The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-12-19

could not resist the temptation to complete
the resemblance, by adding the large let
ters indicating the parish to which the guar
dian of the night belonged. The only mode
of doing this which occurred to me was to
form the letters of red sealing-wax; and, &C.
cordingly, with the assistance OF my misohie
vous cousin (but quite unknown to aunty),
designed royal crown, with g. r. as its sup
pOriers. The day after Christmas Day, old
Thomas had to return to London, aud was no
doubt surprised at the attention Of my cousin,
who insisted upon helping him into his Wit
ney coat when the Item Gas the coach was
named) called at the door for its passenger.
1t was not until the coach drove away that
Aunt Grace became aware OF the trick which
had been played on her self.invited visitor;
and II is right to own that she was very
angry at the perpetration of this practical
joke.
When old Thomas discovered the liberty
which had been taken with him, there can be
no question but he was "mighty indignant"
as he actually wrote to my father claiming
thirty shillipgs for the damage done to the
coat, which he stated he had only borrowed
from friend. My father gave me sharp
wiggipg, but heard him telling the story
afterwards to my mother as a capital joke.
Any other man but old Thomas would have
discovered that be was unpopular in our
family; but he was determined not to see, and
| resolutely kept his ground, notwithstanding
that Aunt Grace's failing health made it in
| convenient to receive him at all times. AT
| last constant residence in the country was
| advised for my aunt, who therefore disposed
| of her house in town. and went to live some
hundred miles from London, taking with her
one Of her neces, an orphan, and who was
| devotedly attached to her aunt. Old Thomas
was greatly disturbed when he heard Of these
arrangements for the future, and was even
| inconsiderate enough to call all doctors hum
| bugs, and to prognosticate an early death to
| Aunt Grace, If she attempted to bury herself
in the country. For this display Of selfish
| ness my mothor rated him well.
Two days before Aunt Grace was to leave
London forever, the twopenny postman
brought her letter. Itwas from old Thomas
"a love letter.
Love letters are generally very spoony
affairs and uninteresting to every one but the
| persons to whom they are addressed; but old
| Thomas was 60 unique that will repeat it as
nearly as l can remember it. 1t was dated
| from Staples Inn, and ran nearly thus
my Dear Mrs. Msxwell:-I do not think
you can doubt the sincerity of my strong re-
gard for ou, after the many proposals have
made to you, and the many indignities have
put up with for your sake from your nieces
and that cub of Mrs. Gregory's." (The cub
meaning me.) 81 once more ask you to be-
come my wife, and on the following terms
| d
you may select, not exceeding G200 year.
81 will keep you a carriage aud pair, coach
man and footman.
81 will settle on you ETC, 900 provided you
Qutlive me.
"Your own property shall be settled upon
| yourself for your own life, with the reverson
of fl0,0 thereof to me, should prove to be
the survivor.
81 will give you at once f5000 for your free
hold property, and which now only realizes
you ESQ year.
"Household expenses to be paid out Of our
Joint income.
"Our marriage to take place in q month
from the date OF your acceptance.
Gan early answer will oblge
"Your faithful servant
"DAvD THOMAS"
Aunt Grace was a clever wOmuD, but she
was woman pur ct simple also; and the con-
stancy of her old admirer touched her. She
therefore, having read his letter, refolded it,
and put it directly into her pocket Nor was
ts contents known to us until some months
afterwards, when she was completely salts
fed at the refusal she had given, by discover
ing that the piece of freehold land which
Thomas had SO generously offered to pur-
chase was worth 10000 at least, being
wanted for the terminus of one of the great
railways just then in course of development.
From that time we lost sight of old Thomas
for many years. He was either disgusted at
his rejection, or ashamed at having his little
dodge discovered.
A few months before Aunt Grsce's DEATH at
the request of my mother, paid visit to
Staples Inn, to see il David Thomas still
appeared en- the doorway Of No. -, Staples
| Inn.
"No," the porter told me; 'Mr. Thomas
had been gone for yoar or more, and was of
| the aw-lst."
CHAPTER II.
Aunt Grace died in December. She was
sincerely beloved by us all, and her death cast
a certain amount of gloom upon what with us
was usually the merriest time of the year. /
am still old-fashioned enough to keep Christ
mas, as it is called, and find, without any
"gush" or affectatioD, that there are pleasant
associations with that period of the year which
come at none other-nOt the least welcome,
the recollection of the old house at home and
the genial man my father, who had the happy
knack of taking sunshine with him wherever
he went. My mother, too-but ou know all
about her. Well we were making ourselves
as merry as we could in our miserable-lOoking
mourning garments chow hate mourning -
too often, indeed, ''the mOckery of woe l'')
when the man servant asked to speak to my
father. My mothers thoughts, no doubt,
flew away to the kitchen chimney, prone to
take fire on the most important occasions. II
couldn't be the pudding that was in difficult
ties, or she would have been the person called
for. Her conjectures were soon at an end by
my father returning in few minutes, followed
by a stranger, as we thought.
"An old friend, my dear" said my father,
"whO has been good enough to look us up on
Christmas Eve-Mr Thomas, my dears.'