The Cleveland leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1865-1865, 1865-08-26


HNow, then, when the gentleman come.
You Gsk him II he won't have q glass OF
groz, and take him in that brandy and
these cigars" 9gA 80
LAy, az, sir p said the landlord with q
knowing wink; HIfI knows much of the
gentleman, be won't leave them while
there Be any in the box" zss
well, do IS I tell you, and let me know
when the lady comea"
These preparations finished, heNeile re-
tired to an up stairs room, commanding q
view Of the road to Portsmouth,, and await.
Che arrival Of the victims. -
Soon q fly drove up and out Of it step.
ped Mary, alin white. Mary was 10 long
er young, nor was she handsome, but she
had q good deal of quick repartee about
her which, with more education, might
have made her pass for s clever, witty Wo-
msn. Now, however, with her coarse red
face surrounded with white, and her great
handsin white kid gloves, she looked worse
than usual, and McNeile wondered what
infAtustion could have made Graham think
Of marrying her.
No time for speculation now, however;
the bride having BEEN the first to arrive,
made it more difficult to carry out his plan
than he expected, but he wa not to be
daunted. goa
The landlord showed her into the room
NcHeils had ordered, and went to tell him
Of her arrival. Use s5as s-G
McNeile had drawn the curtains In front
Of the window Of bis upstairs room, and
from behind them was peeping out, like 8
spider watching . fly. e-l
As soon IS the Landlord had told him
that " The lady, sir" was in the room be-
low, he desired him to take refreshments
into the room, and then 10 lock the door,
and bring him She key. This done, he still
waited patiently, snd soon Graham sp-
peared in sight, walking up the road. Mo
nellie heard bim come in, and then short
parley with the landlord. Very soon the
letter appeared and told him Mr.. Graham
was having his grog, and seemed to like
the cigars uncommon"
-HLock him in, too, then )" and this done,
McNeile took out his watch. A quarter
past 11-ifhe could only keep him there
t~hree-qusrters of an hour more the deed
was done. Half.past, all quiet; 8 quarter
to twelve, 8 ring st the bell in the lady's
room" What was TO be done2
The landlord, on tiptoe, looked in the
room, What be US 70 do now, sir The
lady have rung."
aPut the clock back to five minutes past
The landlord eosatched his head. GYou
see, sir, 'twere my mothers clock, and it
always was an, uncommon good 'un 70 20.
and they do say it do hurt 'un to put 'un
back
HNever you mind" said McNeile, ado
As 1 tell you. 1 suppose this will keep ii
going" and he held out ten shilings.
Gay, ~, siE," said the man, witha broad
grin, "thAtn help 'un, 1 reckon"
Down stairs he went, on tiptoe still, and
in 3 few minutes softly unlocked the door
OF MAry's room, and went in to know
" what she pleased to want I"
"Can you tell me the time, master 2"
alive minutes past eleven"
"0h, all right. T want the fly at the
door in ten minutes, please"
HOertainly, num-" and the door was
sgain shut but not locked. Five minutes
more-the fly was getting ready in the
yard-McNeile noiselessly slipped down
stairs.
@HOld on the fly another five minutes,
landlord"
At last, slowly as the minutes seem to
crawl, AcNsile's watch pointed to twelve
"Now, then, the fly may come around"
and as he gave the order he walked into
GrAhsm's room, and shut and locked the
door behind him.
"Halloa, McNeilel What on earth is
that for7 and what are you doing OF shore
sir ~ said Graham, who had evidently 7
drank enough brandy to make him quar-
McNeile did not answer directly
but walked up to him, and laid his hand !
on his arm. =
"You're my superior officer, you know, :
Graham" he said quietly, sand I've no c
business to interfere In your concerns; but t
you've often been q gooQ friend to me, and
Today I want to return it"
HAnd pray, sir" said Graham, working
himself rapidly into a passion, whist right
hove you, or any man, to NEEDLE with my :
concerns
mo right certsinly, and 1 only want to
ret y9u % think quietly for a minute, be- :
I'D felloU, how your sisS~-- -a,Id like the
lew sister you we're going to give them.
Graham's eye fell. McNeile saw his sd-
and followedi it up.
"You see, you meant TO be married to- !
lay, but it is illegal to be married after
2 o'clock without q special license, and it's
,Ast twelve now, SO you can't be married
In an instant both his hands we're seized g
Grsham's. =
any dear fellow, I don't think any one
,ver hsd such 8 friend as you are. How
thankful my good old father will be toyOu. T
You have saved me from destruction"
"Not quite that old ielloW-only from
LONG q silly thing but we must think of
Mary little" I
uOh, I'll give her some money, and
he'll find some better husband of her own
III
UWeII that's rather cool, 1 must say, 8
Graham; have you no more feeling for her
han that 2"
"Oh, those sort of people have none of
he finer feelings; they have no idea of
like love"
MeNeils stamped his foot impAtiently.
"COme, come, Graham, don't judge the
ooor woman 50 hardly; if you won't see
her 1 will, and hear what she says"
He went 70 the room in which she had
been sitting, but found it empty.
"The lady, sir, drove away in the fly
sbout half sn hour ago. said the land
ady.
MeNeile went back to Graham
HYou 20 back on board, old fellow, and
I'll look her up and see what arrangement
[ can make for you !" and without waiting
Ior the torrent Of thanks he saw was com-
ng, Wslkedof towards PoItsmouth.
After making some inquiries he found
out her address, and was surprised to find
! neat ~cottsgein 8 garden. The door was
opened by asickly-lOoking, but very neatly
bid woman in tears."
"Does Mary H live here ?"
any daughter, sir, has just come In, but
The is too much upset 70 see any one"
The old lady evidently took NcNeils for
1ne Of Grsham's friends.
~ assure you I am heartily ashamed of
ny shipmate, but l think she has had q
happy escape"
dShe never would have listened to him
( it hadn't been to get q better home for
ne; she's the best daughter that ever lived
III" and the poor old mother tears flowed
afresh.