The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1910-02-01

Still. let her come to want, let this
scoundrel Of husband decamp, take
his worthless presence to any other
country he chose, and keep there,
and the door of Uncle Roberts house
would never be closed against his Sis
ter's child. And as the old man had
not another near relation upon the
face of the earth, Mrs. Rose knew
pretty well that, O'Shea's disappear
ance once comprised, not only would
the door of Uncle Roberts house, but
fair chance Of place in Uncle Rob-
ert's will, stand open to her.
A last card, repeat, was yet to be
played by Mrs. OShea. She played
it well-with that instructive knowl.
edge of male human nature that you
will find in the very shallowest fem
mime souls. Uncle Robert was a
democrat to the backbone; tittle-tat-
tie from the bloated upper ten must
consequently be tasteful to him, were
it but as proof of his own radical
theories; and Rose would prattle to
him by the hour together about her
ladyship's card debts, and his grace's
peccadillos, and her poor GEAR
O'Shea's intimate connection with
the aristocracy. Uncle Robert was as
proud of his purse as any self-made
man in England. Nothing swelled
him with righteous sense of solvency
like the sight of another's pauperism;
still, for his niece to have appeared
discreditably dressed before the SER,
wants, a poor relation, in all the gall
ing indecency of merino gown or
mended gloves, would have exasper-
ated the old man beyond measure.
So Rose took excellent care to do her
pauperism genteelly. In the most be-
coming little bonnet, the most scru-
pulously neat silk dress-"the last of
all my pretty things, Uncle Robert.
Oh, IL you knew-can we poor Wo-
men help being fcolish?-if you
knew how dreadful it is to one to
give up the refinements of life!"-
in the most becoming attire, I say,
that woman could wear, this simple
creature would pay her humble, tear
full conciliatory visits to the Bromp-
ton villa, and seldom return without
crisp piece of paper, never entirely
empty-handed, to the bosom of her
family.
At last, one fine spring morning,
came an overture of direct reconcil-
iation, couched in the plainest posi-
BILE language, from Uncle Roberts
own lips. Let Major O'Shea betake
himself to America one of the col
onies, anywhere out of England that
he chose, solemnly swearing to keep
away during the space of two years
at least, and Uncle Robert promised
not only to receive back his niece to
preside over his house and sit at the
head of his table, but to pay O'Shea
the sum of $500 before his departure.
Enough, surely, to last, IL the man
had mans heart within his breast,
until such time as he could gain
decent independence for himself by
work.
Cornelius was absent from home,
that is to say, from their dingy lodg-
ings, for the time being, when this
occurred; had been absent more than
fortnight. Heaven knows on what
mission believe he called it the
Doncaster Spring Meeting to his wife
and daughter. He returned late that
same evening, rather more hiccough-
ing of speech than usual, and with
just sixpence short for the payment
Of his cab hire in his pocket.
Rosie broke the news of her uncle's
proffered generosity as O'Shea sat
drinking his hot gin-and-water after
supper, Belinda mending very torn
stocking with very long stitches at
his side.
"Of course it is impossible" sighed
Mrs. O'Shea, with tears in her meek
eyes. 81 feel it duty to mention
the proposal, if only to show the
Christian spirit Of my relations; but
of course such separation would be
impossible"
"Impossible, Rose!" cried OShea,
his sodden face Frightening. Of so
fine and discursive nature was the
creatures hopefulness, that the bare
mention OF $500 and of being rid of
his domesticities sufflced to inspire
him with the visions of m&llion-
aire. "Who talks of impossible?
Am I the man, dye thinks Coz
nelius O'Shea the man to let his own
paltry feelings stand between his
family and prosperity"