New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-04-21

| over, her eister-in-law, Miss Annabells, Il
her own room, with . nervous headache
The maid said she had had q hysterica1 d
tack to-day, and that the doctor had beef
in the house two hours, and looked gray
when he left. esa-.s goes ~ -
"Well, 60 You have condescended to com
home at last r. said Sir John, disaRreeably
as his pretty wife came into the room Will
face full of the most penitent, coaxinp
delicious eeniles imaginableS
"Oh, John, am 30 sorry!" she said; "bu
the Leytons came, and missed the train 7
And there was no telegraph at the post
Office, OF course - said her husband. grimly
| "Ah? l never thought Of that until to,
late, said Lady Hancock, with the old tell
tale blush. But don't be angry, JOhI
dear, please: You may be sure did moi
miss the train on purpose" ~.
"You know how much hate irregularity
Lucy" he answered, still grumblingly, il
somewhat modified. "Women are such
NUTS They never can do things with pre-
cision or forethoughtv'
Nov, don't scOld me, there's darling,
pleaded the lady, in her sweetest voice; and
after little more halfsurly annoyance on
his part, and great deal of love-making
on hers, peace was re-established between
l them, and Lady Hancock went up stairs to
her sister-in-law. a.,t .s.5-
Lucy! Lucy dear! what is it !" ex-
claimed Annabella, starting up from her
bed as Lady Hancock entered, and selling
her by both hands. while her white, wan
face searched into hers for the warrant Of
death or of life.
she can net live, dear. He was dying
when / was there" she answered. "PoOr
little fellow! He will soon be no perplexity
to any of us ~
"My poor boy my child !" murmured the
mi L o<n
from him; ought to CO."
"And betray every thingi No, dear; you
can do NO good to him now whatever, to
yourself only infinite harm. The risk was
awful to me to-day; you must be satisfied.
And you must control yourself" For An
nabella, weak by nature, and weaker still
BY suffering, had begun again to sob and
lament SO passionately that another nervous
attack was imminent if she could not be
Lady Hancock had any real power over
this poor creature: but even she failed to-
day; and in the midst of her exhOrtations
her sister-in-law went off into strong hys-
terics, and the noise Of her sObs and
shrieks arrested Sir John as he was pass
ing her door ON his way to his own dress
ing-roOm. So this again was another
rufle on the not too smooth surface Of the
barOnet's temper, and his wife had to bear
L
Hancock she was the one to be pitied
among them all. Without fault of her own,
here she was entangled in the meshes of Q
disgraceful secret; q secret which, if known
either in its reality or only as it might ap-
pear, would eetrange her husband from his
only sister forever, and anger him gravely
with herself; a secret which forced her to
tell lies and commit receptions, to put her
self in the power Of others las just now of
ho afot I
which was as burdensome to keep as it was
impossible to impart, with apparently no
end to the disasters and miseries involved.
But with Annabella's restored senses the
difficulties of the day were by no means
over. Late in the evening q knock came
at the hall dO0r-an unusual thing, as we
all know, in the country, where even day
visits are rare-and q loud, bOisterOus voice
was heard asking for Lady Hancock, in the
hall.
"Why, there's that beast Gay" said Sir
him to nightw s -.-....
Lady Hancock felt her face grow white,
and for moment she thought she should |
have tainted. Her husband looked at her |
sharply. An atmosphere Of mystery makes !
itself felt; and Sir John was becoming sus-
picious and aroused. But he had not much |
time to note his wife's changing looks, for |
The servant announced Mr.. Gay, and Mr.. |
Gay came into the room.
A bold, handsome, snowy man, with a |
loud voice and q great display of shirt |
'front.', swagger in his walk, and smile of |
assurance on his face-a man whose whole |
manner OF being explained at first sight |
why man like Sir John Hancock, naughty, |
and not Of the most amiable tenn |
per, should hold him in supreme abhor- !
renee. This was their visitor, Mr.. Gay, the |
local attorney.
Evening, Sir evening, my lady,"
Late visitor, amt II Hope not more late |
han welcomed Ha, ha, har'
An uncommonly late visitor, Mr.. Gay"
$50 / knew you'd think; but neighbors,
'ou know, take liberties" !
No one takes liberties with me, Mr..
say"
"Quite right, Sir John quite right.
Nothing like keeping up the old bloOd-head
veil up, and all that. And how is Miss An
abella, my ladyF' he asked, suddenly
urning to Lady Hancock. II don't see her
lOwn among you this evening""
Miss Hancock is not very well to-day"
answered the lady, willie Sir John fidgeted
and seemed with difficulty to
estrain himself from breaking out on the
pot. 1t had struck him before that Cav
ad been too free toward both the ladies',
is sister particularly.
"Sorry for that" said Mr.. Gay, as 1 have
pmething to tell her this evening Share
st down this evening. Brazilians bad.
Want instructions" ..-....
II can carry any message, if absolutely
ecessary," said Lady Hancock, with lips
hat trembled in spite of herself; "but she
} SO i'll l do not think she can attend to
usiness tonight"
II think she'd better, if she can," said the
ttorney, with meaning. II scarcely like
o hold on without instructions. You see,
'razilians returned won't do
Good heavens, what rubbish are you
liking there7" Sir John said, savagely.
Have you secrets and double meanings
18th Lady Hancock for, on my soul, you
ave not spoken sense. What does it all
lean9"
Gay laughed loudly. Secrets! double
leanings! dear me, no. Sir John. But you
se, as your hOnored father left some papers |
my hands, and have the management
a few hundreds belonging to your sister,
llss Annabella, am bound to be careful
ow work, else l should get the blame if
nythlng went wrong. just now she hap
ems TO have rather heavy investment in
eW brazilian bonds, and am naturally ,
nxlous TO know her wishes, as things look
ad tonight"
But why was never told of this in.
estment" Sir John asked, with as much &
emper as establishment. '.As nv sisters ,
uardian, and naturally having the right I
be acquainted with all her affairs. this :
scret investment you talk of comes upon
re with surprise; and l am most erayelv :
ispleased both with her and with your.
slf, Mr. Gay, that you should have en-.
outraged this underhand proceeding. and
lat she should have entered into it.
"Weli, yon see; Sir John, all the ladies' +