Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-04-23

1
now come to think of it, don't care
to go to this mans believe him to be
a pompous, stuck-up old fellow, and ten
to one he has invited set of people as
disagreeable as himself. We will spend
Christmas together, Harry"
In vain urged him on no account to
miss SO good an opportunity. 1 painted
a glowing picture of the delight OF
Christmss-eve in the old house, l inter
iarded my description with the inviting
Notwithstanding, Christmas cheer, pretty
| girls, improvised dancing after dinner.
1t was all to no purpose. He sternly be-
gan to writ another note declining the
| invitation.
He had reached the middle of the note
when saw him stop and smile. Soon
he put down his pen, and the smile
broadened into grin, and at last it be.
came loud laugh. He then arose dellb.
erately, put the note into the fire, and
rubbed his hands, chuckling the while
with intense delight. At last he burst
out with:
1--WE thought of the best joke in the
world. We will both go. l will go in
my own trap-at least, hired one from
Martingale's-and you shall come as my
servant"
was not disposed to jump at this
proposal with 20 much alacrity as he had
supposed.
''Don't you see 2" he cried. "Why,
it will be splendid fun for you Great
dolngs IN the servants hall-pretty maids
and mistletoe- boughs You're a capital
actor, and they will never find YOU out.
Here, ring the bell"
have described above my personal
appearance, but l have not touched on
my character. Alas was then one of
those weak-minded individuals who are
easily led. " Lawley could talk me
over to do anything, however absurd
might consider it on the first representa-
ton. For instance, if he had askel me
to scale the parish church steeple with
climbing irons, should no doubt at first
have pooh-poohed the idea; but if he had
shown me that the exercise would in
crease the suppleness of my limbs; that
there was little chance of falling if held
on tight enough; that l should find the
air up there remarkably fresh and brac-
ing, and the view from the weathercock
charming; and, above all, that it would
afford him aud his friends much gratiti-
cation to watch my movements from be-
low through opera glasses-I'm not at
all sure l should not have consented.
I hope have improved in this respect
as have grown older, though there is
some one in the next room by whom
am still easily led TO do anything she
wishes.
On this occasion he did not give me
time to demonstrate; for after dispatch
ing the note, he said:
"NoW to business-nO time to be lost.
Come along to the tailor's and get rugged
out. l don't mind if go halves in the
expense myself"
1t seemed to me only fair that he
shoul go wholes in the expense; but did
not say so, for he talked away so volubly
that it was impossible to get a word in
edgeways until we found ourselves in
Cuttawsy's shop. Here was a little diff
Guilty. l. was Christmas week, and his
men would not work. The tailor, how
ever, brought out groom's coat; which
he had in stock. 1t was so tight that |
could hardly breathe in if; but Lawley
said l must put up with it, and SO did.
This, with belt, stick up collar; and a
white cravat, with huge horseshoe pin,
bTeeches, and pair of "tOps" borrowed
from the shOemaker's, completed the
equipment
''Put a black cockade in the nat, CUT
away" said Lawley, as we left the shop:
81 shall be in Her Msjesiy's service in a
couple of months, and there is no harm
in anticipating it little"
And now TO Martingale's to arrange
about the trap. Here was more Difficult Y
still. At first he simply refused to let us
have tandem at all. He had objected
to have his horses sharpened. He had
resolved, moreover, to let out no more
tandems. The last time one of Mr.. Fos-
bery's gentlemen hired it to drive over to
dine with the officers at the camp, he
had driven clean through closed turn
pike gate on his return at night, thereby
breaking the shafts of the cart, and
damaging the leader to the tune of a ten
pun note. If Mr.. Lawley insisted on it
he would put himself out by having ga
pair" sharpened for the mail phaton, if
that would suit him. But it did not suit
Lawley. He had set his MUD on aston
ishing Sir Thomas Humpleby with tan
dem, and tandem he must have. TIE
man stuck to his determination for some
time; but on Lawley's threatening never
to pay his bill if he refused, be changed
his tone, saying, swell, know as 'ow
you can drive, Mr.. Lawley; but /
wouldn't do it for any one else, l prom
Use you"
l recollect l spent most of that night
in imaginary conversation between NY
self and domestic servants of different
grades, until at last l sank into kind of
doze, in which was rather uncertain
whether was in bed or in the servants
ball, whether l was Harry Cuthbert, or
Fibbins, Mr.. Lawley's man.
CHAPTER II.
The next day, at about half-past 4
in the afternoon, all the people on the
highroad from St. Martins to Humpleby
Hall stopped on their way to watch a
gentleman driving tandem at a good
twelve miles an hour. The horses shifted
up the cold frosty air, tossed their heads,
and snorted with pleasure. Their hoofs
and the wheels of the trap dashed up the
slight scattering Of Snow which had fallen
the day before. The harness jingled
merrily. The crack of the long-lashed
whip sounded as clear and loud as the
snap Of a percussion cap. The driver on
the high box seat was enveloped in a
heavy coat, handling 'the ribbons" with
the delicate but firm touch of an accom-
plished whip. A smile Of pleasure lit up
his face, the smoke of a Havana escaped
from his lips. The people at the village
wayside inns hurried to the windows.
The village boys hurrahed. The carriers
carefully drew up their wagons to one
side of the road, and waited the advent
of the flying car with all the Difference
with which a parliamentary train shunts
into siding when the shrek of the Great
Northern Express is heard in the distance.
The only thing which seemed incongJu-
Gus with the gayety of the turn out was
the look of anxiety on the face of a tt
ger who sat behind, blue as to the tip of
his nose, taciturn, white-gloved, respect
able. From the furtive chances he cast
ahead every now and then, he seemed
hardly to join in the joy of the horses or
their charioteer. Perhaps his livery did
not fit properly; perhaps he was envying