The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1871-01-06

er in holy matrimony. There could b,
no harm done in affortling him sucl
scraps of information; the first cab
man passing would have driven him t.
the address, and the charming widow
probably had license and banns formal
tiles at her fingers ends.
"OfcOurse you are of age 2" he threw
in at the..end.
81 believe my father would say
was some months short of it,n replied
the young man carelessly; "but really
his evidence is so little to be trusted ii
any matter not connected with plants
or insects, that mean to give mysel
the benefit of the doubt. That's good
law, eh T'
Mr.. Fiel proposed a bachelors din.
ner at his club that day, and entertain.
ed his guest all the evening with caus.
tic observations upon widows and the
dangers to which young men Were ex-
| posed from beautiful sirens, whose an
tecedents would not bear strict exam
inati0n, illustrated with hume rous ap-
pOsite anecdotes, which the young
man seemed to enjoy heartily. But he
would not apply them to his own case
so that, at last, the lawyer was forced
to be more explicit, and with much
apology asked whether the young man
knew who the late Mr.. Monpcute was,
and under what circumstances the fair
widow came to be alone and unprotec-
ted in CalcuttS? But the ardent lover
would not not listen to a hint rejecting
upon the object of his affections, and
got SO excited and angry, that Mr.. Fiel
dropped the subject at once. Where
was the use of talking sense to a man
who declared that if all the world swOre
to anything which his mistress denied,
he should take her word in preference
to the united oath? To expose his
game by showing the paternal Letter
empowering him to forbid the mar
riage, would have been stupid indeed
at present; that must he kept as the
very last resource, when, combined
with considerations of probable disin-
heritance, it might have an effect.
What effect? the lawyer asked himself
unfiinchingly, when quiet that night.
Probably that of making young Lob
year dissemble for the time, and marry
his widow elsewhere, unknown to tie
lawyer. And if the agent were deceiv-
ed, the bridegroom might well hope to
conceal the matter from the butterfly
hunting father; at all events, for a
time. Young people, especially when
in love, never look forward, but have
a confidence n:thiDgs.turning up. Mr..
Fiel owned with inward chagrin that
he was at fault.
Suddenly an idea flashed upon him
like an inspiration. Why not attack
the woman: he had her address.
"Ofco,Irse," he said aloud, turning
his head Oh the pillow.
What, my dear::' responded Mrs.
Ficl.
Nothing Md he went TO sleep.
Next morning, young Lobyear left
Mr.. FiePs house, and went to hotel
in Jermyn Street. ..-..-
MIR. Fiel possessed a very sharp Of
flee boy, for in spite Of the trick which
had been played him by Tom Scott, he
liked sharp boys; only, he never
meant to give another the chance of
abusing his confidence. Billy Daw was
employed in minor matters alone his
master had no intention of pushing him.
This lad had already seen young Lob
year; the house in Duke Street was
now pointed out to him, and he was
uICCtC0 W WdlCu IL, anu lct Ills ludSttl
know when Mr.. Lobyear left it.
So Mr.. Fiel waited in his club, which
was close by, and Billy Daw lOafed
within sight of Duke Street. Billy was
good at loafing; he CLEANED amuse-
ment and instruction from the window
of a newspaper and caricature shop
studied natural history at fishmon-
gers; set two boys to fight; exaspera-
ted a drunken man; procured "cuts
behind" for several youngsters who
were riding without paying their fare
all without losing sight of the door he
was directed to watch. His report at
the end of the day was, that Mr. Lob
year had left his hotel, and gone to the
house in Duke Street at eleven A. NJ:
AT half-past one, servant girl had
come out with any empty dish, and
returned in ten minutes with oysters. |
At six o'clock, Mr.. Lobyear had at last |
come out accompanied by lady, and |
they walked together arm in arm to st. |
James Hall.
"Never mind" said Mr.. Fiel; che |
can't stick 50 close as that to her for |
long, however desperate his condition
may be. Try again tomorrow"
True enough, at twelve O'Clock ON the
following day Billy Daw summoned
bis master from the club, and informed
him that Mr.. Lobyear had gone out for
some time, and the lady was alone.
Asked how he knew that his absence
was not for q few minutes only, he re-
piled that the gentleman had lit up his |
baccy directly he got outside the door.
Mr.. Fiel wasted no time in further
l.,,k I, 70 |
IN Duke Street, knocked and rang, and
inquired for Mrs. MOntacute. Yes, the
said, she lodged there, and
was at home. What name? And the
lawyer was ushered into the front
1rawing-rOOm.
a lady with a creamy complexion
and golden hair, elegantly dressed liz
closed the novel she
had been reading, and rose from her
lounging- chair To receive him. Pretty,
thought the visitor, decidedly pretty; |
but at least ten years older than he is.
"You do not know me, madam, or
The object of my visit" he said; 50 /
had better tell you at once that my
name is Fiel, and that am the legal
adviser of Mr.. I.Obyear, the father of
the gentleman who aspircs, l believe,
to the horror of your hand" .
Mrs. Montacute bowed and requested
him to he seated.
81 hope you will pardon me-" con-
tinued Mr.. Fiel, dropping into chair
which faced the lady, and looked as
as he could; "if what l
have to say should prove in any way
am but the mOuth-piece
Of my client, you know. MFR. Lobyear
senior, has heard, not from his son,
but through other sources, of this pro-
iectcd marriage, and l regret to say
that he has conveyed to me his disap-
prevail"
90 sirr'
"His very decided disapproval. He
Of seeing you, madam, or he probably
would view matters i'm Il different light,
and hesitate before depriving his only /
child of the felicity so nearly secured to
him. But, unfortunately, his letter
was forwarded to me from HOng-kOng,
and he was then about to return to ia
pan, so there are difficulties in the way
of a personal interview"
"Really, Mr.-Mr. Fiel," said the
widow, glancing at the card which had
been given her, 81 hardly know what
70 make of all this. 1 was certainly
aware that Mr.. Lobyear had a father
very much devoted to various branches
Of natural history who, if alive, was
tO be somewhere in Japan;
,ut that he takes any notice of his sons
affairs, or processes to exercise any
authority over him, is quite a new idea
o me-"
"To me also, madam and l believe