New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-03-08

III Tie IHIuamont mouse ( Indeed, l an
! very glad to see you, sir. / have brought
you few eggs. sir, and little fresh but
ter. all made at home, Sir"
"Thank you, Evans. Yes, I'm all right
/ As for the Parliament, they're going tx
! dissolve it"
dear me, Sir Richard; and what 6
pity-such a fine Parliament as it was
! Well, indeed, and what shall we do next?'
1.-THE next thing is general election,
suppose" said l carleessly; "but we're al
| right down here"
80, dear, Sir Richard; we'll now,
, don't know; there is no bounds to the pre-.
sumption of some people,"
'But nobody would oppose me in my
own county; the things impossible, MIR.
Evans !!
"Tis that distressful Gimball, sir, that
we have to fear; none other for sure.
There is no bound to his folly and assur-
ance. He would have no chance against
you, Sir Richard; but, indeed, fear he
means to try. So have heard, at least
but I wouldn't have you go too much by
what say, sir"
This conceded very disagreeably with
what our "whip" had told me, and was
good deal annoyed at the intelligence.
didn't fear the result of contest, but l
found myself all of sudden likely to be
called upon for considerable sum of
money and might look forward, for the
next three months, to constant sojourn
at Penwalyn, enlivened by incessant can
wasting and entertaining all the country
side. And had hoped to have been able
to slip away to Italy, where the Ruddocks
Il was awfully spooney on Hilda Ruddock
then) were going for the winter.
Gjmball was retired lawyer who had
made great fortune-with all kinds of
Iascality I've no doubt-and settled down
in Cadnant, where he built home twice
as big as any other in the country. As
he was constantly giving dinner parties
and balls, and SO on, he had become
rather popular in the neighborhood, and
he was already to head subscription.
whether it was for chapel or church,
or to replace Morris Pugh's pig that had
died of the measles. Such a fellow Us
this was no end of q nuisance, always
leading one into expenses and bothers.
Then he was very active as magistrate,
and as he didn't care about shooting him
self, not knowing the stock of gun from
the barrel, he was always making capital
by letting off poachers and generally bid
ding for the applause of the mob. But
never suspected him of such treachery
as trying to supplant me in my own
county.
The best thing I could do, as thought,
was to beard the man in his own den: it
might be that all this was only idle rumor
and that 1 was disquieting myself for
nothing at all. It's the best policy to be
plain and straightforward in these matters.
Yes, I'd drive over and see him at once,
and put it to him plain and plump: care
you going to stand for the county, or is it
all lie that people are telling about your"
There was little difficulty about the
conveyance at first. The carriage horses
were at grass, and had no saddle horse
down here. The nag that was kept for
the use of the house had gone dead lame,
and Ishould have had to send half dozen
miles for post horses. Evans kept trap,
l knew, and l asked him to drive me over
to Bryncoed, Mr.. Gimbalrs place. He
was quite overpowered with the honor l
did him, and went to get ready his train.
1t was about six miles from Penwalyn
to Bryncoed, rather a bad road, but
Evans little pony scrambled up and do xn
the hills at q capital pace. We came, in
about half an hour, to gate leading into
The domain of Bryncoed; there was no
odge there, and, as Evans was driving, I |
Jumped down to open the gate. was
about to swing it too, when Evans had |
lriven through, but was stopped by a
lail from behind me.
'Hullo! young man, hold hardr' The
peaker was young girl, mounted on |
handsome black horse, who had just can
cred up on the turf. sHow de do,
Ivans?" she went on, nodding in friend
y way to my steward. you've got your
10Y home then, have you?"
'Bless the young lady, no! Why this is
'ir Richard, Miss Gimballr' But she had
antered away without listening to an ex-
lanation. "What an extraordinary thing.
If, to take you for my son, sir"
l had observed that she was a very
retty, piquante-looking girl, and Won
cred how it was that had not made her
cquaintance before, till l remembered
nat had not been down for more than
few days at a time for several years, dur.
lg which period Miss Gimball had no ,
oubt emerged from the pupa state of
1ort frocks and frilled trowsers.
1t is pretty place, that Bryncoed, built
n green lawn sloping right down to the {
rink of the charming estuary of the !
w; bright-looking modern house with
lenty of light and air about it. A little ,
acht was moored in the river, and a =
'uple of boats were lying on the strand;
e cheerful tones of a piano echoed from '
French window opening on the lawn. s
ard the sound of voices and laughter.
A very cheerful looking servant opened / c
e door and took my card. He looked /
ore serious when he returned. Indeed, /
whole house seemed all at once to have 7
sumed sadder aspect. The sun dis
peared behind a cloud, the music q
ased suddenly, the voices and laugh {
but was blind to the omen. 7
Masters very unwell, said the man; /;
III to see anybody, SIR"
My business is very important" l said. 1.
Who is the mistress of the establish :,
,nt?" l whispered to Evans. =;
Mrs. Pendergap, his sister, sir,"re- p
ed Evans. -
Take my card to Mrs. Pendergap, and &
< If can see her."
was presently shown into drawing r
I'm, where Mrs. Pendergap joined me. D
9 was very pleasant, brisk, little | b
OWN woman. one of that jolly sort who c,
all the talking themselves, and vet fl
Mt bore you with their clatter. She d. b.
led my purpose in moment fc
About the election, isn't it? Poor Ed a,
rd, my brother-such disappoint- "
mt. Yes; it's no use making a secret ii
'ut it now. He fully intended to op-
20 you. Now, poor fellow, his thoughts o,
entirely weaned from worldly mat
s.. She passed her handkerchief hi
billy over her eyes. a,