The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1906-06-16
Uncle Bertram's
Curate
Copyright, By Joseph Is. BowIes. }
By SHIRLIANA


and I--certalnly did not want one. But
1t was no use. Uncle had made up his
mind to 1t and nothing would have
stopped him 1t was one Of his new
fads.
must tell you that mother Is
widow, and, with us, keeps house FOR
our bachelor uncle. AS long as ! can
remember, the rectory had been our
home.
We all-except Constance, who Is
Ivst II and sentimentsl-tried the
usual amount Of arguments, and we all,
of course, failed, as we usually dlu
when Uncle Bertram was bent upon
some new scheme. But the shadow OF
this latest fad hung over our heads
with unusual heaylness: and when the
following advertisement appeared IN
the leading church paper we felt tnat
the new trouble was indeed upon u.s.
Wanted, by country rector, a
young curate. No objection to one
fresh from the university to whom
title might be given. Broad-minded
preferred. Offered: board and resi-
dcnce in charming old rectory, with
small salary. Dry, bracing climate
Plenty of spare time could be guarah-
teed. Tennis, golf boating, bathing
hockey. bicycling, riding, driving. mo-
toring. and the use Of stables"
Uncle had no less than 30 replies to
his advertisement. Oh! those replies.
Some of them were worth keeping.
After much consideration uncle weed
ed them down to five. And then the
fun began.
The five selected candidates were
each requested to come, in turn, to
have a personal interview. and as we
are ten miles from the nearest railway
station, we had to put each OF them up
for the night
The first, Mr.. Lovelace, a delicate,
poetical-looking man. arrived on bit
terly cold day. After the ten miles In
our pony cart, with Nebuchadnezzar IN
a stubborn mood. Mr. Loyelace pre-
sentcd fCrlorn appearance indeed.
was sure that Uncle Bcrtram had
tried his best to be CHEEKY and equally
sure that he failed signaly all along
the way,
"hh," he said, as he brought his
drenched victim into the hall, now
that we're home at last, Mr.. Lovelace.
all the trials OF the Journey Will be for
gotten"
We were all in the hall and Con-
stance looked compassionately at the
half drowned man, who rolled his eyes
towards hers as though he deserted In
thom the only kindred spirit Mother
said she hoped he had not taken cold,
that she had ordered n fire In his bed
room, and that tea would be ready
soon.
After he had become few degrees
less cold and few shades less blue.
nj given signal-a cough from I'm
Gle Bertram-we all left the drawing
room that the rector and his select
ed candidate might be alone,
never heard exactly what passed
between them, but after about an hour
md n half uncle came out OF the draw
and said to mother in the dining room;
Mr. LovaIaec has taken a chill and
will retire to his room at once. He
would like small quantity of quaker
oats some sweet spirits OF nitre, and
hay water bottle,
Then be returned to the drawing
room. lei the door open and said TO
Mir. Loyolace, There is very good
express train early in the morning, and
no doubt, with this chin, you will be
glad 90 get back 20 your aunt in Lon
don ms soon rs possible"
Uncle, nothing dauutod, speedily ar
ranged FOR the next man, a Mr.. Robin
from Nottingham. to come on approval
The fatcs were kinder 10 him, mas
much rs ne arrived on a fine warm
day: and Nebuchadnezzar. driven by
George-the only person who can make
him go-came home In his best style
Uncle. who hates monotony, had this
time arranged quite a different plan OF
campaign.
Tea was sent In for them in III,
study KID Constance Though for thai
matter all OF us, but Constance espe
cially). fof Obvious reasons was KEEP
out of the way as much as possible.
However. we CLEANED a good dea
about Mr. Robin from George, who hnt
not wasted the opportunities atrorde,
by ten miles drive,
Hes bounder.' said George, IAN,
can't possibly dc. His chief reason TO
replying TO the advertisement was tina
he might live in a rectory.
Mother - poor mother said sh
hoped he had been vaccinated an,
wished she had not given him the bes
spare room.
The atmosphere seemed charge
with possibilities, and we wonders
how long Uncle Bertram would kee
him bottled up in the study. After
time our patience and curiosity wer
relieved for when uncle came 10 us
saw by his face that the mans fat
was decreed: and although we wer
sorry for him at first. all pity left u
when at the evening meal. he said: "
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