The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1856-12-19

sum Of money could be instmtly raised hi
furniture would be seized and sacrificed
no purpose.
One only possible c1pedicnt remained
that of once moro endeavoring to soften tn
obduracy Of Mr.. Bradshaw. This 1t wa
finally determined to attempt, and Mr.. ant
Mrs. Drysdale set of, by London morning
coach, upon the well-nish hopeless spocala
ton. They alighted at the Hunters In
where Drysdale remained, whilst his vii
proceeded alone to Rodney Place, Thoma
Burnham was friendly and good-natursd q
ever. The old mariner, no told Drysdalc
was visibly failing, and his chief amusemon
seemed to be scraping and boarding VI
money. James Berry, q broken down tailor
and chap, according to Burnham, VIII
knew how many beans made five as well o.
any man in Devonshire, had been for SOM
time valet, gardener, and general factosun
at Rodney Place, and appeared to e1ercis'
great influence over Mr.. Bradshaw. Th'
only other person in the establishment
was tho old cook, Margery Deans, who
never otherwise since hc had known her
than desperately hard Of hearing. was now
become deaf as stone. Drysdale, 1t wal
afterwards remembered listened to oil thi'
with eager attention, and was especially in
quisitive and talkative, respecting Mr.. Brad.
shaw's boarding propensitiss, and the soil
tary, unprotected state in which he lived.
Mrs. Drysdalc was long gone; but the
trcmulous hopes which her prOtracted stay
called feebly forth, vanished at tho sight Of
her pale, fearful, yet resolved aspect. F" 1t
is useless, Edward" she murmurcd, with
her arms cast about her husbands neck, and
looking in his face with fur more lavish ex'
preston Of affection than when, with orange
blossoms in her hair, she stood newly.con-
sccated wife beside him; il is useless to
expect relief from my uncle, save upon tho
heartlsss, impossible condition you know Of.
But let US 60 home. Gods heaven is still
above our heads, though clouds and dark
ness rest between. We will trust in him,
Edward, and fear not"
So bravo woman ought to have boon
matched with stout-hoarted man but this,
unhappily, was not the case. Edward Drys-
dale was utterly despondent, and he listened,
Us his wife was afterwards fein to admit to
herself and others, with inpatient reluc-
tanee to all she said as they journcyed home
wards, save when tho condition Of help
spoken of, namely, that she should abandon
hcr husband, and take up her abode with
her children at Rodney Place, was discussed
by her Indignantly. Once, also, when
she mentioned that the old will in her favor
was not yet destroyed, but would be, her
uncle threatened, if she did not soon return,
a bright, almost fiery expression seemed to
leap from his usually mild, reflective eyes,
and partially dissipate tho thick gloom
which mantled his features.
This occurred on a winters day, in early
March, and the evening up to 7 o'clock had
passed drcarily with the Drysdales, when
all at once the husband, starting from q
profound reveric, said ho would take walk
as far as Exeter, sec the attorney in tho suit
against him, and, If possible gain little
more time for the arrangement Of tho debt,
his wife acquiesccd, though with small hopes
of any favorable result, and the strangely
abstracted man left the house.
Ten o'clock, the hour by which Edward
Drysdalo had promised to return, chimed
from the dial on the mantlepiecc Mrs.
Drysdalo trimmed tho FIRE, lit tho candles,
which for economy'ssake shc had c1tinguish-
ed, and had their frugal supper laid. lie
came not. Eleven o'clock! What could
be dctaining him so late? Twelve !-half.
past twelyel Rachel Drysdale was just
about to bid tho servant-maid, who was sit
ting up in the kitchen, 80 to bed, when the
sound of carriagc-wheels going to'odrds Exc
ter stopped at the door. 1t was retnr"
post-chaisc, and brought Edward Drysdale'
He staggered, as II intoxicated, into the
kitchen, reached down half.bottle Of bran
dy from cupboard, and took 1t the post
boy, who Immediately drove of. Anne
Moody, the servant girl, was greatly startl'
ed by her masters appearance; ho looked,
she afterwards stated, moro the color Of o
whited wall, than Of flesh and blood, and
shook and "cowered," Us ifhe had theaguc
Mrs. Drysdalo camc into the kitchen, and
stood gazing at her husband, in white
dumb kind of way Il am transcribins liter
all from the girls statemcnt) till the outel
door was fastened, when they both went W
stairs into n front sitting loom. Curiosity
induced Anne Moody to follow, and sh'
heard, Just Us tho door closed upon them
Mrs. Drysdale say, "You have not been Il
Exeter, l am sure" This was said in
nervous, shaking voice, and her master re
Piled, in the samo tone, "No; changet
my mind" or words to that effect. Ther
there was quick whispering for minut'
or two, by half stiaed cry or scream frou
Mrs Drysdale. A sort Of hubbub OF word
| followed, which the girl, a very intclligen
person of her class by-the-by, could not hear
or at least could not make out, till Mr.. Drys
dale said in louder, slower may, "You
Rachel-the children are provided for; but
| o God at what dreadful price T" Ann
Moody, fearful Of detection, did not wait t
hear more, but crept stealthily up stairs Il
bed, as her mistress had ordered her to do
when she left the kitchen. On tho following
morning the girl found her master and mis-
trcss both up, the kitchen and parlor hrc
Il NJ, .rJ hreakfast nearly over. Mr.. Drys