The Union. [volume] (Georgetown, Del.) 1863-1866, 1864-04-22

will pardon me, hlra. Gre9son; nave oeen
a Judge in the Madras Pres leney, and |
am u disciplinarian in such miters-not |
cruel, trus, SUIT still die pl marian"
MY wife was eloquent that night in her
praises of Mr.. Brancher.
"But his servants tell our servants,
dear" she said to me, fthat he has oXe
fault; he is too fond of rambling; he is
perpetually leaving his wife to travel"
''On business"
0No, on pleasure; he has no business,
he has pension. He is off again, they
tell me, tomorrow, early. wonder, Al
thur, he never mentioned it to u.s."
A fortnight later, Mr.. Brancher and his
wife dined with us; he was very agree
able. In the course OF the evening the
conversation fell ON the abolition of the
punishment of death. The ex-Judge was
strong against such abolition.
"No, ladies'" he said, ~ am man of
the world, and know that the rascals who
infest the world need to be terrified. The
gibbet is scarecrow for them"
1 differed from him, but could get no
partisans; every one, even my wife, was
with the ex-Judge, can excellent fellow"
thought I to myself, "but of too severe
cast Of thought on these matters"
The week after, I and Lucy went and
dined at Brancher's. There was to be a
little dancing in the evening. It was then,
over our wine, that first discovered
Bgancher to be brother mason. This was
an additional tie to bind together our
growing friendship. The dinner had pas
sed off pleasantly; everything was choice
without being vulgarly profuse the meat
was done to turn the wine was excel
lent. There was certainly a little too
much Of tall bony gardener, in exuber-
ant white gloves, who cannoned against
the other servants, whispered good deal
over the dishes, laughed at our jokes, and
stumbled over piles of plates in the hall
The dance went off pleasantly-some nice
girls from Bybridge foatcd about in white
muslin-Brancher was tremendous in the
: quadrilles; being portly, conspicuous
sort of whiskery man, he always danced
with the smallest and youngest lady, ant
firted unconscionably, to his own ant
everybody's delight. | was the last t,
leave; Lucy and the children had gon
early. Brancher and fingered over tn,
end of bottle Of specially good dry sher
ry.
=ss.4E 4E3y-t.ae-by, Gregson,' said he, as I sooi
E up my Gibus to go, "you have never see
4 my library yet; it is small collection
and on a special subject, but it is curiou
u and valuable"
n followed him into little room lead
ing out of the library. He opened tw
3 cases. 10 my surprise, the books were le
c gal books, Thieves Tricks, Old Bale
o Trials, and Newgate Calendars.
Not my style" | said.
G TIA! Yut you know am an old Judge
= ana have devoted much ,housht to the4
= matters.
. "By-.he-by," said /, ''3efore l go, lie
r u arrange a croquet match lor the cAiia
' rcn to-morrow--lt IS puzzle hoilaay.
a Most unfortunate 4s repileo, "uu,
/ start tomorrow 70 sica. ,nreo as ;
, Derby.'
. The next time met Drancher was Q
the top of BALKAN hill omnI us. II
:, was both surprised and pleased to met
n ,s me. He grew very cha,ty about Il
- =. tricks of thieves in the olden times. Il
:. y explained to ME ''ring-dropping," "cho
= = sharping," and other mysteries.
N ''Did you ever devote much time, 81
n to ciphor" asked somebody on the roc
ID II know thirty-two kinds" said Branc
er er, laughing; ''and l fatter myself tn
there is no advertisement in the -eeqor
e. column Of the Times for whole ye
&c which couldn't deeipher in forty mi
p utes."
a why, Brancher," said l, ewhat
he tectiye you would make!"
lie II think l should" he said, with
IT. smile, ''but here's my corner-eood by
ag Shall see you again on Friday. Kind l
ke CARDS to Mrs. Gregson. Love at home.-
Bye-bye|
lIe That was Monday, On Tuesday I /
,er ceived telegraph dispatch from Dol G
ew ter to say that my brother was dangerol
el' " i'll Of pleurisy. His life was on I
s sL balance-would l come?
He was a sporting man was my broth
~ George. He had been taken i'll duri
3 3,us the race-week. He was lying at the CHI
W. W. hotel. / made up my mind in nome
he he packed up small valise, and drove straig
mo- to Euston square.
nd When reached Doncaster, late in t
an evening, l found that my brother was b
Ike ter, and had started for Scarborough.
ON resolved not to follow him, but TO spe
the night at Doncaster, go the next q
on on the races, as was on the spot, and
de- turn on Thursday. Rather tired of I
ted noisy betting-men who filed the hotel
supped and won't to bed early.
ing 1t was Just at daybreak that I awoke
the The blinds we're down, and the dim g
els, light just sufdced to make the blinds SCI
Iole transparent, and show me where the v
the dows were. There was the lookin@-gl
! of rising dark against the window to the j
the window furthest from my bed Tn
ing were my clothes lying on chair, look
'ap- like a rough sketch of myself I ii
to get to sleep again, but could not
her There was ne one stirring in the ho
d Ga distant door opening was nothir
hal but my mind was anxious, and l CO
ave not decoy myself back again to sleer
i'll | IA slight +" 6stling" noise at the q
y to reused me still more completely, 1t =