Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1909-06-03
Poor Old Uncle Ben.

f1elO, OHClt DeH, JUG Sdieu, o' no
buggy flashed by the loaded wagon. Un-
Gle Ben replied to the salutation with a
surly nod. He twisted about on his load
and gazed at the receding vehicle. II was
she herself, and out riding with that young
scamp!
She was enjoying the fellows company,
too, so much that she had only slight
bow for him.
She had never ridden with him, ex-
cept once at funeral, when she went to
the cemetery in his buggy, because there
was not room for her elsewhere.
He had imagined many times since the
things he would have said to her during
that ride if he had known beforehand so
as to be prepared; but he had not, and the
ride had been a silent one.
She was bright and talkative with Joe,
though When he recognized, with a
shock of surprise, who Joe's companion
was, they were chattering like blueiays.
He felt wronged, somehow; though he
had no claim to be. But he had always
meant to marry her, if she would consent,
when he found courage to put the ques-
ton.
He knew Joe was in the habit of going
to her brothers. where she lived, but un-
til that minute he had not looked upon the
fellow as his rival. Joe was young and
looking and women thought so much
of those thingsl
Uncle Ben wasn't an old uncle at all.
But he had come to think himself very
venerable and aged indeed. When a per-
son becomes an uncle before his manhood
and when fate so shapes it that one must
become not only uncle, but father and
mother, to ones nephewS, the response
bility conduces to feeling Of old age,
even when the said nephews are not
much younger than oneself.
So Uncle Ben very naturally supposed
there was no chance for him at all with
the woman whom he loved so truly. He
even decided that he would sell his farm
and 60 away. He brooded over it all day
and with heavy pain, forgetting to make
his usual sharp bargain in business.
AS he drove into the gate at home, to-
ward evening, Joe's buggy again appear
ed, and he drew up for chat. He was
in fine spirits, and boyishly handsome,
beside Uncle Ben's rough, farm clothes
and soiled boots.
"Guess I'll take that cow, Uncle Ben"
he said, with conscious smile. 81 ex-
pect to need her."
Uncle Ben grunted and busted himself
with the gate.
"You see, Pm-oh, might as well say
it right out-Pm going to be married
pretty soon."
"Settled, is it" His uncle glanced up
sharply, his face rather pale
"Well, not quite"-Joe hesitated-"but
she understands me well enough, and it's
going to be settled tonight and the day
fixed. Pm invited there to supper, and
I'm sure she knows what to expect. In
fact, il nearly came out this morning"
Uncle Ben said nothing, and after mo-
ment Joe who was accustomed TO his ret
icent relative, started off, saying: "Mil-
ly will be glad you are our nearest neigh
Dor; she thinks lot of you"
Despite Uncle Ben's resignation he felt
his gay and handsome nephew's careless
ly confident words as if they were so
many sharp, savage thrusts from a dag
ger. There came hot, suffocating sense
of shame and rage into his heart that he
should be thrust aside, unseen, unheard.
| AS he stumbled along by his team to
the barnyard he was seized with great
impulse to see her and speak yet, al
though il was useless.
| He looked about vaguely at first, then
with keen calculation. Joe was still in
sight. He had stopped to talk with some
one, as was his social custom. He would
not hurry, not dreaming of need for if.
| His team was tired and the other horses
in the pasture. If he would forestall Joe
he would have to go afoot across lots
And there was no time to shave and garb
himself as he would have liked before 60
ing into her presence.
He hitched his horses and started. Joe
was still talking when he had cleared his
own farm and the next. ltwas two miles,
but he could cut off a considerable distance
by going across lots, and most of the way
he could keep an eye on Joe's progress.
Over the hill grove intevened. As
he dashed into it he caught glimpse o
| Joe skimming along in the distance, SEEM
ing to fly.
Then Uncle Ben flew, too, or nearer tc
it than helhad ever imagined it possible