The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1866-11-29
II e WI II
THE TWO n EP HEN :.

q, Young woman. me aSc oi Wv VIA
man might be seventy, whist ms com
oanion had certainly not reaehea hi'ie,
ieen. Her beautiful. blooming iaee' ana
active, light, and uprlght liSuie' were
IN contrast with the worn coulitGhalice
'',d hont frame of the old man; but in
he nvns and i'm the corners OF his mouth,
,,oro ndio,tions of self-eontidenee,W which
.,,ra and suffering had damped, but not
..Nouse looking any more, Mary"
old he neither John Meade nor Peter
E;nch will be here before dark. Very
hard that, when sick uncle asks his
tIro nepheWs to come and see him, they
1on't come at once. The duty is simple
in the extreme-only to help me to die,
md take what l choose to leave them in
NV will! Pooh when ! was a young
man, I'd have done it for my uncle with
the utmost celebrity. But the worlds
retting quite heartless !"
ooh! SIR" said Mary.
"And what does ooh sir, mean,"
aid he. " Do you think l shan't die!
know better. a little more, and there
will be an end of Billy Collect. He'll
have left this dirty world for a cleaner
his affectionate relatives! Ugh! Give
me glass of the doctors stuff
The girl poured some medicine in Il
ylass and Collect, after having contem-
plated it for moment with infinite dis
rust, managed to get it down.
81 tell you what, Miss Mary Sutton"
said he, !" l don'tby any means approve
of your ooh sir, and Dear SIR and
the rest of it, when I've told you how |
hate to be called SIR at all. Why you
couldn't be more respectful if you were
a charity girl and l Il beadle in gold
laced hat! None of your nonsense, Mary
sutton, if you please. I've been your
lawful guardian now for six months, and
you ought to know my likings and dis
ikings.o
"My poor father often told me how
you disliked ceremony" said she.
"Your poor father told you quite
right,o said Mr.. Collett. erred Sutton
was a man of talent-a capital fellow y
His only fault was a natural inability to
keep farthing in his pocket. Poor
Fred he loved me-I'm sure he did.
He bequeathed me his only child-and
it isn't every friend that would Go that"
"a kind and generous protector you
have BEEN"
"Well, [ don't know; I've tried not
to be brute, but | dare say l have been.
Don't l speak roughly to you some
times? Haven't given you good, pru-
dent, worldly advice about John Meade.
and made myself quite disagreeable, and
like a guardian? Come, confess you
love this penniless love of mine."
Penniless, indeed" said Mary.
"Ah, there it is!' said Mr.. Collett.
"And what business has poor devil of
an artist to fall in love with my ward ?
But that's Fred Sutton's daughter all
over! Haven't two nephews: Why
couldn't you fall in love with the dis
Finch-considering he's an attorney-is
4 young man. He is industrious in the
extreme, and attends to other peoples
business only when he is paid for it. He
despises sentiment, and always looks
to the main chance. But John Meade,
my dear Mary, may spoil canvas for
ever, and not grow rich. He's all for
art and truth, and social reform, and
spiritual elevation, and the Lord knows
what. Peter Finch will ride in his
carriage, and splash poor John Meade as
he trudges on fOot!"
The harangue was here interrupted by
ring at the gate, and Mr.. Peter Finch
was announced. He had scarcely taken
his seat, when another pull at the bell
was heard, and Mr.. John Meade was an
nOunced.
Mr.. Collect eyed his nephows with a
queer sort of smile, while they made
speeches expressive of sorrow at the
nature of their visit. At last, stopping
them
Enough, boys, enough!' said he
Let me find some better subject to dis.
cuss than the state of an old mans
health. l haven't seen much of you uI
to the present time, and, for anything
know, you may be rogues or FOOLS"
John Meade seemed rather to vince
under this address; but Peter Finch sal
calm or confident.
ITO put the case," said Mr.. Collect
This morning poor wretch OF gar,
dener came begging here. He could
get no work, it seems, and said he was
starving. Well, know something
about the fellow, and l believe he only
told the truth SO gave him shilling
to get rid of him. Now, Pm afraid
did wrong. What reason had fol
giving him shilling? What claim had
he ON me? The value of his labor in
the market is all a working man has q