Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1857-09-10
PUBLISHED EVERY

ing, and he was thus bewilderedly casting about
for means of keeping the terrible, perhaps ia
tai tidings from his wife. | afterwards heard
that he left Film Park in a postchaise, shout
two hours after came away, unattended by
a single servant
He was gone three clear days only, at the
end of which he returned with Mrs. Dandy
and-hiS son-in forid health too, and one of
the finest babies of its age-about nine weeks
only-I had ever seen Thus vanished the
air-drawn Doubling Castle and Giant Despair
which | had SO hastily conjured up The
cause assigned by Mr.. Arbuthnot for the agi-
tation had witnessed, was doubtless the true
one and yet, and the thought haunted me for
months, years afterwards, he opened only one
letter that morning and had sent message
to his wife that the child was we'll
Mrs. Dandy remained at the Park till the
little Robert was weaned, and was then dis
missed very munifcently rewarded Year af-
ter year rolled away without bringing Mr.
and Mrs Arbuthnot any additional little ones
and no one, therefore, could feel surprised at
the enthusiastic love of the delighted mother
for her handsome nobly-promising boy. But
that which was did astonish me- though no one
else, for it seemed that alone noticed it, was
q strange defect of character which began to
develop itself in Mr. Arbuthnot He was pos
itiyely jealous of his wife's affection for their
own child Many and many time have re-
marked, when be thought himself nnobserved,
an expression of intense pain fash from his fine,
expressive eyes, at any more than usually fer
vent manifestations of the young mothers
gushing love for her first aud only born 1t
was altogethera mystery to me, and as much
as possible forbode to dwell upon :he subject
Nine years passed away without bringing
any material change to the parties involved in
this narrative, except those which time brings
ordinarily in his train. Young Robert Ar
burthnot was healthy, tall. fine looking lad
of his age ; had his great-grandpaP the rector
though not suffering under any actual physical
or mental inhrmity, had reached a time of life
when the announcement that the golden bowl
is broken, or the silver cord is loosed, may ia
deed be quick and sudden, but scarcely unex-
pected. Things had gone we'll too, with the
nurse, Mrs Dandy, aud her husband we'll
AZ least, after fashion. The speculative mil-
Ter must have made good use Of the gift of his
wife for the care Of little Arbuthnot, for be had
built a geuteel house near the mill, always
rode valuable horse, kept, il was said. cap
ilai table and all this, as il seemed, by his
clever SPeculati0Rs in corn aud -four, for the
ordinary business Of the mill was almost en-
tirely neglected He had no children Of his
own, but lie had apparently taken. with much
cordiality, 10 his step-SoD, a fne lad, now about
eighteen years OF age. This greatly grieved
the BOYS mo ther, who dreaded above all things
that her son should contract the evil. dissolute
habits Of his father-in-Iaw. Latterly, she had
become extremely s0licitous to procure the
lad a permanent situation abroad end this
Mr.. Arbuthnot had promised should be effect
cd at the earliest Opportunity.
Thus stood affairs on the 10th Of October.
1916. Mr. Arbuthuot was temporarily abseut
in Ireland, where he possessed large property
and was making personal inquiries as to the
extent of the potato rot, not long before an
uounced. The mornings post had brought a
letter 10 his wife, with the Intelligence that he
should reach home that very evening and as
the rectorv was on the direct road TO ,:lm
PARK. and her husband would be sure to pull
up there, Mrs. Arbuthnot came with her son
to pass the afternoon there, AMI liz some slight
degree anticipate her husbands arrival.
About three O'Clock, cLIef-cicrk Of one Of
Taunton banks rode 80 in "a gig TO the reeto-
~, and asked to see the Rev Mr. ToRnIy, Oh
pressing and important business, He Te>
u>herrd into the library, where the rector and
I were Al the moment rather baSily engaged.
The clerk said he had been to Elm Park. but
not finding either Mr.. ArbHthnot or his lady
there, lie had thoaght that PERHAPS the Rev
Mr.. Tcwniey might be able 10 pronounce ap-
on the genu;neneSs Of a cheqGe for $500. pur
porting TO be drawn on the Taunton Bank by
Mr. Arbuthaot, and which Dapby the miller
had obtained cash for at Bath. He further
sdded. that the bauk had refused payment.
and detained the cheque, br!ieTing it to be
forgery.
e 4 forgery - exclaimed the rector. after
merely glancing at the document "a NJ aues-
ton tina: il IS and very cIqms;Iy executed
oue too Besides, Mr.. AEbuthnot is not vet
re.urned from Ireland
This was sufficient and the messenger
with many apologies for his intrusion. withdrew
and has,ened back 10 Taunton We were
sti! talking oTer this sad affair, altiIcrgh some
hours had elaSped since the clerks departure
in fact. candles had been brought 10, AID
we were every moment expecting Mr.. Arbuth-
uot-when the sound Of horse at fastv gal
iop Mas heard approaching and presently
the pale and haggard face OF Danby shot ,sv
the window al which the rector ard invself
were standing The gate bell vas rung al
most immediately aftersards, AID but a brief
interval passed before Mr Danby7 was an
, uo8noed TO he in waitiRg The serSaat had
hardly gained the passage Eiih le4Fe 10 show
him in- Ehea the impatient visito. rushed rude
~ into the room in state Of great aad it
seemed angry. excitement
What, sir. i the meaning Of this iiI-nan-
uered intrusion demanded the rector sternlv.
1Oa have pronounced the check paid
aSay 81 Bath TO be forgery ard the officers
are. sm told already az NV heels Mr. Ar
bHthEot. unfortunately. is not at home and I
cone therefore. to seek shelter with yoaT
Shelter with me, sir :" exclaimed the in