New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1852-01-14


morse could tell which was road and which was
not But the storm within Louernore's breas
raged more flercely than it did without He
dashed his horse and whirled on. But even the
horse began to slacken, spite of the whin. and
betrayed unmistakable symptoms Of uncertaintv
and reluctance to proceed. Longmore gave i'm
some unmercIful cuts, which for while sent
him forward at q good rate. But again the
poor horse stopped, and in responge to the whin
only reared, wheeled aside and refused to %
None but madman would attempt such a road
on such night. The horse evidently thought
so, and therefore stood stock STILL in spite Of The
murderous inflictions of Longmore's whip. AT
length Longmore saw that it was no use to urge
him. Fool !" he exclaimed; gave the rein a
pull to the left, and the poor animal, ioyfulIy
obeyIng the hint, turned, and proceeded at a
rapid rate towards the farm He would have
stopped at Mrs. Ranford's gate, but again Long
more aPplied the whip and the gig rolled expe-
htionsiy on to the village inn Here Long
more flung the reins on the horses neck and
staiked INTO the house. There was a consider
aoie crowd OF laborers, drinking and smoking
IN the common room, who, as we'll as the land
lady, stared to see him enter.
Put up my horse,'' he said and was pro-
ceeding to enter the parlor.
:" beg your pardon, sir" said the landladv.
Is but that room is engaged"
g Show me another, them" said Lonpnore
The landlady opened another door, saving.
" But there is no FIRE. sir.'
Then make one,' said Longmore grufiy
and entering, flung himself on the sofa, in his
snow covered clothes and hat The landlady
quickly brought light, and attempted to light
the fuel already in the crate; but the sticks
were damp. They refused to kindle, and the
poor woman hastily clearing out the crate,
brought forth wood and live coal from the kitchen
IN VAIN The chimney was damp the smoke
drove down, and filed the room. Longmore bade
her angrlly let the fire alone and 60 She made
her exit in evident alarm.
Longmore sat gloomily on the sofa The room
was deathly cold; the smoke filled his eyes and
lungs with sharp, suffocating yapor--he looked
round and wished himself dead But something
now caught his attention. The room was only
divided from the next by thin wooden partition.
The landlord was holding garrulous talk with
some guesf there, and every word he uttered was
as audible as if in the room itself. Longmore
started. He heard his own name Yes there
it was again.
$50 he's likely, hear, to get the property
back again They say the old woman has peach
ed; but know not. If she was bought one way
she may be bought another, and Longmore is n
determined man.
'ssilences" said another voce-it was no other
than that of roadhurst-Longmore tremblel
with excitement at the sound.
Silence eee-said Broadhurst-' cannot al
low you to say word against Mr. Longmore.
l tell you, and if any man should know, he
has been toully injured and misrepresnted 1t
was all mistake, and that bad woman clenched
1T. No! Longmore-and beg you will every
where say so, from me-Longmore. from what
have lately learned, is as noble, true-hearted q
man as ever lived. Sir, / would give my right
band to do him justice; and justice, if there is
God in heaven, he will yet have done him.
6 Lord-o -mercy T. exclaimed the landlord.
'' do you say so ~
eyes, | say so," replied Broadhurst; /" till
justice is done to that man, the load of n noun
tain lies on my heart
Longmore turned deadly pale as he heard
these words. He sunk down again upon the
sofa, whence he had started on hearing these
voices, laid his head upon the table, and seemed
shaken by some terrible convulsion. In another
momen the rose up, still pale, but with an eager
look passed out of the room, entered that where
Broadhurst was, and putting out his hand to the
astonished lawyer, said, s' heard what you
said-i believe you" The lawyer, still more
astonished, and looking as if an appariton had
suddenly stood before him-yet clutched at the
offered hand-seemed to groan out rather than
speak, :" Almighty God be thankedp' and the
jwo desperate foes stood thus till gush of tears
appeared on Broadhurst's face ss Now, God be
praised, all is right" Broadhurst again eiacu-
ated.
Yes all is right p repeated Longmore.
6 You must dine with me,'' said Broadhurst
: Good God, what have not to say to you!'
"Nay," said Longmore, "we must not dine
lere. Think how we left them at my sisters.
Ne must go there at once''
Right rightP' said Broadhurst, and the
lext moment the astonished people in the tavern
aw these two men, who for years had been en-
,aged in such deadly strife, going arm in-arm
Witty out of the house.
What the state Of affairs was at Mrs. RAN
ord's may well be imagined. Mary was over
yhelmed with the most vehement grief; Tom
5roadhurst stood over her, holding her hand,
md every now and then bidding her to be COM
orted-all would go we'll yet--all the time look
ng himself picture of despair. Mrs, Ranford,
lfter marching to and fro in great agitation,
md abusing her brother, heartily, as the most
obstinate OF animals, had sat down, moodily, in
Ter easy chair, by the fire, and seemed more in
\ state Of deep anger than of sorrow Her
scheme had failed signally, as every one had
old her it would she had, to all appearance,
aggravated affairs dreadfully she was too much
mortified to be really sorry. The clergyman and
lis wife came in. They saw at glance what
lad happened. A few indignant words from
Nlrs Ranford, and Mary's tears, told every thing
There fell a deep and blank silence on the party.
What a New Years dinner party! Never was
here such wretched scene Of utter desolation.
IN the midst of it came violent ring at the bell.
All started. Mary Longmore gave shrek, and
stood trembling with clnsped hands and death
ike face. Something dreadful has happened
20 that wilful mane' exclaimed Mrs. Ranford,
going impetuously towards the door. At that
the door opened, and Longmore and
Brondhurst entered together Before any of
them could recover from their astonishment,
Longmore said, 1T is all right~ and caught
his sister in his arms, and embraced and kissed
her outrageously Then he caught his daughter
to his heart, who, at those words, few to him,
and embraced and kissed her still more out
Then he shook hands with Tom
Broadhurst and the clergyman, both together;
md they shook his hands, and he shook theirs
again; and then he would most likely have
kissed the clergyman's lady, only she and Mrs
Ranford were most passionately kissing and cry
ing at one another at the very time
Never was there such hearty, cordial, gene
raj reconciliation and felicitation Longmore
seemed at one effort to have flung off all his gall
and misanthropy. In the midst of their Joy,
they seemed to forget the other great event Of
their meeting-the dinner the hour was long
past. Nobody before had had any inclination
to eat, from sorrow; nowSthey had forgotten it,
for joy. But at length, up came the turkey, up
came the roast beef, up came the game, the
plum pudding, and all the tarts, mince pies, and
knick-nackeries and what dinner was there
after all How triumphant Mrs. Ranford
looked! Her generalship had succeeded after