Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1871-05-03

ly IN Lefty view, | was simply repSenta-
tive of the lost Chubb. We were not to live
in st. Johns Wood, because Chubb detested
st. Johns Wood. We must live in the
Regents Park, because Chubb Thought it
was the healthiest part of London. The
dining room curtains were TO be blue, for
that was Chubb's favOrite color; the draw
ing-room was to be upholstered in white and
gold, for Chubb had been heard to say that
when he had a house of his own, that would
be his choice. In other respects, however,
1T was more satisfactory to stand in Chubb s
shoes. His aunt had announced her intention
OF making Us the same allowance she had IN
tended for Chubb when he married she told
us that having no near relatives of her own
she proposed TO make us and ours her heirs
but after all, it wasn't pleasant TO be con-
sidered in the light of a proxy or deputy ;
and the way in which those two women set
up an idol, an ideal Chubb, about as like
the real formerly existing Chubb as the but
teIiiy Is TO the grub, and expecting everybody
to burn incense before it, was especially ag-
grayating. But bore all patiently, abiding
the time when | should take the reins in my
own hands
1t was just two years since poor Chubb
disappeared, and We were to be married to-
morrow.
/ had wound up all my affairs at Lncoln's 5
Inn, and had made up my mind to leave
the office at three having to make few pur-
chases; and had planned taking Citizens
steamboat to Cadogan pier, there TO have a
quiet half hour under the trees of Cheyne
Walk. to take leave of my old self. For be-
fore knew Lettia | had been a very lonely
man, lonely in a crowd, and bad learned
TO know myself-yes and TO like myself, and
to take pleasure in my own thoughts; and
| felt a little sad. as though | were parting
with an old friend at the gate ot my new
life.
But, locking up my papers and changing
my coat, | was conscious of a peculiar STIR
and tumult astonishing the quiet inn a
clatter and clank, ringing OF steel aceou-
trements, and the sharp clash of hoots on the
paved courtyard. heard, too, the rush OF
pattering feet, which betokened that the
London gamin was awake to the prospect Of
little excitement. Now looking from my,
window. | saw small detachment OF hus-
sars drawn up outside our Office Opposite
the door was cab, policeman on the box.
half dozen mounted police were drawn up
on either side. and the British public massed
itself behind the cavaIcade
| heard a clerk flying up the stairs, and he
burst into my room, eXclaimIng, " On, Mr.
Brown, you re wanted Immediately by the
Chief Commissioner Of Police
Was ! to be carried off on the eve Of my
wedding day Was l to he spirited away to
ioin my poor friend Chubb7 | remembered
such things in wierd stories | had read as
boy; and was really so much shaken that
had | found myself crammed into the car
rage, and disappearing in thunder-cloud,
l.shoIldn't I have been much astounded.
No. not more astounded than l was when,
going to the window of the cab, saw sitting
beside a police officer and heavily lroned,
e Chubb Jackson
He wasn't bit altered, only Drowned and
more manly.
:. Ned. 6ld fellow. can { shake hands with
vou for these coufouuded handouts but YOU
are looking Jolly. | want YOU to come with
me 70 the police Office to identify me. They
want to make out that | m Colonel Brady,
the head centre of the Fenians but YOU can
tell them better than that, eh, Ned Come,
Jump in.
got into the cab in maze of bewiller-
ment.
How did | stand? Was ! going to be mar
ried tomorrow. or would Chubb usurP my
place ? " ho did the house in Regents Park
place belong to- and the portmanteau ready
hacked at nv lodgings? No, that was mine,
at all events And the month 5 holiday
Good heavens Why didn't the fellow stop
another dav2 What did he mean sitting
there grinning at me, looking SO happy
Happv of course be was happy. Wash
he going home to his Letitia
Why should | be bail for this man ? W hat
did know about him The last two years
might have made a Fenian of him. Was |
certain he wasn't Colonel Brady Was it
fend that whispered IN my ear, keep him
locked up till the day after tomorrow
But the fends may whisper as they viii
the habit of truth and honesty Is the best
exorciscr Of demons. When we arrived at
the police station, and were shown into the
magistrates private room, my course was
plaln. Mr. Pusslewit. the magistrate. knew
me we'll enough
Icould answer for the man in custody; he
was not a Fenian at all. He was Chubb
jackson, an intimat te friend of my own. His
detention would be a very serious affair for
the police but released now, would uu-
dertake that no action should be brought
against the government. The uPshOt was
that half an hour saw Chubb and myself
walking toward Charing Cross arm-ln-arm.
| had made up my mind rs 70 the course |
should adopt Chubb had satisfied me that
he had not Intentionally left Us in the dark |
as to his fate. His laches was not so great
as to debar him from equity. | felt that he
had the prior claim that | could not resist /
the decree Of the court above. | would take /
words that resigned her to him, leave them
TO be happy together; and then-oh, time
enough TO think of that when the time came |
Chubb, well have cab, and 90 to your
aunt's at once.
But Ned. I'm 50 horribly hungry. I've
had nothing To eat since brea ktaSt this morn
ing on tie Ham burg and If ! remember
right, aunt has tea about this time, and her
larder is not framed for emeI gencies, Let's
20 to the Wellington and have Jolly good
dinner I'll stand sam, for I'm flush TO a
degree
We went TO the Wellington, and Chubb
took great pains in ordering the dinner l
think we drank a good deal of wine. but
couldn't taste it, nor had it any perceptible
effect upon me.
Chubb was full OF his adventures. lie
had sailed from America from Southampton
on the day of his disappearance he had
posted letters to us explaining the cause of
his exodus we alterward found the letters
in the breast pocket of the old coat hang
ing up in his atelier lie had found out at
New York some relatives of his own, who
it turned out, were people of influence in
some of them being high in office.
His desire being to serve In the war of Sc
cessiOn then going on, his friends procured
him position in fighting regiment and
Chubb had seen good service. Ask anybody
who knows if there's anything said about
the Forty-Second Pennsylvanians and Eng
lsh Jackson. said Chubb, with flush Of
pride in his face He'd written home sew
eral times he said vaguely, but postal com
munica tions were irregular and Chubb wrote
such shocking scrawl, that | wasn't sur
prised his letters never came to hand
Wouldn t his aunt, all being explained,
really 90 down on her knees and worship
the young hero Her own nephew one of
the braves of the great army of liberty
Aud Letitia, too; he'd gone through all this