Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1868-08-13


ever committed herself, which is one OF the
very rarest things in the whole world"
81 like her, said Fred again, and with
that amount Of determination in bis tone
that said how much in earnest he was. He
arose after this and walked the room from
end to end without speaking; an unlit cigar
was held fast beteen his lips, and he seemed
unaware that he was not smoking. $50
that, said he at length, as II following out
his own train of thought, 80 that, If she
should found this hospital, you'll not be left
| one shilling"
''Of course not"
"By Jove," cried he, "when the old lady
was thinking of incurables, she might have
had the grace to remember her own neph-
ews and nicces, ell y
II think SO, too, said /, half smiling at
his jest.
Now, Bob" said he, stopping his walk,
and standing directly in front of me, :" ]
have proposition to make you; and mind
me, if you agree to what advise, you must
give me your word and honor not to retract
afterwards, nor, what / should feel even
worse, not be angry with me If fail in my
attempt to serve you. Do you consent?"
Don't you think might fairly ask in
what way it is that you intend to help me p
"Fm not sure OF that" said he doubling
ly. 81 want carte blanche from you !;
and without you feel you can give me full
powers, l don't think l could accept the
| mission"
"That's being over diplomatic, think, "
said l, half stitliy.
No. rejoined he, " 1t is simply being
practical; but as l see you will only trust
me by installments will consent to impart
| the first step of my plan-here il is: shall
ask for leave-three weeks leave, to trans
act an urgent matter of family interest. I'll
ask by telegraph, and know they'll not re-
fuse me. When receive my answer, Ill
start for England, and hasten down to Wales
and see your aunt. What shall say to her,
what statement shall make, how / shall
reply to what she herself may object-how,
in one word, shall conduct my whole me-
gotiations, are tho matters on which ask
your confidence, and on which claim now
not to be questioned in any way. You
either trust me or you do not, which is it r
"Trust you and thank you botli-thank
| you us the best fellow and the heartiest
ever met with" said I, grasping his hand in
both mine, and pressing it warmly
Enough said" cried he ''lct us talk Of
something else. Tell me something more
about those ragamuiiins you met at dinner
Il want to hear more about them.
After this we rambled on in talk for hours,
and only said Goodnight when the faint
dawn streamed through the curtains, and
blended with the yellow lamplight.
scarcely felt l had been more than fallen
asleep, when Fred stood at my bedside,
and muffied for journey. "Ieres most
provoking thing, Bob" said he: ''they re-
quire me, in all haste, at Constantinoplc +;
one of my late dispatches has miscarricd,
and they want personal explanation from,
me of circumstance have adverted to-
The telegram says, Start on receipt of this
and while waiting for the horses | have
written this letter to your a int OF course
it is poor substitute for what might have
done had l seen her and spoken with her.
1t remains with you now to decide ifyou ex-
tend the same confidence to me in my epis-
tolatory character as in my personal.
| Here's the letter sealed and ready. Take
time to think of it, and throw it into the
post office or into the fire, as you deem
best"
"Post it by all means. trust you to the
fullest extent. When shall we meet again p
"Withn a fortnight, or three weeks at the
latest. must be back here by that time. J.
| have told the landlord to supply you with
all you want, and money when you need it.
There, no nonscnse-we'll have grand
reckoning one of these days. Take care ol
yourself, be cautious with the Russians, and
avoid the convent. Here come the horses
bye-byc"-and he was gone.
So sudden was it all, and SO dead sleepy
was l, that when / awoke about midday
l could not clearly determine whether the
whole had not been u dream.
Fred Ponsonbys courier, most accom-
plislicd rascal, whom he had left behind te
stake care of me, as he called it, assured
me that his master had not been in bee
more than hall an hour but had been EN-
ployea writing Till the post-horsc came te
the door.
had 80 very little faith in the success oi
any appeal from a stranger to my aunt, that
scarcely troubled my head guessing wha
might have been the line Fred adopted il
pleading my cause. In honest truth there
was not much 10 be said for me nor is there
ever for those who try to make "spoon
with only one "horn" to experiment upon
If Aunt Dinah reply at all-and think thu
point doubtful-she will most probably lin
it herself to polite acknowledgment of thu
receipt of his letter, and express civi
amount OF gratitude for the attention; fo
she was one who knew how to measure he
passages and mete out her words very skill
fully. Master Fred will find that her diplo
macy will be match for his ewn, though
/; and with this reflection / dismissed th'
theme from my mind, and rarely, very rare
ly, required to it after
And now come to period, which, II
: feel reluctant to chronicle, must ask m.
! readers indulgence, to wait till the tim
shall have come for me to explain the mo
tives of my reserve, and when he, or NOR
| probably she, will probably concur in m.
reasons for guardedness.
. Fred was absent three weeks and fou
days. These thee weeks and four day
] have been the turning point Of my who'll
' life. In one sense, too, they were the hap
piest. If awoke each morning with ful
c conviction ofmy ruined condition-ifI kney
/, and felt that was penniless, without ca
reer, almost without hope-my cold stag
of dependency passed off almost ere l ha
/ finished my breakfast, and to it succeede
0 the hot fever of a delighted heart, as l hurr
: ed away to the convent, not to leave it agai
| till late into the night.
a "You are all wrong" wrote to Free