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82
fHE SOUTHERN WORLD. JANUARY 16,1885.
F
L,
X
Written especially for the Southern World.J
ibe non or hose barbel.
BT JOHN KHTKN COOKB.
[This story began In No. U of Volume 8.
Back numbers can be had at S cents per copy.
All rights reserved.]
XXXI.
THE MAJOR'S LUCK.
“ Well, madam,” said Mr. Thwackett;
“ I am sorry to say thah your cousin, Mr!
Ludwell, is a rascal!”
The lady and the lawyer were seated
in the drawing room at the Meadows.
He had come on this same morning in
response to her summons and was hav
ing a private conversation with her—Mr.
Ludwell having ridden to Wayside, as
ho explained, to procure his mail.
“ There is a very good reason why he
should find a pretext for not being at
home, madam,” said Mr. Thwackett;
“ he don’t want to see me. He tried to
bribe me this very morning to advise
you to make that compromise.”
“ Is it possible 1” exclaimed Mrs. Dar
rel. “ I can hardly believe such a thing
of him.”
“ I can,” said Mr. Thwackett succinct
ly. “ Never liked his looks from the
beginning. How a nephew of old Phil
Ludwell could have turned out so badly
I can't understand. I thought the boy
was a gentleman, but I suppose his
rough life has had a bad effect on him.”
You surprise me—but I cannot say
he haB made a very agreeable impression
upon me. I was sorry for him of course,
but-”
“ Handed him your check for a thou
sand!” said Mr. Thwackett with a grim
smile. “ He offered me the amount as
a retainer to put through the transfer of
stock.”
'* Well, well—Rose has had a narrow
escape. But I soon saw that she had
no intention whatever of marrying him.”
“Gladshe didn’t! Any young lady
who marries Mr. Ludwell will be sorry
for it.”
“ And you advise me to sign no pa
pers ? Mr. Ludwell is certain to propose
what he calls this compromise again.” '
“Sign nothing, madam—he’s too
much Tor you I Besides your signature
would have no binding force. It will be
TA-rmoLmonths still before you have a
claim to
valid
Oolonel Ludwell’s
er»y—and i« that time Miss Darrel mig]
prop-
might
change her mi ud.. You are aware, if Bhe
does so and marries Mr. Ludwell, they
will take the estate.”
“ I am sure she will not marry him.”
“ Don’t thinlf she will, but with your
sex nothing is certain.”
“ I am afraid that is true,” said MrB.
Darrel, smiling, “ though it is not very
gallant.”
“ Haven’t time to be gallant, madam,
besides Mrs. Thwackett would not per
mit it,” said Mr. Thwackett with a grim
smile. "You have no idea in what a
state of subjection I live to that excel
lent woman. But to come back to busi
“I am not to make any agreement
whatever with Mr. Ludwell?”
‘•None whatever, or—if you will al
low me to say it?—with anybody else
Mrs. Darrel.”
“ With anybody else?”
“Doyou wish me to speak plainly
madam?”
'* Yes—I beg you will.”
" Well, with Major Singleton or any
body.”
Mrs. Darrel blushed slightly.
“With Major Singleton?” she said
faintly.
“ I am informed that you are engaged
to be married to him, madam—but first
I beg you will observe that I don’t a»k
if it is true. I am proceeding upon the
supposition that the report is correct,
and advising you as the person to whom
the affairs of your estate are entrusted
what course would be most prudent in
your situation.”
Mrs. Darrel cust down her eyes. Her
handsome head inclined toward her
plump shoulder and she blushed slight-
“ I am not engaged to be married to
Majjor Singleton, Mr. Thwackett,” she
“ Indeed! Well I’m glad to hear it.
madam. He would make ducks and
drakes of all your property. If you
marry him you’ll hate me of course for
telling you so, but you will find it the
truth.”
Mrs. Darrel sighed.
“ I am very fond of Major Singleton’s
society but what you say ’I am afraid is
true. Then I have heard that he was
not a very kind husband to his wife.”
“Don’t know, madam. He ran
through h*r money, and if you marry
him he’ll run through yours.”
“I have no intention of marrying Ma
jor Singleton. I am afraid be is a mer
cenary person.”
“No doubt of it—I rather like him,
but if he marries it will be for money.”
“ I fear that is true. As I esteem Ma
jor Singleton I was anxious not to be
lieve it. Unfortunately I have a proof
of it.”
“Proof?” said Mr. Thwackett.
Mrs. Darrel uttered a sigh and opened
her reticule from which she extracted a
E aper. It was the note written to Mr.
licks by Major Singleton on the day of
his romantic drive, informing the money
lender that he would soon be prepared
to offer the Meadows property as an ad
ditional security for the amount of his
claims.
“ My servant was sent for the mail,”
said Mrs. Darrel, “ and picked this note
up upon the road, where it was no doubt
dropped. It was brought in the bag
with the Meadows mail and 1 opened it
without looking at the direction. As it
is a few lines only I had read it almost
before I was aware of it.”
Mr. Thwackett took the paper and
read it through with great composure.
“ Well,” he said with his grim smile,
“our friend, the Major, is unlucky'
Pen and ink are dangerous tools. This
paper is a small affair, but it may have
cost our friend about two hundred thou
sand dollars!”
Mrs Darrel looked down sadly. Did
she feel that these words were true, and
that it was really very sad to lose her
dear Major?
It seemed that she had lost him, or
rather that he had lost her. And those
who were best acquainted with Mrs.
Darrel and her intentions in the direc
tion of Major Singleton were always
convinced that this unlucky accident
had decided his fate.
“I conclude therefore, madam, that
you intend to remain single,” said Mr.
Thwackett in a business tone.
I shall never marry anybody—all
men are deceivers,” sighed Mrs. Darrel.
“ Well most of them are, and I don’t
think our young friend, Mr. Ludwell, is
any exception. He rode to the post
office, I believe you said. Is pretty
Miss Bose at home?”
“ She has gone to call on a friend.”
“She has no idea of marrying Mr.
Ludwell?”
“ She has not the least.”
Mr. Thwackett rose to his feet and
said:
“Mrs. Darrel, I feel like saying that
you and your pretty Rose are two an
gels—only I know Mrs. Thwackett
would hear of it, and tell me her opin
ion of me. You have made me feel nap-
pier than I have felt for the laBt ten
; rears. You are not going to marry Ma-
or Singleton and pretty Rose is not go
ng to marry this Mr. Ludwell. I keep
a bottle of port behind the law books in
my office—Mrs. Thwackett is a son or
daughter of temperance and don’t per
mit drinking at home—and when I get
back to my office I mean to empty that
whole bottle!”
Having made this announcement of
his Bacchanalian intentions Mr. Thwack-
ett put on his hat, having first made
Mrs. Darrel an old fashioned bow, and
mounting his horse returned to Scar
borough.
In front of his office stood Major Sin
gleton’s elegant equipage, and entering
he found that gentleman awaiting him.
E ossible that the young lady had changed
er mind, and meant to marry Mr. Lun-
well—in which event the property would
E asB to them, and Mrs. Darrel would
ave only a modest maintenance.
Having carefully considered the sub
ject, the Major concluded that the mod
est maintenance would not suit his
views. But how was he to act in this
unpleasant state of doubt ? Discontinue
his attentions to Mrs. Darrel? Were
he to do so and the marriage of the
young people never take place after all,
what more awkward than to renew his
addresses when the fair widow bad be
some an heiress?
It was really annoying to remain in
state of so much uncertainty; and as
the only means of determining his plan
of action, the gallant Major had endeay
ored to pump Mr. Thwackett.
But Mr. Thwackett would not
pumped. As the executor of Oolonel
Ludwell’s will and the family adviser,
he declined to converse on the subject
When the Major asked the plain ques
tion whether Miss Rose Darrel meant
to marry Mr. Ludwell, Mr. Thwackett
only replied that all things in this world
were uncertain, and Major Singleton
was obliged to go away in as much doubt
as before.
Only one course remained—to go and
see Mrs. Darrel and endeavor to extract
the truth from h<>r. And on this morn
ing the gay Major had come to the
Meadows to ascertain the facts.
Mrs. Darrel came into the drawing
room smiling rather sadly, and the Ma
jor hastened to kiss her hand. Then
they sat down and began with the
weather, after which they passed to
more interesting topics
“ I do not see pretty Miss Rose,” said
the Major. “I hope she is not unwell.' *
“ She is quite well, but not at home,
said Mrs. Darrel, smiling faintly.
The Major said arcblv:
“I suppose she is walking out with—
Mr. Ludwell.”
No, Rose has gone to take a ride—
you know how many engagements she
always has.”
Indeed the young lady had gone to
ride with Dr. Lanier, but Mrs. Darrel
did not consider it necessary to announce
the fact.
I suppose,” said the Major, smilin
and smoothing his moustache, “ we sha!
have a wedding in the neighborhood be
fore a great while.”
“ A wedding?” said Mrs. Darrel in a
low voice, casting down her eyes.
"And Miss Rose will be tbe most in
foresting and important person on the
happy occasion 1”
XXXII.
MRS. DARRKL’s REVENGE.
Two or three days after these scenes
Major Singleton, having made an elabo
rate toilet, drove to the Meadows and
requested a private interview with Mrs
Darrel.
Now this request was in itself most
significant and clearly indicated that the
Major had resolved to bring matters to
a point.
In fact he had never in his life been
more puzzled as to the course it would be
best for him to pursue; and when a man
of the Major’s energy and decision
doubts, it is because the question before
him is a really difficult one.
He had made up his mind to marry
Mrs. Darrel if there seemed a fair prob
ability even that she would inherit the
Meadows, but to quietly discontinue his
addresses if it became certain that she
would not.
Under the inn rc«sion that the mar
riage between Rose and Mr. Ludwell
was a highly improbable event, be had
planned that long drive, and advanced
to tbe very point of proposing. He had
not done sc, in express words, but had
only not done so; and the fair widow’s
reception of his addresses had keen such
as to induce him to write that note to
Mr. Hicks.
Now, however, the result of affairs
between Rose and her cousin seemed
much less certain. Mr. Ludwell linger
ed at the Meadows, and they had been
seen riding oat together. It was quite
“ You have heard of it I see,” sighed
Mrs. Darrel; “ how news does fly 1”
Major Singleton turned his head quick
ly, and looking at Mrs. Darrel, exclaim
ed:
“Then it is true!”
Mrs. Darrel sighed.
“ Miss Darrel iB engaged to married?”
“Yes—I suppose it will soon be no
secret. It will be a great distress to me
to give her up.”
Major Singleton Bat quite still, and it
was plain from his contracted brows
that the lady’s words had made a most
disagreeable impression upon him.
“Engaged 1” he exclaimed, “and
when are they to be married, if I may
ask, madam?”
“ The time is not yet fixed, but—in
the spring I suppose. He is very ur
gent.”
“ Humph 1”
Major Singleton had never before ut
tered bo unceremonious a sound in the
E resence of Mrs- Darrel. Ilis manner
ad undergone a very marked alteration
in the last few seconds, and his smiles
had suddenly disappeared.
“I can understand, madam,” he said
rather formally, “that you regret part
ing with your daughter. But alter all.
I presume you will continue to live with
her.”
I presume so. I shall not be a very
disagreeable mother-in-law I hope.”
The Major looked profoundly cha
grined.
So all kiB hopes were dashed I That
promise made to Mr. Hicks to add the
Meadows to his own property as addi
tional security, was not to be redeemed 1
Mrs. Darrel would not inherit the estate
—would have only a small maintenance,
and then and there the Major solemnly
made up his mind that it was bis duty
to discontinue his addresses to the lady.
Having regained his self-possession,
he made only a few more casual allu
sions to the proposed union between
Miss Darrel and Mr. Ludwell, and then
rising, informed Mrs. Darrel that he
bad called to take his leave.
“Are you going away?” asked the
lady rather sadly.
“ On a little trip to tbe seaside before
the *easoc is quite over,” said the Ma-
or; “I tuinx I mentioned my inten
tion."
“I supposed you had given it up.”
The Major cleared his th
lady’s eyes were fixed upon him.^Y
“ But I hope you will have a pleasant
time and meet with agreeable people."
“ I trust so, madam.”
“Our neighborhood is so dull. I
should suppose it would be so at least
to a gentleman of your gay tastes.”
Major Singleton looked at Mrs. Dar
rel. Was there a quiet satire hidden
under her words ? He felt a little irate.
“ I should be quite satisfied with the
neighborhood, madam,” he said, “ if I
felt that I was appreciated.”
“Appreciated?”
“If those whose regard I value had
not trifled with my feelings—or made no
response.”
Mrs. Darrel sighed.
“Has anyone treated you so badly?”
she murmured.
“They have, madam 1” exclaimed
the Major; “ but as I might offend you
if I said more, 1 beg to bid you good
bye.”
“Good-bye, Major,” murmured Mrs.
Darrel; “ 1 hope you will be happy.”
“I am much obliged, madam.”
And the Major bowed in a lofty man
ner and turned to leave the room.
“I had forgotten,” said Mrs. Darrel,
opening her reticule and taking a paper
from it. “I ought to return you this
note—I meant to do so before.”
She held out the paper and the Major
took it, muttering
One of my notes to you wbjch you
suppose you ought to return, maua
“ It is not to me—I read it only by ac
cident—it was picked up by a. servant
in the road. But here is Rose—”
Rose entered with Dr. Lanier, having
just returned from their ride, and Major
Singleton, who felt rather discomposed,
only bowed ana left the apartment.
As he got into his elegant drag he
opened and glanced at the note.
It was that which he had written to
Mr. Hicks after their ride. The quiet
Mrs. Darrel had had her revenge 1
(TO BE CONTINUED.)
[This DbSausscrks commenced In No. 14, ol
Volume 2, and will run for several months yet.
Back numbers containing this thrilling and
be had
deeply interesting historical romance can I
at five cents per copy.]
THE DeSAUSSlTRES.
A Historical Romance^
- Q
i
BT B. P. SAWYER.
&
CHAPTER XL.
A weary anxious interval of seven
months has transpired since the old
white haired father with his widowed
daughter had returned from the sad
pilgrimage to the obscure and faraway
grave of the once despised, but now
lamented and reverentially honored
son-in-law. They had found it sur
rounded with the still unwet mounds
that rested lightly upon the breasts of
his brave companions in death. A silent,
mournful, but glorious bivouac. A board
with his name and rank in rude letters
cut, distinguished it from the sameness
of the hundreds that surrounded it. The
owner of the soil was found, and an
acre containing the sacred duBt was duly
conveyed in fee simple to the mourners,
and then to mark the grave more secure
ly a wall of masonry was raised above it.
They would have exhumed and removed
the body at once, but the lack of trans
portation, as well as all appliances, made
it impossible.
“And besides, darling, it may be that
he would prefer to sleep on among the
brave men whom he so bravely lea. If
I survive the war I shall build his mon
ument here—here upon the field oi his
glory. It is perhaps fitter that his body
remained here too.”
Yes; 1 somehow feel that he won!
wish it,” answered the widow, and
when they had seen the work finished,
and feeing the former owner of tbe spot
for a tender core to be taken of the grave
they made the wearisome journey back
to Fort Smith and then down the river
and back to the desolate home again.
The long stretch of weary months had
softened the poignancy of their grief and
the tone of mother and daughter began
to wear again something of the pleasant
ness that had so sweetly distinguished
them before. The shadow of desola
tion still hung over their home, but it
was a chast eningehadow, softening rathe r
than chilling the genial warmth of their
naturally glad lives. They s'ill made
Thornhill their home, preferring its sim
ple cozinees to the elegant splendor of
ve Oaks. The management of that
estate was still intrusted to her father,
who looked after it with the same pru
dent care he bestowed on his own. Its
immediate care was in the hands of Mr.
Miller, whose family occupied a wiDg in
the mansion, while airing and scrupu
lously keeping the others. The new
mistress with her daughter had spent a
week of the January holidays '
)
t
ot