Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-12-20
HORRID MISS LEIGH.

one sorrow-he was engaged 10 girl he had
Some ten years before a dispute had arisen
about a certain Hillingdom estate, in Leicester
shire, to which Mr.. I.UttTcll-Tom's fatner-and
certain COruwith Leigh both laid claim. LIti-
cation seemed inevitable, and the legal frater-
nity began to prick up its ears, when Que morn
ing Mr.. Luttrell received the following note:
Dear LuttTell: You and have been good
friends all our lives. and there is no man living
for VIII ID have greater esteem than FOR
yourself. Cannot We, then, settle this wretched
business without troubling these internal law
yers? NV uncle, Haughton Leigh, had suit
that lasted him twenty years and killed him in
the end. Now, listen to me; my daughter
Nellie will have all I've got at my death, ex
ceFt Bsrfield, which goes to Jacks boy. Why
shouldn't she marry your boy Tom? Let the
Nellie viii be eighteen and Tom four-and-
tventy-if they like to marry then, we'll and
good; IL either should decline 10 carry out the
"Tbis Is a rough idea OF my plan, which
Jackson. your lawyer, could soon put into
shape What do YOU say?. Yours, &c, earn
To this proposition Mt. Luttrell agreed, and
Tom found himself an engaged man at four
teen. Soon after this Mr. Leigh was obliged to
leave England for his health; and tor many
years he resided entirely on the Continent. So
IL Happened that Tom and his future bride had
never met.
decision Tom betoOk himself to a small inn in
the village OF Settlebeurn, near Stockford ,
nOminally 10 fish, but in reality to escape from
2
to himself for quiet reflection, while he solsced
his wretched soul with tobacco.
One Gay ~ he lay laZily smoking by the sill
yer Beck something fell from a high bank
above him and dropped lightly on the water,
while a girls voice exclaimed.
a. oh. nv gracious, my hati'
Tom looked and saw very neat little hat
floating, bOat-like, down the stream.
I" Bother the young woman he grumbled,
al suppose, now, she'll expect me 10 fetch it,"
As be rose he looked up to the spot from
which the voice had proceeded, and saw girl
whose beauty surprised him. She stood bare
headed on the bank, gazing with look of
comic dismay after the fast Teceding hat, and
Tom lad an opportunity Of examining criti-
eally, from the little head, with its crisp, brown
hair, disOTdered by the wind, to the slim ankles
which her position revealed as she stood above
him.
Running some yards down the bank, he
stepped out U pom an old willow which prOtruded
over the stream, and waited in the hope that
the current would bring the hat within his
reach. He was not disappointed, and in few
minutes more he vas again on terra tTad with
II must make friends with this young per-
son." he thought, as he carefully dried the
dripping feather with his handkerchief.
The fair stranger had watched his efforts
from her elevated post, and smiled sweetly on
him as he climbed the bank with his recovered
treasure She had evidently been sketching,
for her materials were scattered in picturesque
confusion around her.
- hope it's not much damaged said Tom,
as be looked rather ruefully at tue result OF his
manipulatons. I'm afraid the feathers In
bad way"
ooh, it doesn't matter in the least, thanks.
How kind OF you to take so much trouble. Bat
for YOU i must have walked home bareheaded."
Il wouldn't put it on just yet" Tom said.
"Let it lie in the sun a little and dry, while
YOU go on with your work
10 one to recover II for me- she Suggested;
peace. YOa are sketching, | see; may ot?"
oh. yes. but it's a miserable failure, l. IN
afraid "she said. laughing, as she handed it to
i'm. Tau pyam 4 he
amateur himself proceeded to cTitcise, and,
finally, TO instruct. He found this girl very
charming: she seemed 50 deli ghtfully free from
all conyentionalty. without at all resembling
his bste H0iT, the last girl"
They grew quite confidential as the lesson
proceeded, and were amazed when, on consult
ing their watches, they di-cOvered that Il was
al must ffy, she said; s'or shall be late for
dinner. and Sir John can't stand that"
Have you far to go?" asked Tom, erattily;
About mile. I'm staying at Newlands.
Good-by. No. I can carry them, thanks; l
couldn't think OF troubling you any more
GOOd-by," and she was off,
Tom went to his room, thinking great deal
about his new friend, wondering where the
had fascinated him. perhaps it's her dress ;"
be thought; ''sLe dresses better than any wo-
man ever saw and then her boots" Here he
lit a Gig ar and fell into a dream about the said
boots and about the little white hand which
had worked 80 tindustriously and confdingly
Ender The direction Of his b: brown paw. All
a ..s ne Il day he wandered By tue dyer but as
came not. That evening ne was restless and
iIl-tempered with his hostess and every one who
approached him.
The day after he was more fortunate. She
was sitting in the old spot, and greeted him
smilingly.
"You're Just in time" she said. sLook at
my tree; isn't IL like those bright green cauli-
flowers you see in the pickle bOttles?"
Tom sat down and set TO work on the refrac-
tory tree, while she watched him.
- say" said she at last, ''isnt this dread
fully improper
"WhIchP' asked Tom, working away vigor-
ously.
why, you and me-" she replied. ingram
maticaily. "We've never been introduced,
and I don't in the least know who you are or
anything about you. Lady Turnbull would
have a ut if she knew it,"
Let me introduce myself" said Tom, laugh
ing. Z" My name is Luttrell-Tom Luttrell; or,
If you prefer it, Thomas Cursor Alyanely Lut-
M She had not been sitting behind him Tom
must have noticed the flush which spread over
her face at this announcement. After pause,
she said. slowly:
$50 you're Tom Luttrell?'
"Yes, |" said he, looking up. "what do you
know of me?"
who is a great friend OF mine; she has told me
about you"
Indeed And what's her Names
"Miss Leigh; Nellie Leigh"
IL was Toms turn TO fiush now. :. Miss
Leigh" he repeated. GOOD heavens! you
don't mean to say she is in the neighborhood?'
lou uOnl sccu VI ACiy euc soiuj
"TOm painted viciously. 4" hate fast girls
he said at last.
"HOw do you know she's fast? You never
saw her."
- I've heard about her )" Tom said gloomily
"What have you heard about herr" de-
manded his companion, sharply.
"Why, there was Ernest Browne; he met her
alittle while ago. She talked along the whole
time TO him, and-ana swore, think he said,
and wanted TO smoke. Then 1iverton told me
she was the best hand at quoting Artemus
Ward he ever heard. Bah! hate a girl that
quotes Artemus w&rd?" and Tom switched
yiciously at the dsndeions with his cane.
His companion watched him with mischie-
yious smile.
al wish you'd be less keerless with that wep-
pin,' she said, "you'll upset my water, directly
and thenyou'fl have to go and get some more.
Now, don't you begin it," Tom pleaded.
"why not? like Artemus.'
Tom shrugged his shoulders.
well" his tormentor continued, nave you
any other fault to find with your bride?"
.She's not my BRIDE"
: 81 But she will be-"
"No, I'm bothered If she will' Tom broke
out. yehemently.