The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1869-12-24

and seized the hand of Miss Simpson

at go, Mr.. Ackland p she erie
III why did nobody stop me? 1 new
as dreamed that it was you." 81
'e already John Ackland had left tt
d room. ....
8 The next day Cartwright sougl
out his guest (Mr. Ackland had NJ
o reappeared in the drawingroom du
ing the rest of that evening", an
e expressed lis regret for the painfl
e incident OF the preceding night.
IS 81 had no idea you were even az
y quainted with Mrs. Mordent,' b
said.
"But how do you happen to be az
S quainted with her ?" asked j ohm Acl
!. land.
"Strictly speaking" he said, 81 al
i not acquainted with her. Mortien
: and l ware schoolfellows at Yves
). Point. He wrote to me some tim
e ago informing me of his engagement
! to Miss Stevens; and, as l anticipa,
ed being absent from Virginia abou
that time, l wanted him and his brid,
to pass their honeymoon at Gienoak
. [ also asked him to send me a por
trait of the future Mrs. NJ. / have
portraits of all my friends wives. \
fancy of mine. He declined the inyi
tation but sent me the portr ,it, &C
companied by pretty little line from
the lady herself That is what
placed in Miss Simpsons hands last
night; and l assure you that is all
know of Mrs. Mordent.''
John Ackland's impatience to leave
GlenOak was now, however, excessive.
Every time,' he said to himself,
"that must face again the people in
this house is iutolerable pain to me. "
Cartwright said to him that il re-
solved ON so hasty departure, he
need not return to Richmond. "By
going across the country he said,
you will save long days journey,
and catch the Charleston coach at
=, which is nearer here than
Richmond. 1 can send your luggage
on by the cart this m morning, and lend
you horse to ride there this after
noon. We will dine early and il you
start from here on horseback at four
o'clock, You will be al - before
nightfall, and good hour before the
coach IS due there. will be your
guide across the plantation, and put
you on your road to -, which you
cannot possibly miss. l would gladly
accompany you the whole way thith-
er, if / had not some business with
my overseer which must be settled
tonight. You can leave the horse at
-, with the ostler there. | know
him, and can trust him to bring it
back safely to Glenoak. What say
you p
"That would certainly be my best
ane pleasantest plan," said Mr.. Ack-
land, "and really am much Obliged
to you for proposing it. But l sup
pose / ought to go to Richmond
about those notes.''
"No necessity for thai, l think,
answered Cartwright. cat least il
stage al after - You will be obliged
to stop the greater part of the morn
ing. l know a very respectable
banker whose office is close to the
ho.el where you change horses and
dine,-will give you line to him ii
you like, and you can change the
notes there"
"You are most kind, my dear
friend, and cannot sufficiently thank
you. But do you think it would be
safe to carry such a large sum in
notes SO far as --?'
'If you carry them about your
person, yes. Luggage sometimes
gets mislaid but you need not be
afraid of robbers between here and
-. Our roads are not so unsafe
as that, Mr.. Ackland, sir. l have
travelled all across this country, sir,
on horseback. without ever having
any misadventure, and once you are
out of the plantation you have only a
few miles between you and -. BY
the way, let me lend you my travel
ing belt"
..Then, indeed" said John Ack-
land, of it does not seriously incon-
venience you. 1 shall gladly accept
your kind offer. For l confess that
even your hospitality
eyes, yes!' said Cartwright, 81
understand. And greatly as l regret
this departure, l cannot press you to
stay. There will be no inconven-
Iience at all, and 1 will give orders
about your luggage"
After dinner, when John Ackland
and his host were mounting their
horses, ave shall have cool ride,
Think said Cartwright, "and there
is plenty of time, so we can take 1t
easy. 1 shouldn't wonder if we put
up some game as we go along. W.
had better take our guns with u.s.
"Tm not much Of a sportsman, Pm
afraid" said john Ackland, with hi:
customary blush.
co. laughed the other, 81 dare
say you ale better shot than L
You Northerners are such modest
gentlemen. Anyhow, there's NJ
harm in having out the guns. Yor
see they are in nobody's way. That
how we sling 'em in our country
rough but handy. Now then"
"Good-by to Glenoak,' said JohI
Acklsnd, rather sadly, looking up a
the house and waving his hand. Hi
melancholy had been excessive dur
7 ing the whole day.
"Not good-by altogether, / hope
l said Cartwright.
And off they started. The resul
of that ride must be related In on
> other chapter.
CHAPTER Ill.
1t was not yet dark when Cart
d wright returned alone to Glenoah
r He found Judge Griffin, assisted b
the betting young gentleman, worl
Y ing his way through a bottle of brar
J. DIV and a box Of cigars in the arbol
"Well, Cartwright,'said the Judg'
/, "I suppose your friends off, eh p
eel eyes. Poor old Ackland ? Goo
v fellow as ever lived. shall quit
t. miss him."
avery amiable man. said IL
j. Judge.
"Bet you a pony, Cartwright, "sai
y the betting young gentleman.
a "What on :? Here, you black bloc
head, bring another bottle of bral d
+ lice. and soda-water. And look aliv