The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-09-21


nv ANNIE MORRISON NIXON.
Prior to nv marriage entertained some
x,e,i.dcRpe,t notions about the matrimonial
s,afe uc,uiiar and manish ideas. the marrow
of whic, c,nanated from tho fertile Dra'h o'
my friend lack Strong, who, albcit ne hHew
NO more Of the woman genus Than the yer
Iow-necked African parrot. both oil WHICH
no alike abhorrcd, no was wont 10 dcciafe,
with his great white hands ou.-si'reau
cenia,ly before the cheering blaze, where tine
srrack was fast resolving into state Oh
punch, ,.o ,.m to
al tell you. 'G',stu>. my hoy, 'ravc e,' W.
me. II there Is that In woman that 'ao"
Strong can't fathom, then there i Soi4et'''ns
decidedly wrong in the female head. l u'tan ,'
show me a sane woman ana ~ soNe n.I
from crcwn to sole. ! don't masea speciast .
of the yimcracks aud flumnieries sue ss.s
herself up IN. The esp ribbons may VI 'n I,
not have been two sbilings the yard. ia
rather be stationed another year al o"nioa'
than TO dip in those things.
.rac, was the most noble and generous OF
,,nn and should have been the father OF
Gamiie long before those queer dcep lines
had been stamped about his honest blue
eyes. or the snowy fingers Of time had tam.
pered with bis curling locks. Smiling ana
candid on everything else, Jack scoWied ana
glowered on this one subject, ana ioroade az
approach to it by a sudden, and maze no
doubt, by din assumed gruffness, when IN inc
most natural way In the world the taik OF
married ch,inls and our Own prospects toi-
lowed the inevitable after.dtnner glass.
imbibed not little Of my FRIEND JACK
views and prejudices Mt that time, ana sconeu
at nm exchange, whicll, in taking away my
manly nrerocatiycs, the easy life lea. Tree
from social bonds and letters, bad little TO
offer i'm return save. perhaps. an existence
like that Of Beggs, the green-"rocer. WIN I"
shrcwish wife and five ill-manuerea iitle
ours, who daily impaired polish 10 tlle
wooden rests in the park. lnnlistaRaDiy con'-
posed of butter and treacle.
Heavens! no."
Jack had thoroughly permcated my being
with his hearty antipathy to anything OF this
sort. and when we parted in Ireland 1t was
with an understanding that neither should
perpetrate matrimony.
Rut II so fell out that we had both rcck-
oned without our host.
II bappeped In this wise, and contend to
this day that Jack Strong is the prime and
sole cause of the present condition of all
parties.
The season in town being over, and posi-.
tive stagnation in possession Of Pail Mall and
the Row, 1t immediately occurred to me that
1t would not be bad thing to drop down in
Wiltshire on an aunt Of my mothers, who
lived i'm rather goodish style on an estate moi
far from Chydesleigh- the scene O
my early exploits and achievements.
In three days time, cncaSed in gray liner
from headito foot. like some antiqtmted pinl
sat in sofa in Mayfair, with very clerica
muslin neckkerchief and small portmanteau
found myself asking admittance at pom
derous, well-arved door, which had beef
led up to BY trim red walk and two row
of thrifty chestnuts.
a. should be obliged to call another day
Miss PodIington Gouldrake did not receiv
on Thursdays"
"Wlat the deuce
Perhaps the gray linen and white neck
kerchief might have been to blame for thl
refusal OF me at my respected relatives per
tal.
measured the stout, elderly person VIII
stood between me and the wide clean hal
beyond with IN eye that could take in muc
1T glance. The elderly person wore gre
livery with yellow facing and orange.colore'
calves, and very calmly twrlcd one tbum
above the other after supplying me with tn
above information. This elderly person hat
very evidently been instructed TO shield hi
mistress from any interview with toreiS
agents or coporterS; | would try littl
OF Jacks way, when he particularly felt tn
need of stronger than moral >uasion.
"Thursday be hanged! Fellow, take thi
card up to my aunt Gouldrake, and let m
hear no more Of your insolence."
This worked like a charm. and sat dow
in the gauut old drawing-room to await
relative whom ! had seen but once in III,
life, ut time when was too young to know
very much OF her. except that she seemed
Ikea queer little old woman.
She came down the tiled pavement from
some distant wing laboriouSly, and leanin!
on the yellow cuff Of the coat-sleeve worn b.
the elderly person, who was of undoubtet
Importance at Podlington Grange.
Miss Goudrake was quite august in ;
quilted satin gown and a stocked ruff, which
stood up in defence Of the thin neck ant
wispv little yellow curls, which deticd still
"time's etTacipg fingers" She met Inc will
. open arms.
my dear Augustus You have come al
last to see your old aunt. How good of you
and ut such time, too, when most need ,
male support. You can't think how shal
appreciate this. Where is your baggage
At the PodlinSton Arms, l suppose. Well
well. EccleS, have it sent for immediately
Ecclcs left the room slowly, cycling lit
with his ticndish black eyes. Eccles, M
doubt, scented out more favored escort fol
his mistress.
No more luggage than this travelling
bag: How unkind. l hope you meant Il
stay longer than three changes. Well, well
we will attend to that; 60 right up to YOU
room, AuguStus-a green door ut the top o
The first flight. shall want you very neal
me. How nice it will be to have your judy
lnent about the reports as they come IT,"
shut the door Oh Eccles with great salts
faction, when he came up to assist me be-
fore the o'clock dinner, and though TOLD
that this meal was on Thursdays an informa
affair, got myself up rather nicely, not dis
agreeing with au old saying which declares
that first impressions are lasting.
But whit could she have meant, this
queer, little old woman, about male supports
and having my judgment Oh reports? Re.
ports of the gentry around, perhaps. -n
glove! Knight have fetched my unlucky
self into mad-house. A pretty go, upon
my word, Mr.. Augustus Talboys."
Here / gave such tug ut my lavender tit
that the bleod rushed into my nose, which
is not small, until it looked like an apricot
oyer-ripe.
A knock ut the door and Eccles' shasg.
head intruded on me, with a grin on his
sallow face as he appreciated the situation.
81 suppose we are expected down" he
said, finding that ! had no disposition to say
anything. consulting lady's watch he car
ricd. "The old lady would never forgive
us to keep her waiting"
"Ah. indeed" Iventured, as he led the