The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-01-06


Then, madam, have every hope O. defeat
ing the schemes o these fause.hearted looms, if
so be your ain plan should fail. Good bye,
madam. 4e haze the courage fort God gle
ye good luck agen them a."
"Thank you. Good bye, Richard"
The gardener, after seeing Mr.. Digest, return
ed to the Hall, and delivered his letter to Mr..
Classic, who, though greatly perplexed, pre-
pared to obey. The sturdy old Richard next
took journey in the same direction we have
once before seen him wend, was closeted with
Gilbert Congreve for an hour, and then took his
way to the city again, arriving there day or
himself during this time, is not necessary to
state now.
After Richard closed the door behind him,
Mrs. Fleming sat with dropping head, and hands
folded over her breast, almost Frustrated.
"Oh, this is hard" she murmured hard, in
deed, to bear. Why is my pride thus again assail-
ed Why am | a second time tortured with the
toulest aspersion that can light upon woman?
l, who have been SO circumspect in action, who
can bare my whole heart, so far as it concerns
such matters, to the world And by Mornin-
glory, too, a light O skirts herself, and Gin.
quaint, the brat of strumpet whose favors were
for the marketplace Why is it-and / all
alone, too-not even my dear son, for whom |
nurture this PRIDE near by to help me in defend
ing it? Alone, alone v and as she bowed
herself still lower, the hot tears tricked down
rapidly into her lap. Then, with a sudden con-
vulsive effort, she started up, sweeping away the
tears from her eyes with fierce, defiant GEES
ture.
"No! They shall not have it to say they have
made me weepl defy them, the vipers-I defy
them! | will meet them and their wiles, hand
to hand, conquer, and set my foot on them. Az,
grind them into the dustl But oh, ;" and in spite
of her strength, the tears welled, up again, ooh,
Jasper, Jasper, come home cohe home Come
now, my Jasper, come now, and your wishes shall
be mine. will forget Gilbert-for thy sake, oh
my darling! Oh, come home, Jasper, come
home, for my heart is desolate, and my spirit
feels the chill vapors Of despair-come Yet
If he comes-will they not triumph over me?
will not he triumph over me! Ah God may
hap-oh, no, not Mat-mayhap, in revenge, he
told Jasper all that terrible past and jasper be.
lieves! and have lost himl Did he dare
would kill him, Kill him, if he robs me of my
son!"
Mrs. Fleming went into her dressing room.
bathed her eyes, and rearranged her toilet in
its usual orderly fashion. She had scarcely re-
stunned her seat, when Mr.. Digest, the lawyer,
who had arranged matters with Plato, was an
HOunceu anu Daue 10 come
You have heard of the reports circulating
respecting me, Mr.. Digesti" said she, CURLY,
but with no visible emotion. "YouI see have
been foolish enough to shed few tears about
it. sent for you to consult you in regard to it."
AT your service, my dear madam. Am ex-
ceedingly sorry it has occurred, but see they
will discover they have been assailing q rock,
rock, madam"
Do you then think do not feel such mat
tiers acutely, Mr.. Digest? That / am not
capable of being bowed down with shame
Have no susceptibility to agony?" she spoke
these words almost passionately.
MIR. Digest fastened his keen little eve upon
her for moment in an admiring way, and
then he said: {" believe that this round little
earth of ours is pretty hard to the touch, quite
stout Bullets and yet am cre1ibly informed"
added he, with infinite slyness, that it is entirely
molten mass under the crust. No, madam,
do not think you cold, only wonder at your pow
er of seeming so-at your wonderful strength and
composure in this emergency. Why, nine hun.
dred and ninety-nine women in thousand
would be rolling their beds i'll violent Mysteries,
with half dozen doctors and several pounds
of sal volatile about them, while you
Send for my lawyer to adUise, not to fatter
me" said Mrs. Fleming, smiling, but at the
same time with significant emphasis. Mr.
Digest chuckled in admiration and rubbed his
hands together vigorously:
" Excellent - excellent - what power-she
can even joke in the midst of it. There is
real enjoyment to one in having such a client;
and my advice is, to trace the charge to its au-
Their or authors, and forthwith commence
prosecution of them for SANDER and viliication
OF character. We can recover heavy damages,
and put out their rushlights completely"
| "Nonsense! said Mrs. Fleming, contempt
uously. "You legal gentlemen think every bat
tie has to be fought with your peculiar weapons.
Do you think l would take such little matter
as this into court of justice?"
Little matter! Defamation of character
little matter tell you, madam, it is no trfe
in the eyes of the law. 1t is felony, and, though
best treated by merely civil action, is open to
indictment, and the penalties are forfeiture of
goods and person." -
" 1t was not for any such purpose sent for
you, any how, Mr.. Digest. Do you remember
having advised me to be carefulin my dealings
with Mr.. Clinquant on one OCCASION when you
met him at my house,?
| Perfectly 4
Saying that you had reason to mstrust him,
and had the means of proving him to be vii,
LANA charge which 1 then imputed to your
being piqued at his jokes?"
| "Exactly," said Digest, as if taking testi-
money.
"Do those proofs give you any power over
him-power that could be welded to his detri-
ment?'' Mr. Digest rubbed his hands COM
placently. "Power over him! / should say
they did They put him between my finger
and thumb, like alike a fea--or a pinch of
snuff"
"Wen, Mr.. Digest, Mr.. Clinquant has been
writing story for one of the magazines con-
tanning certain things that may do me an in
jury, and which, anyhow, will be exceedingly
unpleasant to me. / wish to have that story
suppressed before it becomes public. Do you
understand z"
"Aye, and can do it." said he, "a and will
doiit IT'S just the fun I like, to decapitate
such twisting chap as Mr.. Clinquant. I'd
rather do it than receive a thousand-dOlar re-
tainer. This is just the opportunity have been
on the lookout for But, in regard to the
other matter, can give you any assistance?"
"Thank you. l believe not"
May venture to ask whether you are going
to be present at this ball, where le bean monde
are to assemble, and where l understand le
grand coup is to be struck"
"Yes-Mr Classic is to wait upon me there"
said Mrs. Fleming, in her ordinary tone.
"Grand! said Digest, springing vivaciously
to his feet, and taking her hand. Excuse me,
but never saw your equal. Going to face the
music, eh-beard the lion in his den? / would
pronounce any one else mad to attempt it, but
you-yo can do it-you are equal to it. Your
pulse is as quiet as can be. You can do it."
Mrs. Fleming disengaged her hand with
slight gesture of impotence, and the lawyer,
bowling, took his leave. As he went he snap
ped his fingers, and muttered: She'll do it.
She'll be down on them all like an avalanche.
And, by Jove, Ill be there to see, as sure as
nv names Gloss DIGEST Won't she carry the