Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-01-31

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"Yes; but to me?''
"oh, MS much better for you-you don't have
to part with the money, You see?''
a. you say, but then it ISN'T quite what we
agreed to. don't suppose the difference is ma
terial, but as have consulted my friend the
lawyer In an extensive practice in the city
about 1t, don't think 1t would do for me to alter
/ the arrangement he pointed out without asking
/ his opinion a. to the alteration
Now, could see William was a good deal an
moved about this, but what could he do?
William took away his papers in hum, and
least year after that wilkins, the messenger,
came into my room when I was having my
luncheon-hslf pint of porter and an aberne-
thy-snd gave me little bit of crumpled paper
done up in the form of a note. "Theres young
person in the waiting-room says she'll wait for
Dear Malam," said the note, "you will send
me sovereign by bearer, my daughter, Anna
bel, your god-daughter, for a particular pur-
"I'l see her myself, wilkins, ~ remarked to
the messenger, and went out into the waiting
room. There was generally good many people
in the waiting ROOM and there were on this oc-
casion-people waiting for an interview with
the heads of departments-and there, perhaps
on the table, swinging her legs with the great
est nonchalance, was my god daughter, Anna
bel Brown. 1 must say that felt q little
twiDge of remorse to think how I'D neglected
my duties towards her, never having troubled
myself to see whether she was contrme or any
thing of the sort. But she was fine well grown
girl of seventeen or so, and indeed showed how
fast che had grown taller and broader by her
garments, which were rather short, and display
ed more leg than was altogether seemly, and
al,o didn't meet in front as well as they might
have done.
"well, 'Enry," she said when she saw me-
she was immersed in An Army List. but looked
up and greeted me with a smile as l entered
how about the skiv2"
Twas a good deal embarrassed; because every
body looked at US and grinned; and young
Saunders, who is my junior and loses no oppor-
tunity of making hasty remarks about me hap
pened to be in the room speaking to a friend,
and watched US saIdOnically. You've read, i
daTesay-I haven't myself, confess, but I've
heard him mentioned in society-of a monster
called Frapkensteir, who haunts somebody very
much. Well, II struck me, this was exactly my
case William was Frankenstein, and here was
Miss Frankenstein, and how many more
heaven only knew-a monster brood, said to
myself, and bit my lips, and WIS very angry.
preting my silence. usual thing, ieft your
| purse at home, eh? Or have you Just paid
heavy bill, and not a farthing in the house. All
right, 'Enry; don't apologize, beg you, bless
Swe S i happens said l. miss Anna
happens hare left my pocket-book at home"
Greatly, now?" she said. "Without any
KIDD" Then, look here, III go and fetch it for
~ couldn't think of that" said |.
Then fetch 1t yourself" said che.
"But can't leave here till four o'clock"
"Then III wait for you,' she cried. ''Oh,
| don't mind me. i can amuse myself very well.
It's rather fun watching these old blokes pop in
and out-like old rats, you know the look of
| very old rat when it's worn and gray. Well, you
men in public oficesilook Just like that when
they get old-not cunning, though-Oh, no."
/ said Annabel with a laugh.
! And Chopper, our chief clerk believe Saun-
| ders had sent him in on purpOse-wes standing
Just behind US, and-well, he does look exactly
| like an old rat. But what was l TO do with this
J fNS terrible
"But YOU can't stop here,'' said "unfortu-
nately, I'm afraid; at least 1t would be thought
/ know
"Oh, bother that; but look here then, I'll go
and wait for you in the park. Lend me penny,
I you shall have it back in a week-honOr, you
knCw?-snd II get a roll and go and feed the
ducks, and III meet you Where shall I meet
ooh, that won't do at ALL" said! ssLook
I here" cried, in desperation; "tell your father
| III come up to- night without fail and see him
I and explain matters to him."
land bring the skiv?" she cried.
I ''Oh YES, yes.'
! Did / make mental reservation, then
Heaven forgive me If did.
That's promise, then. You'll Gomez only
you wont see father, cause he's in quad
sob, dear" faltered-Cropper was listening
! to every word-"Ob, dear, how did that hap
/ PEN"
"Oh, it's nothing" she said; "only county
! court. But it's too bad, isn't il? They tell us
imprisonm ent for debt is abolished, and then
| look how they serve US! It's shame." cried
mabel, looking around for the sympathy OF
the bystanders.
II was more than | could endure | hurried
her out of the building; she insisted on kissing
me on the steps in full view of the Horse Guards
and st. James Park, and left me more dead
than alive. 1 was afraid Chopper would saw
something. / should have hit him if he had, l
was so savage, and there'd have been a pretty
row.
went up to Chapman that light, and a most
heart-fending scene 1 witnessed. I'm not good
at pathos, so will leave to it the Imagination,
/ only adding that was 50 overcome that / Leaf
! them the "skiv,' and promised to see all viii
/ lam's creditors on the morrow and arrange
/ matters with them. And then, as If by magic
I chanU61 AL Saf Ia
house a-going again. There was nice little
! supper-ismb's-fIy and new potatoes, and a
whisky; and after supper Annabel dashed off
some jolly pieces on the old rattle-trap piano;
and then got excited and wanted TO dance and
| then mother sat down TO the piano and played
to us, and Annapel and 1 wsltzed around the
garden by the light Of the moon. Oh. it was
delicious never spent such an evening in my
/ life. When the bells struck midnight l was
walking up and down that little garden at Clap.
ham with Annabel on my arm, and positively
was making love to her. That was the beginning
= Ia always had the impression that should
marry well. All my friends had told me So.
Henry, they'd say, with your position and
advantages you ought to marry well !" but here
| was, thirty seven nearly, and no nearer it
than when l started. l was beginning to lose
the hair on the tor Of my head I'd two false
was fast losing the few friends formerly had.
Aid then Annabel was delicious. Once having
made up my mind that 1 liked the girl, l was
soon convinced that 1t was my duty as or god
parent to see that she was nicely dressed, and |
! bought her lots of pretty things, for which she
was very grateful, and would give me most
sweet kisses. And as she came often to see me
Oh her fathers business, the fellows at the office
/ began to talk about her, and chat me- And
! Saunderslt oo, fell most desperately spoony over
| her; and that decided me. When found Saun-
I ders was looking after her, went in.
Her father called when was in this state OF
mind, and wanted to borrow twenty pounds for
I aparucular purposes purpose that would re-
I turn the money TO him fifty fold thereafter.
TT thought this good opportunity to speak my
[ mind. told him that i would lend him this
sum for this one occasion, as had certain views
! with respect TO his family, which would ex-
/ plain to him hereafter. But bound him under
I most solemn promise and a written undertake
| ing under penalty Of fifty pounds never again
to apply to me for advance. This was a stroke
Of policy, you see, because if he'd become my
father in-law, should have otherwise been con-
Gnnslly exposed to these annoying applications.
| William is q very sensible fellow at the bottom,
and took all said In good part, and poe excited
the twenty pounds with many acknowledg-
e.