New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1852-01-14
LONGMORE PARK;
Or, Mrs. Ranfnrns Mem sprar pinnfr,

S's a1tl9. II RahtutU D NEW 1SEar t5tnnfr.
BY cHAFases DICKENS
Young Tom Broadhurst had been SO -mucl
struck with Mary Longmore in his interview q
| the Park, that, from that moment, he felt
wonderful persuasion that there had been SOM
gross mistake in the whole business He wa
sure that truth and goodness beamed rs clearly
out of those mild blue eyes, and from those hand
some, amiable features, as light from the sun
Longmore could not be very great rogue tt
have such daughter; and Mary thought Broad
hurst could not be very great one to have sucf
SON. '' What a fine, frank fellow he seems p
she said to herself eIIow willing he seems to
believe the truth! What beautiful earnest.
ness in seeking it out!'' In fact, there was q
case, such as lawyers seldom get upon Mei,
books, case of love at first sight. 1t was q
case clear, positive, and most particular; Ro-
meo and Juliet themselves never stood so sud.
denly enchanted between the hostile hosts Of
their two fiery houses. Tom Broadhurst let nc
grass grow under his feet; he soon had his faith
er on the right track. Mary and he met--how
many times? Well, it really is amazing how
many times they found it necessary to see each
other in the course of Il very few weeks, to put
things in train. Mrs. Ranford was soon taken
INTO the secret, and, with her clear, strong mind
took in the whole thing, the love affair and all
heartily
and Tom Broadhurst rode over there continual
ly: 1t was quite necessary. But as to that love
affair, neither Longmore nor Broadhurst were
suffered to know a word of it. Tom said he
would not for the world that his father should
be suspected ofhaving any interest in doing JUS
tice to Mr.. Longmore but the justice itself; and
as to Longmore knowing why, they might as
we'll think Of blowing up the gas-works and all
the steam engines in Boston and Wainfleet
Then, indeed, Longmore would declare Broad
hurst a rogue, who was for any thing for his
own interest!
But Mrs Ranforl was resolved on an expla-
nation, and therefore she planned the bringing
together her brother and Mr. Broadhurst at her
New Years Day dinner. 1t was daring pro-
leet; it struck even Mary and Tom Broadhurst
with unutterable dismay. Mrs Longmore, who
was in the secret, was terrified beyond concep.
ton; it had actually thrown her into serious
relapse. But Mrs. Ranford was woman of Il
bold spirit and decisive will; she determined
that the experiment should be made Mrs Ran
ford resembled her brother greatly in person ;
she was tall, large, forid, and very comelv
woman. and ten years younger. Her husband
mad been dead some years. and Mrs. Ranforl
had had numbers of most advantageous offers {;
but, no, she declared that she 1cus married to
her dear Ned; he was only gone on the journey
that she should take after him some day. She
would not have two husbands Mrs. Ranford
was first rate farmer; her house stood on the
top of that step of country that runs on through
Lincoln, and looked far and wide over the flats
below; 1t was good farm house, with flower
garden and with outbuldings, and stock that
showed her management and science; she led a
life very much to her taste, and ruled very much
in her own way, and was resolved now to try
her power over her brother cit was time to
put an end to all this heart burning and mis-
understandings shu said; sc there had been
enough of it,
Longmore drove that afternoon over those i'm
mense flats that lie between Boston and Blant
Farm. The air was clear and very keen; the
Whole country was one level sheet of whiteness.
only here and there broken by a long line of
stunted willows, one of those funny little wind
mills that are set by the sluggish dykes to pro-
pei the water, a solitary willow surrounded
farm, with an occasional round haystack eaten
out by the cattle into the shape of huge mush-
room, or dreary stretch of black trees far
away in the distance. 1t was little more than
four o'clock when Longmore was ascending the
steep hill to Blant Farm, but it was already
dark, piercing cold, and some fine flakes of snow
made him say to himself, We shall have an
other downfall" Mrs Ranfords dinner was
not till six o'clock, but she had begged her
brother to be there early, both on account of the
short days and because she wanted some talk
with him. 1t was to be a family party, with
the exception of Broadhurst and his son, and
the clergyman and his wife, to whom Mrs. Ran
ford had impaired her scheme and implored the
wears aid in the crisis.
Longmore, on entering the house, met his sis
ter in the hall, and they embraced each other
atfectionately. Mary, who had been there some
days, remained in the drawing groom, for she
was too much terrified to venture out. Mrs.
Ranford having seen her brother relieved of his
coats and wrappers, opened the drawing-roo
door, and purposely allowed him to go in first.
Scarcely did he, however, set his foot in the
room, than he turned round, and with a fierce,
low ontburst of The DEVIL" he plunged past
Mrs. Ranford in the direction of the hooks on
which hung his hat and coat Mrs Ranford
had probably expected something of the kind,
for she suddenly opposed her large calm person
in his way-and as he gave her terrible look
saying:
"iou, sister, you' she seized him by both
arms, and said
+" Brother! brother! show yourself man and
Christian There are things to tell you that
will set every thing right
At the same moment Mary rushed from the
room, clasped his knees, and cried in agonized
tones" Oh, father fatherr'
But Longmore had by this time grasped hi
hat with one hand, thrust it upon his head
|
given himself furious shake loose, and dashed
out of the door. The scene he left behind wa
awful. Mary Longmore had sunk down on tn
floor where her father had left her, and wa
weeping convulsively. But Mrs Ranford wa
excaiming-
"What madman! What fury! But h
shall be brought to reason''
| Tom Broadhurst stood over Mary whispering
to her something which only seemed to increase
| ifany thing, the violence of her grief; and MI
| Broadhurst almost wept.
"Stop him, Mrs. Ranford! Send after him
won't stop in his way. will retire to the inn
And with that Mr.. Broadhurst also snatche
his hat and rushed out
What New Years dinner party! What a
upshot of the experiment! Mrs. Ranford di
not send after her brother. She knew yer
well she might just as nationally send for Lin
| coin Minister; but she set about to comfor
| Mary, telling her never to fear-all should b
right yet: her fathers proud spirit should b
made to bend 1t was a miserable scene.
Mean time Longmore had FASTENED into til
stable yard, where his horse was not yet got OF
of his harness-made the man put him in agai
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