The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1869-11-05


in being occasionally bored, and enter
tanning vague wishes that some eligible
woman would look him up and marrJ
him. But the years passed away; Georg,
the Fourth became the prey of worms
and satirists; q generation sprang uI
which knew little of that model gentle
man, and had the bad taste to dislike tina
little. Mr.. Johnstone could not now hav,
gone about with ten yards of table-clotl
round his neck, and coat buttons between
his shoulder-blades without causing the
very sheep to baa ct him. He modified hi,
apparel, therefore; but his heart chung t.
the old times, and Rugged the old resem
blance; 50 he still had his wig made up il
! the exact imitation of the ex -dandy's hair
still adopted his fayorite attitudes, still
took scented snuff With his elder
and only brother he had not, o.
late years. been ON good terms
He owed him no grudgc for having
been born first !; he forgave him for selling
the small landed estate which had been il
the family for respectable number o.
years; but when he disgraced the name
by succession of petty tricks and con
trivanoes for raising few pounds, and
especially when he tried to make milch
COW of him, he quarreled with him. Hin
enmity dissolved, however, In the news Of
his death by drowning while crossing ovel
to Jersey, and he hurried to London al
once, and brought Annie to his Chinese
home. with dispatch and secresy al am
glad to adopt you, my dear, he said, "but
do not want to adopt all your creditors.'
1t had been a struggle to Mr.. Johnstone
to break up the ordinary routine of his
existence by establishing his niece as mis-
tress of what had now for years been q
bachelor home; but it almost always pays
to do the right thing, and he was reward.
ed for his conquest of habit and Incidence
by being released from the thran of his
housekeeper, . tyrannical, stupid, pilfer-
ing, tipling dame, to whom he had not
dared to mention his intentions with re.
sPect to Annie, which, indeed, had from
the circumstances of the case been neces-
sarily conceived and executed very sud.
denly, and upon whom this niece of her
masters term of courtesy burst therefore
like thunderbolt from clear sky. As
Annie was very young and quiet in man
ner, Mrs. Gobble hoped at first, indeed, to
oyerawe her, but soon finding that she
had met her match, her emotions became
too much for her, and, combined perhaps
with an injudicious amount Of nourish-
ment, brought her gout to such climax
that she could not even play at doing her
work, and had to retire.
Annie's soclety had one curious effect
upon her uncle; it resuscitated all his
hankerlngs after second marriage. For
if he was to have lady at the head of his
house, why, he reasoned with himself,
should it not be q wife? SO flirtation
which had been budding between Mr..
Johnstone and Miss Plumptree, of South
end, for the last three years, began to
throw ont decided shoots. It was not 80
very absurd. Mr. Johnstone was q little
over sixty, and Miss Plumptree was little
over forty. Both were comfortably of,
and had calm and sober leanings toward
matrimony. Miss Plumptree was not only
forty. but fair and fat-just such figure
as the monarch of Mr.. Johnstone's soul
would have admired; and this fact tended
greatly to feed the mature fame. Then
there was increased intimacy, for whereas
he had only met her occasionally before
his niece came to live with him, he now
saw her almost daily, fervent friendship
having sprung up between her and
Annie.
They were sitting together now in a
willow pattern summer house, on the
brink of small pond, tHe lair of dragon
who was supposed to spout, but who fol
lowed the example of many gentlemen
who are elected into q certain House for a
similar purpose, and didn't 1t was in the
strawberry season, and fine dish of the
fruit stood on the table between them,
with which, needle-work, and confidential
chat, they were beguiling the morning not
unpleasantly.
. "And so you have never heard of him
since!" said Miss Plumptree.
"Never," replied Annie"
"Just like all the men, dear; 'Out Of
sight. out of mind"
Nay, do not blame him, poor fellow.
do not see how he could have found me
out, if he tried ever 50 hard, left so sud-
denly, SO mysteriously"
80, WELL" sighed Miss Plumptree, "if
he had been his great-grandfather, he
would have discovered you somehow but
young men are not what they were; they
are so selfish, SO Gstless, everything is too
much trouble to them. And you never
limited anything about it TO your uncle?
80, no." said Annie; besides he does
not take hints; you must speak out
plainly if you want him to understand
your wishes"
"Hum," said Miss Plumptree.
"And them" continued Annie, "he
was so young, and not in position to
marry for ever so long and the acquaint-
anceship was 80 short; and his friends
would be sure to disapprove; 80 that alto
gether, perhaps, it is better as it is"
"And do you love him still, dear9"
II think l do; he was kind, you see,
when l had no one else, and"
There, don't cry, dear. Have straw
berry,"
Annie recovered her equilibrium, and
turned the subject. ~ can't think what
has happened to Uncle William" she said;
| "he does take such funny interest in how
1 look all of a sudden. He takes in q pa
per with the fashions in it, and stands
looking critically at me with his hands on
one side, and his eyes screwed up, for
minutes together; and then he walks
round me gravely as If I were horse /; in
deed, expect him to say, Come up tuck,
tuck come overi' every moment, or to
look in my mouth. And if my hair is not
done, or my dress cut according to the
fashion plates he scolds me. And then he
takes me over to Southend whenever he
me up and down that long pier. And he
entertainments of any kind we can 60 to.
Can you explain its"
81 think can give guess" said Miss
Plumptree; :" in fact, expect that my in
f1uence may have something to do with it.
The plain truth is my dear, that he wants
to get you married"
"Noi" cried Annie, with jump. "But
he told me distinctly, when first came
here, that, though I might expect to be
provided for in his will, must not look
for any dowry, or even much of trous,
seau, in case were to marry; and that
did not look much like great anxiety on
the subject"
"No, dear; but his views have under
gone change. The fact is that he does
90, and you will take him, won't you
have you living in the house, cried Annie,
enthusiastically.
.Well, DEAR" continued Miss. Plump
tree, !" it seemed to me that the opportuni-
ty was good one for advancing your In
terests, so refused to give him q definite
answer while you were unsettled not but
what would sooner have you for COM
panion, Of course, but it does not do to be
selfish; and as your uncle is inclined to
be what We may call careful in his money
matters which is often the case with those
who have been somewhat extravagant in
youth, 1 thought little stimulant to his
generosity would be beneficial Hush
here he comes. Can anything be the mat
teri"
This possibility was suggested by Mr.
Johnstone's face and manner, the former