young. nor very brilliant, and
everybody knows what Il darling"
such one as this is among her own
sex.
she plays tennis delightfully."-" as
serted Nate.
"She has taught me such delicious
new stitch in crochet" added Isabelle.
who was addicted to the elegant waste
of time that women call fancy work. v
Il have never tasted such cake rs
she makes" said Sallic, who was the
housewife of the establishment.
Anu lIt hISSNS JtlllllI'l INV llNh Uu
liet into their domain with an eXtrava-
gance of hospitality that-was very Sc
ceptable to the widows mcck-eyed,
soft-voiced daughter.
"They are very nice young ladies'
said Mrs. Packenham, who had seen Il
good deal of trouble, and whose wine
of life' had been well intormingied
with gall.
"Oh, they are charming" said little
Juliet, enthusiastically.
"And the squire, their uncle, seems
a very pleasant gentleman" added the
old lady.
"Yes, mamma very" assented Miss
Juliet.
And very we'll preserved for fifty
years Old" said Mrs. PAckenham.
"Oh, mamma, he can't be thatw said
Juliet, earnestly.
How old would you take him to be,
them
"He can't possibly be more than thir-
ty-tive,' said Juliet. rehcctiyely, bal
ancing her thimblc first on one finger,
then on another.
Nonsense said Mrs. packcnham,
and she took snuff. Juliet, you're a
goose
Juliet was accustomed to these little
polite speeches on the part of her lady
mamma, and made no response But
she chung to her own opinions on the
subject of the sQuires age ncverthe-
less.
never had known Il summer to pass so
swiftly as did this special season.
Belle" said Kate Jennifer one eve
ming, as she came rather abruptly into
the room where her sister was practic.
ing difficult sonata on the piano.
"come to the window, quick.'
what for?" said Belle, cbcyi.- the
summons.
"Who is that by the hedge of labur,
NUNS, talking with Uncle Jcnnifer?'
"Where? | don't see any one
"Just beyond the lilacs, stupid" cried
Kate, forgetting politeness in her eager
haste. "There-don't you sce:"
II see nothing but the big white.
spired bush all in bloom
"Oh, you silly" said Kate, with an
impatient jerk Of the head. ITS Ju
liet Packenham''
"Juliet Packenham,"
Eyes; don't you see?"
"WelI, and suppose it is" said Belle
after "a moment or two of DprnlpynI 81.
lence
Suppose it is?' mimickod Kate. fair
ly driven beyond the bounds of pa
tience. Belle, Belle. one would think
you were a born nnny to hear you
talk! Do you want to be turned out OF
this house? Do You want a mistress
to be set up over our heads? A Mrs
Jennifer. who"
what nonsense you do talk, Kate.
said Isabelle. "The idea of Juliet