The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1859-02-16

considering trouble we take, Benjamin and me
to make the imp up stairs as happy as the day
is long. IF good Mr.. Forley would only please
to think a little more of what deal he owe.
to Benjamin and nc"
''That's just it" says Trottle catching her ur
short in desperation, and seeing his way, by the
help of those last words of hers to slipping
cleverly through her fingers. "What should
you say, if told you that Mr.. Forley was
nothing like so far from thinking about that lit
tie matter as you fancy? You would be disap.
pointed, now, if I told you that had come to-
day without the money?"-(her lank old jaw
fell, and her villainous old eyes glared, in a
perfect state of panic, at thatt)- )--s.Eut what
should you say, if l told you;t that bIr. Forley
was only waiting for my report, to send me
here next Monday, at dusk, with bigger bit
of business f0r us 10 do together than ever you
think for? What should you say to that ?''
The old wretch came SO near to Trottle, be-
fore she answered, and jamed him up coniden-
TALLY so close into the cornsr of the landing,
that his throat, IN manner, rose at her.
"Can you count it off, do you think, on
more than that ?'' says she, holding up her
four skinny fingers and her long crooked
! thumb, all of tremble, right before his face.
"What do you say to two hands instead of
one ?' says he, pushing past her, and getting
down stairs as fast as he could.
What she said Trottle thinks it best not to
report, seeing that the old hypocrite, getting
next door to Eght-headed at the golden pros
pect before her, took such liberties with un-
earthly names and persons which ought never
to have approached her lips, and rained down
such an awful shower of blessings on Trottle's
head, that his hair almost stood on end to hear
her. He went on down stairs as fast as his
feet would carry him, till he was brought up
all standing, as the sailors say, on the last flight,
by asgrayating benjamin, lying right across The
stair, and having fallen off, as might have been
expected, into heavy drunken sleep.
The sight of him instantly reminded Trottlc
of the curious halfEkeness- which he had al
ready detected between the face of Benjamin
and the face of another man, whom he had
at past time in very different circum-
stances. He determined, before leaving the
House, to have one more look at the wretched
muddled creature; and accordingly shock him
up smartly, and propped him against the stair
case wall, before. his mother could interfere.
"Leavc him to me; I'll freshen him up,"
says Trottle to the old woman, looking hard in
Benjamins face while he spoke. f.
The fright and surprise of being suddenly
woke up, seemed for about quarter of min
ute, to sober the creature. When he first open
ed his eyes, there was new look in them for
a moment, which struck home to Trottle's
memory as quick and as clear as q fash Of light.
The Old maudlin sleepy expression came back
again in another instant, and blurred out all
further signs and tokens of the past. But
Trottle had seen enough in the moment before
it came and he troubled Benjauia,s face with
no more inquiries.
''Next Monday, at dusk" says he, cutting
short some more of the old woman's palaver
about Benjamin indigestion. GIVE got no
more time to spare, MAJ am, tonight: please to
let me out"
With few last blessings few last dutiful
to good Mr.. Forley, and few last
friendly hints not to forget next Monday at
dusk, Trottle contrived to struggle through'the
sickening business Of !eavc-taking; to get the
door opened; and to find himself, to his own
relief once more on the outer side
Of the House 10 Let.
LET At LAST.
.There, ma am !" said Torttle, folding up
the manuscript from which he had been read
ing, and setting it down with smart tap of
triumph on the table. .NIay venture to ask
what you think Of that plain statement, as q
guess on my part (and not on Mr.. Jarber's)
at the riddle OF the empty House %
For minute OF 'twolI was unable to say
word When 1 recovered little, my first
question referred to the poor forlorn little boy.
To-day is Monday the twentieth I said.
"Surely YOU have not let whole week 90 by
without trying to find out something more ~
Except at bedtime, and meals, ma am" ,"
answered Trottle, ''I have not let an hour go
by. Please to understand that [ have only
come to an end of what have written, and
not to an end Of what have done. L wrote
down those first particulars, ma'am, because
they are of great importance, and also because
[ was determined to come forward with my
written documents, seeing that Mr.. Jarber
chose to come forward, in the first instance,
with his. I am now ready TO go on with the
second pant of my story as shortly and plainly
as possible, by word of mouth The first thing
L must clear upssif you please, is the matter OF
Mr.. Forley's family affairs. l have heard you
speak of them, ma am, at various times; and
have understood that Mr.. Forley had two chill
dren only by his deceased wife, both daughters.
The eldest daughter married, to her fathers
entire satisfaction, one Mr.. Bayne, rich man,
holding high government situation in Canada.
She is now living there with her husband, and
her only child, little girl of eight or nine
years old Right so far, [ think, ma'am p
: "Quite right" l said.
s.The second daughter" Trottle went on,
oand Mr.. Forley's favorite, set her fathers
wishes and the opinions of the world at Hat
defiance, by running away with man OF low
origin-a mate of merchant-Tessel' named
Kirkland. Mr.. Forley not only never forgave
that Marriage, but vowed that he would visit
the scandal of it heavily in the future
on husband and wife. Both escaped his ven
eeancc, whatever he meant it to be. The hus-
band was drowned on his first voyage after his
marriage, and thewife died in child-bed. Blight
again, believe, ma am?
''Again quite right"
Having got the family matter all right, we
will now 90 back, ma'am, to me and my doings
Last Monday, asked you for leave of absence
for two days; 1 employed the time in clearing
UP the matter of Benj jamn's face. Last Sat
urday was out of the way when you wanted
me- I played truant, am, on that occasion,
in company with a friend of mine, who Is
managing clerk in a lawyers office; and we
both spent the morning at Doctors Commons,
over the last will and testament of Mr.. Forley' S
father Leaving the will business for mo-
ment, please to follow me first, if you have no
objection, into the ugly subject Of BENJAMIN S
face About six or seven years ago Qhanks