Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1868-05-29

sell out pay my debts, and emigrate."
"Emigrate?" observed the lawyer, con
temptuously, taking up one of the young
officers kid gloves, and twirling it in his
| fingers. @ =.
"I have proved that can work, Tom,
| said Elton, with heightened color, "anc
suffer privation, hardship, cold, heat, al
but starvation, at times, without giving
in. We all proved that in the Crimea,
think" .r 49, ag
Gay, ay, my boy; but that's no reason
why you should go in for the kline
of thing again for your own amuse
ment; yet l don't see what's to be done,
said the lawyer, pacing thoughtfully W
and down the room: do not see what's
to be done. By jingo" he exclaimed
| irradiating his countenance-"I say, Elton
| to marry you, it would all be plain sailing
afterwards she's immensely rich"
"I trust, Maddrel, that you say this as
the merest jest" replied Captain Elton
| gravely. "You should know me well
enough to be convinced that would never
marry any woman for her money even il
she were young and handsome; but an old
woman, whom | could only seek from the
basest and most sordid motives-it's pre-
| posterous"
"Pray forgive me for the untimely
joke" said the lawyer, with an odd twinkle
in his eye, though the tone Of his voice
expressed penitence; II was thinking OF
the old girls money, that's the truth"
| "Don't let her money disturb your
thoughts, my friend" said the philosophic
| soldier, "until in the course of nature it be-
| comes your own. You'll have trouble
enough with it then, for you will doubtless
be appointed guardian to houseful of pet
cats, parrots and lap-dogs."
Every likely" said Maddrel. "In the
meantime, do you see any objection to your
taking up your abode in little fishing g-box
in my aunt's park? It's the quietest place
you can possibly go to, and she's always
very willing to lend it to me. She says il
always keeps the ghosts away. It. is a
mile at least from the house; so you will
neither be trouble to her, nor be plagued
in turn by her cats, dogs, parrots, OF
monkeys. You can take your Zouave
with you to be head cook, bottle washer,
and maid-ofall-work; and as he can't
speak English enough to hold converse
tion, and none of the villagers understand
word of French, there can be little tat
tling and tale-bearing There's fish enough
in the streams-or lakes, they call them
to satisfy Izaak Walton himself; and as
you are lover of the sport, you will find
it better and less obtrusive than shooting.
There you can remain in safety till you
get reply from your uncle, and have to
| decide upon your next step"
"Are you quite sure," said Elton, that
| it will not incommode your aunt to have
a stranger in her DOMAINE"
| N,..4 - til T.. g. 4.
| "Ill write by to-night's post and tell her
I want it for an invalid friend. In two
days l shall have her answer. In the
meantime, you remain here a close
prisoner; and on the night after receive
her letter I'll convey you, by way that I
know of, through friends chambers, and
out by bye-street, and so to Paddington
Station, where your faithful Pierre will
meet us with your traps in time for the
night express. I'll run down with you,
see you comfortably settled, pay my re-
spects to my aunt q won't even introduce
you to her, as you don't seem to wish it,
| though assure you she's clever woman,
| and you'd find her society agreeable-that
| is, if she chose to be amiable, for she's a
| professed man-hater), and back to town
before any one has had time to notice my
| absence What think you of my plan?'
"That it looks feasible" replied Elton,
"provided the old lady does not object"
"Oh, never fear! I'll answer for her, "
said Tom Maddrell, confidently.
| His confidence in his maiden relative
was not misplaced, for three days more saw
his programme carried out to the letter,
and his friend Elton, low-spirited indeed,
but firmly resolved to sacrifice his future
prospects, his social station, everything, to
preserve his truth and honor spotless,
located with his French servant, and no
end of fishingro and tackle, in sweet
little cottage, covered to the very chimney
tops with trailing plants, that afforded a
succession of fragrance from the earliest
summer till far into the autumn.
All the appointments Of this fairy habi-
tation were in style of luxurious SIM
| plicity; nothing was wanting. Even the
| little kitchen was admirably furnished,
| and Pierre was in his element, for now he
| could cook to his hearts content, and no
one interfered with him. Cooking was
his hobby, his passion; but his recognized
Office being that of valet to Captain Elton,
he had not usually many opportunities of
| indulging in his favorite amusement. He
might easily have obtained place as pro-
fessed cook, but he had one passion even
| stronger than his love of cooking, and that
was his love for his master. Pierre had
served as Zouave in the French army in
the Crimea. He was desperately wounded
in the leg, and would have died but for
the humanity and courage OF Captain
then Cornet-Elton His wound resulted
in permanent lameness, which rendered
him unfit for military duty. No sooner
was he free and well than he sought out
his preserver, and entreated so urgently
| that he would take him into his service,
that young Elton engaged him as his valet,
and found him most Jealous and efficient
servant. 1t is always cheering to have a
happy and contented person about one
and Captain Elton would have quite en-
joyed his quiet and lonely life, enlivened
by glimpses of Pierre's smiling face, and
occasional snatches of merry song, but for
the heavy load of anxiety that weighed
upon him #T% ST. TC
Tom Maddrell stayed only few hours,
just to show him over the place, and make
him feel quite at home. In the course OF
their ramble they approached the gardens
of the fine old mansion Up and down a
broad terrace walked a lady of about fifty
or sixty; tall, majestic, ani handsomely
dressed, with massive gold chains and gilt
tering brooch, and rings innumerable,
which were shown to advantage by the
way in which she held her lace-covered
parasol. In the garden, below the terrace,
younger lady was gathering flowers.
Her dress was plain grey .merino; heI
ornaments were few aud simple. Not a
ring was to be seen upon her soft-looking
hands, which were slightly Drowned by ex.