The Evansville journal., 1868-11-12
The Stockbroker at DinglewOod.
CHAPTER w.


When Ada woke, however, instead
Of being, as / was. more hopeless, she
was almost sanguine There is my
money, you know" she said. After
all, so long as it is only money!
will 60 aud see them, as the men
said. and thew will come to terms. So
long as we are together, what do
mind whether we have a large house
or little one? And Harry himself
speaks of my settlement. Don't cry
| was frightened last night; but now
| see what to DO. VIII you come IN
10 town with me by the twelve o'clock
train2 And you shall see all will
come right"
l had not the heart to say a word
[ went home and changed that
Wretched evening dress which I had
worn all through the night. 1t was a
comfort to throw it off and cast it
away from me; and | never wore it
again; the very sight of it made me
III ever after. | found Ada almost in
high spirits with the strength of her
determination aud certainty that she
was going TO redeem her husband and
make all right when | went back.
Just before noon, however, when she
was putting on her bonnet to start, a
carriage swept up to the door. was
at the window of the dining-rO0m
when it came In sight, waiting for the
brougham to convey rs to the station.
And the rector aud his wife were
coming up the avenue with kind in
quIries, in the full belief that old
Mrs. Gresham was dying. and that the
house was 8 In afflictiOn." No Won-
dor they started and stared at the
sight 1t was old Mrs. Gresham her
self, In her pink ribbons, fresh and
full and splendid, In robust health,
and all the colors of the rainbow, who
came dashing up, with her stately
bays, to the door.
l had only time to realize that all
our little attempts TO keep up appear
ances were destroyed forever when
the old people came in; for Harry's
father had come, too, though no one
ever noticed him in the presence of
his wife. Mrs. Gresham came In
smiling and gracious, in her usual af-
fable and overwhelming way. She
would have dismissed me majestically
before she went 20 her daughter in
law, but | was really too obtuse, by
reason of fatigue and excitement, to
understand what she meant. When
she went to Ada, the old man re-
mained with me. He was not an at
tractive old man, and [ had scarcely
spoken to him before. He walked
about the room looking at everything,
while l sat by the window. If he had
been an auetioneer, valuing the fur
niture, he could not have been more
particular in his Investigations. He
examined the handsome oak furni-
ture, which was the envy Of the Green
the immense mirrors. the great Chi
IA vases, the pictures on the walls
as if making a mental calculation
Then he came and stood by me, and
began to talk. =" In my time young
people we're not so extravaglnt," he
said. There are thousands OF pounds,
l believe, sunk in this house."
" Mr.. Gresham had great deal Of
taste " l said, faltering.
'Tastel Nonsense. You mean
waste" said the old man, sitting down
.astride on carved chair, and looking
at me across the back of it. " But
admit the thiugs have their value
they'll sell. OF course you know
Harry has got into mess?" he went
on. - Women think they can hush
up these things; but that's impossi-
BILE He has behaved like /an idi0t,
aud he must take the consequences.
Fortunately the family is provided
for. Her friends need not be con-
cerned 10 that respect"
- l am very glad" said /, as it was
necessary % say something.
'' So am /, laid old Mr. Gresham.
;" suppose they woull have come
upon me If that had not been the case.
- a.
bad as it ight have been. l can't
make out how a son of mine should
have been such an ass. But they all
go 20 fast in these days | suppose
you had a very grand ball last night?
A balll' he repeated, with sort of
snort I don't know If there was any
fatheriy feeling at all in the man; but
1t there was he hid it under this mask
of harshncss and contempt.
viii not Mr.. Gresham return?"
asked f0ollshly; but my mind was
too much worn out to have full con-
troll Of what | said.
The old man gave a shrug, and
glanced al me with mixture Of scorn
and suspicion. . can't say what
may happen In the future" he said,
dryiy. ' | sh0uld advise him not.
But Ala can live where she likes
and she will not be badly off,
Old Mrs Gresham stayed a long
time up stairs with her daughter-in-
law; so long that my patience almost
deserted me. Mr.. Gresham went off.
after sitting silent opposite to me for
some time, to look over the house,
which was a relief; and no donbt |
might have gone too, for we were far
700 lato for the train. But / was too
GnxiOus to go away. When the two
came down, the old lady was just as
cheerful and overwhelming as usual,
though poor Ada was deadly pale.
6Irs Gresham came in with her rich,
busting. prosperous look, and shook
hands with me over again. am
sure l beg your pardon, she said; l
had so much to say to Ada. We have
not net tor a whole month; and, poor
child, they gave her such fright last
night. Ny dear, don't you mean to
give us some luncheon? Grandpapa
never Ia kes lunch; you need not wait
for him; bat I am quite hungry alter
my long drive.
Then poor Ada rose and rung the
bell; she was trembling so that she
tottered as she moved. L saw that
her lips were dry, and she could
scarcely speak. She gave her orders
so indistinctly that the man could
not hear her. Luncheon" cried
the old lady, in her imperious way.
says? Lunch directly-and tell my
people 10 be at the door in an hour.
Ada, a man who stared in my face
l. IL