The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1871-01-06

lOu4kl1lA-GLk " ECCEAfG A4lAs AGhle 3
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; SO 1
had better tell yOu at once That my
name Is F'iel, and that ! am the legal
adviser of AiF. Lsobyear, the father of
the gentleman who aspires, I believe,
to the horror of your h6ad.n
Mrs. MOntacute bowed and requested
him to be seated.
q hope you viii pardon me," con-
tinued Mr.. Fiel, dropping into q chair
which faced the lady, and looked as
conciliatory as he could, :" il what /
have to say should prove. in any way
disagreeable; am but the mouth-piece
of my client, you know. Mr.. Lobyear
senior, has heard, not from his son,
but through other sources, of this pro-
jeeted marriage, and I regret TO say
! that he has conveyed to me his disap-
proval."
40 sir!'
His very decided disapproyal. he
has never had the honor and pleasure
Of seeing you, madam, or he probably
would view matters in different light,
and hesitate before depriving his only
child of the felicity so nearly secured to
him. But, unfortunately, his letter
and he was then about to return TO Ja-
pan, so there are difficulties in the way
Of a personal interview
q Really, Mr.-Mr. E'iel," said the
widow, glaneing at the card which had
been given her, 81 hardly know what
to make of all this. / was certainly
aware that Mr.. Lobyear had q father
very much devoted TO various branches
Of natural history, who, if alive, was
supposed To be somewhere in Japan :;
but that he takes any notice Of his sons
affairs, or processes to exercise any
authority over him, IS quite new idea
TO me.n
81 To me also, madam and / believe
it to be q very unusual proceeding on
his part. But marriage is an excep-
tionally important thing, and his son
is under age -
"Unjer age! Thomas under age
Impossible ~ cried the widow.
cit Is fact madam; but were il 9TH
erwise, it would be Of no importance.
since Mr.. Lobyear is entirely dependent
upon his father, who is determined to
discontinue his allowance, and cut him
out of his will If he nlarries without
his consent aud approval"
Mrs. Montacute remained in pensiVe
contemplation Uf a very pretty foot for
=
Excuse me for being OVer-cRutiOus, Mr..
Fiel; but you are an utter stranger,
you know, and / should like to SEQ the
letter from Mr.. LObyear's father, hyou
have it about you"
Certainly, madam, replied the law
yer. A very natural and proper pre-
caution OH your part. ] might be 3
rival. prompted by motives Of Jealousy.
Here is the letter, which, however, ]
fear may give you pain. Evil tongues,
he continued, as the widow took the
document and ran her eyes rapidly
over it" evil tongues have evidently
traduced you. Alas the best and fair
est cannot escape slander! Indeed, the
greater the merit, the more virulent
the envy"
% Evidently genuine. Thank yOu,n -
said the widow, returning the letter
with extraordinary cOmpOsure, consid-
ering how she was treated in it, and
then once more fixing her gaze upon
her boot, which she fidgcted about, she
relapsed into silence and meditation.
At length she raised her eyes slowly to
the lawyers, and looking at him quiet
ly, but very hxedly, she said: Mr..
Ffel. you have come TO me treating this
affair as pure matter Of business, and
therefore / viii not speak to you Of my
affections; it would prolOng this inter
view and probably you would not un-
derstand me. 1 will tell of the marriage
engagement between myself and Mr..
Thomas LObyeRT, then, precisely as il
1t were mere commercial transaction.
In order to fulfil my part, / have left
India, where / had q home, and have
come to England to live on my meagre
pension. For ell his threats / consider
it very unlikely that Mr.. Lobyear will
really disinheTit his only child.u
' Pardon my interrupting you, ma
dam nothing Is more probable. The
RTdour with which he pursues his IA
VOrite science amounts TO mania, and /
fear that he would be hardly sorry for
an excuse to devote his entire fortune
to- the building aud foundation Of a
museum"
ttThere is a certain force in what you
say" replied the widow calmly; "and
do not conceal from myself that it
would be a very great misfortune In
deed for both Of US if Mr.. Thomas Lob
year were to be deprived of his income
upon our marriage. Still, it would be
worse for me to break it of, and remain
here, far from my friends, penniless."
Nay, madam, not penniless some
compensation would be your due"
LUgete PeacTcs CilpiClenesqte -- if
they didn't come presently to fair up
aDd-dOwn bargaining! The matter
was finally settled thus. Mrs. Monta-
cute was to start for New York by the
next mail, Mr.. Fiel taking and paying
for her passage; she was to write a
farewell letter to young LobyeaF, break
ing the match, and keeping silence
about where she was going to. Mr..
F'iel was to accompany her on board
the ship, and then to place in her hands
the sum Of one thousand pounds.
When this treaty, with 4" No Trust -
for its basis, was concluded, Mr.. Eiel
took his leave; and as he stepped into
the street, Jack Horner alone could ap-
preciate his sensations. Never had so
delicate a case been so skilfully ham
died Three days afterwards, Mr..
Fiel escorted the fair widow to Liver.
pool; accompanied her on board the
American steamer; stayed with her till
the last moment, gaveher the thousand
pounds, aud returned q the bosom of
his family, having himself sealed and
posted a most satisfactory letter Of fare
well 20 poor young Iobyear, which was
put in his hands unfastened, that he
might assure himself that the contents
were according TO treaty.
Next day the deserted lover came 10
hiH in a fury-=torIning, uDbraiding,
DtsCcCltLB HlAA 10 carry uilu ALciS ule
charmer haa flown to; threatening
murder and suicide when the lawyer
remained obdurate. Finally he rushed
away, declaring that he would never
speak to him again.
q" Yes, you viii, when yOu want mo-
ney," said Mr.. t'iel, as the other banged
the door behind him.
He was right Ia less than q fort
night young I.obyear returned, pale,
calm, and naughty, and cOldIy inti-
mated that lac WIS about TO return 90
the East, and required funds. After
some discussion about necessary eX-
penses, passage-mouey, outfit, what
his father usually allowed him, etc,
Mr.. Fiei let him have FIVE hundred
pounds, and saw him depart with in
finite relief-foF now the edifiec Of lis
was crOWHed. CaInmis-
stoned to separate a young couple, he
had DESPATCHED one TO the east. the other