The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1869-02-20
9eIrtteo AltstrIIanp.
THE FOUR SIGHS.
BY JAMES HUTTON.

ALL four sighed at the same moment
not deep, long-drawn sighs, but soft, airy
sighs of relief, mere bubbles upon the sur
face, and certainly not indicative of in
tense sorrow, though perchance not un-
mingled with pain.
Four gentlemen, in the first bloom of
manhood, were lounging in easy attitudes,
slipping Clos Vougeot, and nibbling
deVilled biscuits, in front of blazing fire.
For some ten minutes or so, not word
had been spoken. 1t was no "awful
pause" but one of those pleasant, purring
silences, which spring spontaneously from
the fumes of well-ordered and harmo.
nious dinner-such dinner as does equal
honor to the heart of the host, and the
head of his chef do cuisine. Chewing the
Cud of sweet, or sweetly bitter fancies,
these worthy gentlemen slipped and
mused, and mused and slipped; and
finally, as if by a preconcerted signal,
came out of their temporary fit of alb
straction, and-sighed. No one opened
his lips or ventured to break the silence,
until the host, after quite unnecessarily
poking the fire-and from the top-gaVe
short hysterical laugh; and, assuming
an air Of nonChalance, betrayed by his
trembling voice, stammered out, abruptly !:
" | am going to be married Who will
be my best man ?"
Such question, at such time, and in
such place, could only be answered in
one way. The three guests braYely vol
unteered, to man, for the dismal duty /;
but TO their infinite surprise, failed to ex-
tract from their evidently nervous host
any information as to the name, social po-
sion, or any other belongings, of the fu.
ture Mrs. Grenville Tremaine Jones. "Be
content, my friends" said that excellent
gentleman, to wait till next Friday fort
night, and then you shall judge for your.
selves. This much only will tell you.
She is young, she is beautiful, exceedingly.
aLs = l,unlT sha's divinen
but why marry on Friday" asked
one, at is unluCky to marry on that day,
you know"
AS for luck-it is unlucky TO marry on
any day." was the fippant reply Of
another guest. Put it off till Saturday,
and then you'll have all Sunday to think
over what you've done, and so repent at
your leisure"
"Well," said the third, "I always
looked upon you, Jones, as a marrying
man: wish you all joy but don't cut
your bachelor friends, old boy; for really
your cook is an artist, and your Burgundy
is irreproachable-for this side Of the
Channel"
al have fixed upon Friday" their host
replied, rather drily-for he was piqued
by the levity of his friends-"because it
has pleased me to be married on the ami
versary of my dear mothers wedding-day.
And now let us talk about something
else"
Upon this, bumpers were drained to the
health and happiness of the adventurous
pair, and, by degrees, the conversation
passed through the usual phases incidental
to bachelors gathering. But 1t has not
yet been told how these four bachelors
came to sigh all at the same moment,
though for only one of them was the fatal
day irrevocably fixed.
Mr. GrenVille Tremaine Jones was the
occupant of q semi-detached villa, in that
portion of Asia Minor which is immedi
ately contiguous to 1.-THE Grove" He
was of tall, slight, and rather elegant
figure, with fair hair, blue eyes, narrow
forehead, and receding chin, and in the
twenty seventh year of his age of q
timid, gentle, and kindly disposition, he
can hardly be said to have had any will oil
character of his own. Neither had he any
particular pastimes or pursuits. Scru
pulOusly correct in his outward man, he
was also free from vice, and as simple and
untutored as an English maiden, born an6
brought up in rural vicarage Hi
father dlod when he was young and bis
mother, fond, foolish woman, idolize.
her boy, and INDUCED his every whim anC
fancy, provided it was "genteel" to dc
So AS girl, she had been insipidlJ
pretty, with long faxen ringlets, and haC
attracted very marked attention from thu
Junior officers Of the regiments quarteret
in her native town, to whom she handel
ices, bath.buns, and oyster-patties, acros
her fathers counter. Two young subal
terms in particular, Cornet Grenville anC
Lieutenant Tremaine, had been pointedlI
assiduous, and in after times she used Il
allude mysteriously to certain proposal
that had all but been made to her by thos
distinguished heroes Failing the military
Miss Jane Blewitt had finally become tn
wife of Theophilus Jones, the vel. know
drysalter, to whom, iu his old age, sh
bore son and heir. In remembrance o
the brilliant fortune that had almost heel
hers, she bestowed upon the offspring o
her matured affections the name Of he
two youthful admirers, and fiattered her
self that they sounded NOT only Renteel
but quite aristocratic. Gentility was tn
rock on which the good woman split
Her chief anxiety was TO ensure the gen
tility Of her darling Grenville Tremaint
Indeed, the only redeeming point abou
the poor woman was her unseldsh Low
for her boy, which, TO his credit be II said
he reciprocated with as much warmth a
his feeble nature was capable Of feelin
for anybody or thing. BE was, thereforI
much grieved at her death, which lei
him, az the age Of four-and.twenty
absolutely alone in the world. So b
resolved TO travel for year or two,
the hope Of picking up some gentel
acquaintances but never got further tha
Paris, where he lived for six months in
clearinghouse entirely frequented b
English families. Here he became int
mate with young barrister, named Blakl
who attached himself to his fortunes, an
indoctrinated him in the art of ordering
dinner with the appropriate wines. A
soon as he had acquired this amount {
useful knowledge his friend Blake carrie
him back 10 London; and, in fact, too
possession Of him and all that was hi
II 90 chanced, however, that in The earl,