Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1873-05-06

I ''A'' l'AANh = NAlO AilA
mentioned this fact, he gracious
ly," to quote Mrs. Barrett, offered
to take charge of them. Indeed
the whole establishment seemed
oppressed by the weight Of the hon
or done to it, and appeared satisfied
that Miss Johnes had made an ex-
ceedingly good invcntment when
she married Mr.. Will.
was treated also with more de-
ference after the Earl's visit, and
my fellow-servants asked me such
lots of questions about the Dugdales
and Pattinghams, about Oabhill,
and my Lords house in the count
ry, that | grew sick and tired OF
the very name of my masters fami-
ly.
"After all" / thought one morn
ing, ''if our old life was anxious, we
had variety, at any rate. do not
believe can stand this much long
er."
An interruption was coming to
the monotony for which was little
prepared it came very soon i'll
deed. 4s.
That same evening, | was walk
ing down the elm avenue which
people came from far and near TO
see, when / met two well-dressed
men, who proceeded quietly on with
out taking the least notice Of me.
could not tell what made me do
it, but when they had traverscd
some twenty yards | turned and
followed. BY the time they reach
ed the house i was close behind
them. The hall-door stood open,
and on the threshold was Catteron,
one Of the footinon, lazily contem-
plating the landscape. TO him tho
strangers addressed themselves.
'Is Mr.. Pattingham within 2"
asked the elder and stouter of tho
| two.
"No he is not at home"
"When do you expect him bacl1?'
Il can't say he has gone abroad.
The Dowager Countess of Dugdale
is i'll, and sent for him." Catterton
added this piece of information, not
out of any civility towards the
strangers, whom, indeed, he had
treated with scant courtesy, but
because he never willingly missed
an opportunity Of speaking of the
Dugdales OF their titles. There
was a pause-the men, who did not
look like gentlemen, though they
were all well dressed, exchanged
glanccs, then the elder one inquir-
cd
."Is Mr.. Pattiugham's servant,
Walters, here, or has he gone
abroad too"
"No; he is standing behind you;"
and thus indicated, / came forward.
al would like minutes private
conversation with you, sir" said
the spokesman, and seeing that Cat
terton would not go, and that the
stranger would not speak before
him, i opened the door of small
cloak-room, and followed the visitor
in.
Directly as l had done so hc
closed the door, and said confiden-
tally
"This is mighty disa greeablo
business, Walters. Had Mr.. Pat
tingham been at home | feel no
doubt the matter might have been
settled i'll two minutes but as it is,
] must leave q man here--ycs, l
must" "a .E.sr
"You don't mean to say---"I
gasped.
eyes, | do he interrupted.
"Most Of his debts were arranged,
no doubt ; but this one, at any rate,
does not seem to have been settled.
No doubt, the man felt hurt at be-
ing left out in the cold. Anyway,
he is very bitter, and so I'm here
and being here, l must leave
man." .g.a. t.r
certainly was no innocent in
such matters. / had seen rs many
writs and witnessed as many arrests
as most men who were not sherilfs'
officers; and yet the simplest and
most timid woman could not have
felt more frightened than did at
the sight of the writ he handed me.
The horror of such a thing hap
pening in that house as q man be-
ing left in possession, was moro
than | could bear. Mrs. Barrett
the servarts--what should / say to
them-what explanation could /
give
eve might leave the place and
the country, Mr.. Will and /, after
such disgrace had befalled us :"
that. was what l thought as the
stranger pushed me, trembling in
every limb, into seat.
"Let us talk il over, and SEQ
what can be done," said he, not un-
kindly. "Mr. Haman told mo TO
ask to see you, if Mr.. Pattingham
chanced to be out. lie knew your
master would not mind standing
triiie to keep the matter quiet"
"You are from Haman, then," l
murmured. Accursed had that
name been always in my ears
doubly accursed was it now.
eyes, and III make it straight
with him, so as to give you time to
get the debt paid. 1t would have
a bad look 20 seize here; and your