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THE SOUTHERN WORLD. APRIL 15,1884.
Home and Farm.]
VERNAI. PROPHECIES,
WILLIAM H. HAYNE.
To-day the wind has a softer range,
And seems to hint of a secret change;
For the gossipy breezes brings to me
The delicate odor of buds to be
In the gardens and groves of Spring.
Those forces of nature we cannot see—
The procreant power in plant and tree,
Shall bring at last to the waiting thorn
The wealth of roses yet unborn
In the gardens and groves of Spring.
The early grass in a sheltered nook,
Unsheathes its blades near the forest brook;
In the first faint green of the dm I see
A tender token of leaves to be
In the gaidens and groves of Spring.
The peach trees brighten the rivers brink,
Withthelrdaimy blossoms of white and pink,
And over the orchard there comes to me
The subtle fragrance of fruit to bo
In the gardens and groves of Spring.
The vigor of winter has passed awav,
While the earth seems yearning to meet her
May,
And the voice of a bird in its rhythmic glee,
Foretells the sweetness of songs to be
In the gardens and groves of Spring.
Written especially for the Southern World.]
THE STORY OP ROSE DARREL.
BY JOHN B8TBN COOKE.
[This story began in No. 11. Back numbers
can be had at 5 cents per copy. All rights re
served.]
III.
A GAY WIDOWER.
About three months after these events
Mr. Timothy Thwackett, attorney at law #
was seated in his oflice on the shaded
main street of the town of Scarborough
studying a legal record.
He was a man of about sixty, with
bushy gray eyebrows, a grim expression,
wore an old suit of black broadcloth
and from time to time took snufT from a
black box on the table, scattering a
tion on his coat.
The clatter of hoofs attracted his at
tention and he glanced through the cob-
webbed window. An elegant drag con
taining a gentleman and groom and
drawn by two fine bays had stopped be
fore the oflice, and the gentleman, throw
ing the reins to his servant, leaped light
ly to the ground.
He was a man of about forty-five, with
a curling moustache, a jaunty expression
and clad in the height of the fashion
Instead of riding gloves he wore fawn
colored kids which he smoothed with a
graceful air as he went toward the door
of the office.
** There’s Major Singleton,” said Mr
Thwackett. “ He has come to see about
the bonds—well.”
As he uttered this oracular soliloquy
the door opened and Major Singleton
advanced with an air of elegant cordial
ity.
“ My dear counsellor 1” he exclaimed
“ how do I find you this superb morn
ing? Always busy! I really envy you.’
Mr. Thwackett allowed his hand to be
grasped and looked at his visitor with
grim interest.
Major Singleton sat down, attacking
the wrinkles in his kids.
“You have called about the bonds?
said Mr. Thwackett, coming to business
'* Precisely, my dear counsellor.’
“ Soiry to say the business is not ar
ranged.”
“ Not arranged?”
“ The parties object to the security.’
“ To the security?”
Mr. Thwackett nodded.
Major Singleton exhibited slight an
noyance and then indulged in a light
laugh.
'‘These money lenders! these money
lenders!” he said, “ what objection can
they urge to the security.?”
“ The heavy mortgages on your prop
erty.”
“The mortgages? The thing is ab
surd ! It would meet every incumbrance
three times over.”
Mi . Thwackett remained unimpressed.
“ It’s deuced unlucky,” said the Ma-
; or. “ How am I to go to the springs
this year? It is a bore to spend ‘he
summer at home. Is there no other
party?”
“ Don’t know of any.”
Major Singleton said easily:
“ Well, well—I suppose I’ll have to
give up my jaunt. Never mind, my dear
counsellor—thanks for your trouble.
Any news ? I think someone said young
Ludwell had been found.”
“ Yes,” said Mr. Thwackett.
“ He is coming soon?”
“ He writes me that I may expect him
in a week or so.”
“ You were fortunate in finding him—
no doubt by means of an advertisement
that he would hear something to his ad
vantage by communicating with you?”
“ Precisely.”
“ Well, I suppose we shall have a
pleasant little love affair in progress soon
at the Meadows?”
Mr. Thwackett was silent.
“ I think Colonel Ludwell’s will gives
him the property on his marriage with
that charming little Miss Rose.”
As the fact was notorious Mr. Thwack
ett simply grunted.
“A rather queer will,” said Major
Singleton, fingering his watch chain
What do you think?”
“ I don’t think.”
“Ah! Close I see. But your opin
ion—”
“ I have no opinion.”
Major Singleton laughed.
“ Well, as I am not executor and that
sort of tliiug I indulge in the luxury of
an opinion. I agree with you that the
young people will marry—you did not
say they would? very well. But human
nature is human nature, and only one
reflection mars the pleasant prospect:
Mrs. Darrel, that paragon of women
will not inherit the estate.”
Mr. Thwackett made no reply, and
with his gay laugh the visitor rose.
I wish I was as certain to have those
bonds negotiated as I am of young Lud
well’s marriage!.” he said. “You say
he is coming? 1 am curious to see him
Have no recollection of him whatever.
A bearded miner or something of that
sort, I suppose.”
“ Don’t know.”
“ Well, I see I am detaining you from
your business, my dear counsellor
Keep the bonds for the present. I will
see you again about them. It is really
of no importance. I have other resources
which will be available for my summer
jaunt.”
And cordially grasping Mr. Thwack-
ett’s hand the gallant Major took his
departure.
Getting into his fine drag he took the
reins and touched his bays with the
whip. The spirited animals darted for
ward, came down to a steady trot, and
lifting his hat with elegant courtesy to
such ladies as he passed on the street
Major Singleton issued from the town
in an easterly direction.
As he reached the open country he
passed a young lady mounted on a shag
gy little pony, riding toward Scarbor
ough. She wore a black riding habit
which clung close to her slender figure
and from beneath her hat shone a rosy
face, a pair of large blue eyes, and
cluster of brown bangs coming low
down upon her forehead.
At sight of the fair equestrienne, Ma
jor Singleton made his most elegant
bow, removing his hat completely from
hio head and bending low.
Miss Rose Darrel, for it was that
young lady, bowed in return and con
tinued her way into Scarborough, where
upon Major Singleton muttered to him
self:
“I wish I was in the place of that
fellow Ludwell—I wouldn’t think of the
widow 1”
From which—and the further fact that
half an hour afterwards he turned into
the Meadows—it seemed that the gay
Major was.thinking of Mrs. Darrel.
tions toward Miss Darrel—but I f ear t
I am intruding?”
_ Oh, no! It is not an intrusion, i
broad avenue leading up to the portico I slia.il be a very inoffensive mother-in-
of the Meadows, he looked admiringly ^ aw *”
IV.
MBS. DABBEL.
As the Major flashed along over the
at the great establishment with its long
facade, its ample wings, stone capped
windows and imposing ensemble.
And Mrs. Darrel smiled sweetly.
“Iam sure you will be charming un
der any and all circumstances—it i 8 not
gantly kept, and the whole mansion and
its surroundings indicated not only
wealth but taste—two things which do
not always go together.
Major Singleton asked for the ladies
and was shown into the large drawing
room. The furniture was solid and rich,
and some old portraits gave the apart
ment an air of respectable antiquity.
The Major had caught through an open
door on the opposite side of the hall as
he entered, a brief glimpse of an antique ma y a gentleman of unpleasant char
The grounds were extensive and ele- necessary to say anything to convince
me of that, dear Mrs. Darrel. But—thi 8
young gentleman. Will you permit me
as a friend to say that he must be con
sidered?”
“ I am afraid what you say is only too
true,” sighed the lady.
“ Unhappily we know nothing of him.”
When he said “we,” the Major look
ed expressively at the lady.
I confess to a deep interest in your
welfare, dear Mrs. Darrel. Mr. Ludwell
sideboard nearly covered with silver
plate, and the expression of his counte
nance now indicated that these agrees-
ble surroundings had not failed to im
press him.
The door opened and a lady of about
forty came in smiling. She was clad in
mourning,and had an exceedingly attrac
tive face, which seemed made for smil
ing. The handsome head leaned toward
one shoulder, her expression was a little
languishing, and her plump figure was
full of grace.
“My dear Mrs. Darrel!” exclaimed
Major Singleton, taking the hand offered
him, and leaning so low over it that he
seemed about to press his lips to it. “I
was passing and ventured to call—I hope
you are enjoying this fine weather?”
You are very kind,” sighed Mrs
Darrel, gracefully subsiding into a seat
“ It is the duty of a neighbor—and
under the sad circumstances—Colonel
Ludwell is a very great loss
“Avery great affliction,” said Mrs.
Darrel, taking out her handkerchief.
‘ And so terribly sudden. I had call
ed, you may remember, but the day be
fore.
In fact the Major had for some time
been paying desultory court to Mrs.
Darrel. His friends said that he was
* preparing the public mind ” for more
devuted attentions if Mrs. Darrel inher
ited the Meadows; and now it seemed
that the Major had begun the campaign
in earnest, and intended to prosecute it
vigorously.
As the interview proceeded his man
ner grew more and more devoted, and
he alluded in feeling terms to the loneli
ness of unmarried life.
“ As you are aware, my dear madam,
have myself been unfortunate,” he
said.
And having made this reference to the
late Mrs. Singleton, whom he had per
sistently neglected, the Major sighed.
“ It is hard to live alone after tasting
the joys of reciprocal affection,” he said
pathetically.
Very hardl” sighed Mrs. Darrel,
casting down her eyes.
“ Your lot is more fortunate,” contin
ued the Major, fixing his eyes upon the
handsome widow.
“ Oh, no l” was the sad response.
“You have your daughter at least,
my dear Mrs. Darrel, and she must be a
great comfort to you. And yet it is pos
sible that Bhe may Boon have other ties
—is it not
“ You mean young Mr. Ludwell—yes,
he will soon arrive now, and I trust the
young people will become attached to
each other. My dear cousin’s will, per
haps you have heard, leaves them the
MeadowB property on their marriage.”
“ I have heard a report to that effect.
He will soon arrive, then?”
“ 1 believe very soon.”
“ And—pardon me—will you continue
to reside with the young couple, dear
madam?”
“ I suppose so,
M ijor Singleton shook his head with
an air of misgiving.
“ Will not marriage change your rela-
acter and difficult to live with. His life
has no doubt been rough, and it is
doubtful if his associations have made
him a fit associate for a lady so refined
and delicate—as Mrs. Darrel.”
As Major Singleton uttered these
words, the sound of carriage wheels was
heard on the gravel without; steps as
cended the portico, and a few moments
afterwards the door opened and an old
servant stood aside to make way for a
visitor.
He was a man of twenty-five or thirty,
neatly dressed and of attractive appear
ance. His face was beardless with the
exception of a slender moustache which
shaded the well formed lips, and his
bearing was modest and retiring.
liMy cousin, Mrs. Darrel, I believe?”
he said in a sad voice. “I am Harry
Ludwell.”
Mrs. Darrel had risen quickly and now
advanced, holding out both hands.
“ I am very glad you have come!” she
exclaimed. “ We did not expect you so
soon.”
A sad smile came to Mr. Ludwell’s
lips.
“ I wish I could have arrived sooner,”
he said with an expression of subdued
emotion. “ My poor uncle! The news
of his death was a very great blow to
me, and entirely unexpected. I came
on the morning train and was driving to
Scarborough to see Mr. Thwackett,when
passed the dear old Meadows, and
could not resist the temptation to stop.
I have been so happy here I Every ob
ject is so familiar!”
The voice of the speaker trembled
slightly—bis emotion nearly overcame
him.
It was natural you should stop,”
said Mrs. Darrel affectionately. “ Rose
has ridden out but will soon return. I
will send a messenger for Mr. Thwack
ett.”
“Thank you, cousin,” said Mr. Lud
well, sadly.
Major Singleton coughed slightly and
Mrs. Darrel, shocked at her forgetful
ness, introduced him to her new cousin.
“ Happy to know you, my dear Mr.
Ludwell. I trust I shall see you fre
quently,” said the Major. And in or
der, as he said afterwards, not to intrude
on this happy family reunion, the Ma
jor bowed and took his departure.
“Well,” he muttered as he drove
away, “ I wonder if the heir is going to
marry Rose? It really looks like it—
he’s not in the least a rough. But mar
riages are uncertain. As a friend of the
family I’ll call frequently—and if any
thing happens I’ll go for the widow'!’
(to be continued.)
Conttumptlou Cured.
An old physician, retired from practice, hav-
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missionary the formula of a simple veget^ 1 ®
remedy for the speedy and permanent cure o*
Consumption. Bronchitis, Catarrh, Asthma «»“
all throat and Lung Affections, also a P° slt ' v ®
and radical cure for Nervous Complaiuts, alter
having tested 1U wonderful curative power* m
thousands <>f cases, has felt it his duty to to* 1 "
It known to his suffering fellows. Actuated j
thl- motive and adesireto relieve human * unc
ing, I will send free of charge, to all who de* re
it. this recipe lu German, French or English « 1
full directions for preparing and using. He nt
mail by addressing with stamp, naming this p
per. W. A. NOYES, 14a Power’s Hoot-.
Rochester, New Yort-