The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1867-03-28

TcoNcLuDED.J

ltSGIf "A lew WEEKS dlJcI NY IAtC1
view with Bullingham, the somew hat
unsettled current of my life took the
direction of Australia, and fully i've
years elapsed before | again set foot
on English earth, 80, 1e, 1855. - ;
During this interval, [ had not
wholly lost sight of the dolngs OF my
friends at home | had more than
one letter from Miss Simpleson, dated
! from some new residence, containing
many well timed suggestions as to the
produce and sale of wool, and other
colonial matters. As for Fred Bull
bingham, Z noticed that he was stead
ily improving in practice and position,
| He had entered Parliament, was likely
| to be Attorney General, and it seemed
far from impossible that the Gmagin-
ary) suggestion of the late Duke of
Wellington, as to his fitness for the
woolsack, might be put to the test
| Nor was I entirely without inform
alton concerning Mr.. Suckham Drye.
His name was prominently mentioned
in financial reports, generally as pro-
noting schemes of majestic proper
lions, which rose to lofty premium,
and were then suddenly missing from
the list of kindred undertakings.
Among these, the st. Georges Chan
mel and Isle of Man Submarine Linn
tied. 'shone conspicuous. and was
attributing its unusual longevity and
strength of constitution to my friend
Bullingham's acceptance of seat in
its direction, when, one fatal day, the
shares, after feverish struggle to
touch premium of sixty-fve, fell,
as if exhausted by the effort, to TWEEN
ty, fourteen, five, twelve discount.
The rest was silence. except a single
temperance In a winding (sheet, /
was about to say,) up form, compris-
| ing disclosures of. such nature, as
regarded Mr. Suckham Drye, that /
was not at all surprised to read that
| that gentleman had been unable, from
severe indispositioh, to attend the
meeting. III
I landed at Liverpool, after a
somewhat Cprotraoted voyage, and,
before proceeding to. London,
went into i Cheshire to pay a
hasty visit to the family of a
friend I had left insAustralia. They
were gentle, friendly people, mot in
ahuent circumstances, but evidently
the leaders, not to say benefactors, of
| the little village circle in which
they passed their calm existence. -.
II At each of the three meals of
VIII / partook with the family of
/ Myrtle Grove, / happened to observe
that, before anybody else was helped,
a platefulI of whatever was choicest
was prepared, with some solicitude,
and despatched by the hand Of the
tidy maid-servant to Mrs. -Thomp-
SON." Probably, I thought, some in
valid member of the household. 1t
was satisfactory, however, to remark
that the appetite of the suffering
lady was yet robust, the viands sup
piled being amply sufficient for two.
My hostess seemed to think some
explanation necessary, for, on the last
occasion, she turned to me and said /:
I'VE have been much interested in
a new neighbor of ours, who has. like
ourselves, dear relation or friend in
Australia We have taken advantage
of that circumstance to tighten the
bonds of acquaintance and close
neighborhood; for Mrs. Thompson is
a charming old lady. and is, we great
ly fear, in want of almost the neces-
saries of life. She is lame, moreover,
and never moves out of the humble
lodging in which she resides, except
upon the arm of faithful old SER
want who lived with her in Gas she has
hinted) far more prosperous days; but
she is good enough to allow us to as
sist her housekeeping and her own
kind heart enables her fully to COM
prehend the satisfaction it affords US. y
"Alas" thought |, that Myrtle
Groves are few
On the morrow, [ babe farewell to
my friends, and was just passing the
outskirts of the pleasant village, when
1 noticed two figures, one of them
STOPPING and emaciated, leaning heav-
lily upon the arm of the other, scarcely
younger, though far more vigorous,
than herself. Mrs. Thompson and
servant, was my conclusion. y 1880
The latter seated her mistress. ten
derby, in a rustic seat under some
Gins, which appeared to be the limit
OF their wall. placed. book and some
knitting beside her, and then strolled
slowly on, examining the hedge-side
flowers. -, ~. 20
As / presently passed the old lady,
| could observe but too distinctly the
marks of fallen gentility In her dress,
&c. Her head was bowed down. and
her white shrunken hands clasped to-
bgether on her lap. There was one
ring on her fnger-no wedding-ring
"a ring of blue enamel, with a little
bcross of brilliants. A vague remem-
brance shot across me as if I had seen
that ring before. I turned suddenly,
and caught portion Of the sitter's
profile. Could It be? But then Mrs.
Thompson!" hesitated. ~
The servant, still wandering on.
i L. &C