New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1853-05-13

to sit down and refresh myself after my rue
Doubtless. And is she aware Of the hidden
hoard! No, her master is too cunning man
for that How confused he looked when he
thought saw him shut up the secret drawers
And if he were to die suddenly one of these days,
what will they do with his bureau Would it
not be thrust into some garret corner, as mere
useless piece of lumber: ] must keep my eye
on it." These thoughts made Isaac uneasy all
the journey home, and he was too much taken up
with them even to think Of using the whip to his
horse, whose dlatoriness would at another time
have drawn down upon himself a severe easti-
CATION.
When Isaac got home, he found Mrs. Lanks
"a neighboring veterinary surgeons LADY, ta-
king tea with Mrs. Terrett and the charming
Nokc; for Mrs. Tcrrett had invited her in,
under the supposition that Isaac would not re-
turn till late. Isaac hated Mrs. Lanks, as she
had an enormous appetite, and was an inveter-
ate tea -drnker. She had method of keeping
you chatting all the while, t6o, in manner
which induced you to overlook the little weak
ness to which / have alluded. Isaac detested
gossip and scandal, and Mrs. Lanks was the
very soul of both. Her looks denoted. it. She
had pair Of large, red eyes, an inquisitive
nose, rather rubicund also, and two of her long
front teeth rather projecting Her cap was set
in a retired way upon the back Of her head the
bosom of her dress was always somewhat in
trailed after her wherever she went. She had
a most stealthy mode of passing her cup, and
taking bread and butter from the plate it was
generally done at the most interesting part Of
her narrative, when your feelings were worked
upon, and the pores of your sympathy open.
9. There is that she dragon, Mrs. Lanks, again"
muttered the saddler, as he entered the room
and sat down. On another occasion. he would
have shown his dissatisfaction rather plainly,
but this evening he was thinking more Of Mr..
Grulder, and the bureau with the secret
drawers. His demeanor to Mrs. Lanks, there
fore, was comparatively respectful and polite
inasmuch so, that this good lady, who had felt a
little blighted at first. recovered her spirits
and even ventured so far as to compliment Mr.
Terrett by stating that the country air had
given him quite color. Isaac, however, rotor
ted by saying, he was glad to owe his color to
the country air a remark which evidently had
an under current of sarcasm, and incapaciated
Mrs. Lanks for further conversational indul-
gence. As soon as possible, after tea was over,
accordingly she retired, and the tallow-chand-
ler's assistant dropped in, to sit with Noke in
the snug recess by the window. That very
evening Isaac commenced the set of pony har-
ness, which so occupied his thoughts, that on
two occasions he forgot to thump Gorby's head
with an awl, and prick him in tender part Of
the back-a species of persecution to which the
slow apprentice had latterly become confirmed
martyr.
CHAPTER II.
| month passed, the harness was completed,
and Isaac Terrett drove with it to the residence
| of Mr.. Grulder. That gentleman was perfectly
satisfied with his purchase, and paid cash down
from drawer (not private one) of the antique
bureau. Five-and- twenty guineas in hard cash
he paid Isaac Terrett, and oven joked the sad
der as he laid the money before him. a. was a
great fool,' thought Isaac, 'snot to say thirty.
l have lost five guineas by my Stupidity > hut
Mr.. Gulder CHANGING to be seized with one
of his severe asthmatc attacks at the moment
Isaac soon forgot his misfortune, recovered his
spirits, and, dropping the guineas one by on'
into little coarse bag, buttoned it up comfort
ably in his breeches pocket. Three separate
and distressing fits of coughing had old Mr.
Grulder while Isaac was with him, and anothe
while he was descending the staircase. Tn
4 vinegar housekeeper led Isaac to the door, an
he tried to draw her into conversation. Ii
! partially succeeded, for she asked him, in
honrse whisper, whether the harness was fnishs
yeti Isaac Terrett started. The truth all
, once flashed over him. She was about to
/, made Mrs Grulder and he hated her on IL
spot He absolutely pinched her as she opene
the door to let him out
Isaac Terrett was in a hideous humor Hi
horse soon discovered that, and put on his hol
, day pace. That did not suit the sadder, and th
chestnut cob had to mend it. Isaac reached tn
town in fve-and-thirty minutes, which wa
rapid travelling Mrs Lanks had again droppe
in to tea, and he just caught glimpse Of he
thin back, as she was making hasty retrea
through the kitchen door Mrs. Terrett, VIII
F was meek parsonage, rest assured, came in 70
her share of Isaac's ill-temper: and so did Nok'
who hustled off the tallow chandler's assistan
at an early hour; and SO did poor Gorby, VII
got more raps upon the knuckles and head j
the brief space of ten minutes than had ever bt
fore fallen to his lot in double that number
, weeks
The following day old Mr.. Grulder, with
groom behind him, drove to the door. I'll
traces wanted taking up an inch. Isaac brougl
, out an affair like pair of sugar nippers, an
remedied his error in few moments. He lookt
, narrowly to the shoulders of the two ponie.
there was no chafng of the collars, everythr
+ fitted we'll Isaac pretended there was som
thing wrong in the arrangement of the blinker
and beckoned the groom to him.
"When is it to be y whispered Isaac in h
ear.
, "what do you mean :" was the cautious +
joinder.
"Why, the wedding"
"Oh, and who told you anything about it
p "Nobody / guessed"
swell, on Wednesday, then, but al
here the groom, that he might laugh unobserv,
4 by his master, passed his hand lightly9ver Il
: near pony's knee.
o But what % asked Isaac speak on, lad
+ s.I don't believe he'll live till then
"The asthma, ell p
. Yes, he was dreadful as we came throu.
,. the fog just now, and he'll be worse as we
q back, or I'm mistaken"
If And the groom having resumed his seat, NJ
o Grulder cracked his whip CALAMITY for gent
c man of eighty five, and drove merrily away.
n The prediction of the groom was verified {
v Mr.. Grulder, on his return home, was sez
i with such violent and protracted fit of coug
v ing, that he burst blood vessel, and fell do'
4 dead. 1t was u singular tn ng that the vineg
% housekeeper should take his death so little
', heart. The moment he was carried to his roo
II and the two surgeons who had been summon
to his assistance were gone, she put her han
l carefully into her masters pockets, and reliey
Il them of a we'll filled purse, bunch of keys, a
/ a red memorandum hook. The groom stole
,s shortly afterwards, and, finding that old Sa
No had been little beforehand with him. gay
,e appropriated what few loose coppers there W,
t. in Mr.. Grulders tail-coat pocket, and, openl
10 n writing desk that stood on small table IN
5 corner, CLEANED a stray guinea or two III
q. done, he returned stealthily below stairs, a
of received instructions from the housekeeper
90 repair as far as the village carpenter and bri
q. him up to measure Mr.. Grulder for a coffin.
to CHAPTER III.
as Isaac Terrett, with spectacles on nose,
,h reading a newspaper in the little shop 'front.'