, 1875-01-03
A BELEAGUERED HOME,


brought the news Of our ruin as ne sat at break
| fast with the windows open to the ground look
| ing out on the sunny lawn, silver streak o;
| river beyond, and the mountains shining blue in
| the distance. The first day of spring, balmy and
| revivifyiug. I am no believer in presentiments;
| misfortune descends upon us unawares, without
warning or foreshadowing, and the House Beau-
| tiful OF our hopes Is swept into ruin.
| We had been very happy in our married life,
little more than twelyemonth qla. with every
thing seemingly clear and bright before us. And
| now all WAS doubt and gloom; our means had
| vanished into thin air. All my fortune that had
been my mothers, and that my father, 3 Colonel
| in the Indian army, had generously resigned to
me, was invested in the Lahore and Dslhi Bank,
| and that had collapsed into ruin.
| We had settled IN Wales on onr marriage,
where I took pleasant lttlo house situated oa
! \ sunny slope OF hill overlooking the valley
| well she|tered by trees, emboHered in Towering
! shrubs and covered with creepers; quite an
| idyilic little placa had made up my mind to
buy it, but the owner required such heavy price
| for it that hesitated about withdrawing any Of
| my capital from IN Investment uhere the return
| WAS 80 handsome as in our bank and now it
| was all gone.
| I had no profession, either, to fall back upon
had served for \ few years in my fathers corps,
| but the climate OF India did not sui. me. and as
I was an only child, and We had ample means, /
retired and came home at the Co1onel's wish.
| Then married my old playmate and my fathers
ward. Jane Hammond, to his great delight; he
promising himself to complete another two
| years service, and then to come home and live
| with his son and daughter.
hat &kn1 ats %tn
fatal news, Jane saw By my face that something
| dreadful had occurred. - Is it papa?" she cried
for she always called my father thus; ''has any,
| thing happened to him5" She seemed abso-
lntely relieved when told her that nothing had
happened but the loss OF all cur means.
There is kind OF excitement about misfor-
tune. when it first comes upon uss, that eases OIL
certain portion OF the shock. We we're quite
gay over it. I remember, that first day. We
we're young, with the world before US. We must
descend into the arena OF life and fight our way
to SUCCESS; hitherto We had been spectators
only; for the future We must be actors, heart
and soul. We would sell off everything here
and 70 up to London, where must try for en-
ployment. Jane would so out "a a. daily gov
erness
Ona circumstance interfered with any plans OF
immediate activity on her part. We we're daily,
almost, expecting the advent OF young stranger;
and that must be got over first. Then there
we're several other hindrances. We had the
least.
Something could be done about tho house at
once my wife suggested. Ne could write to our
landlord and ask him to take it of our hands. or
to accept specified sum in lieu of notice. With
an impulse OF newborn activity, I sat down to
write the note at once. Unexpected misfortuneB,
wrote, had put it out Of my power to occupy
house at snch rent any longer. Would my
landlord kindly consent to some arrangement for
relieving me OF = portion OF my responsibility
IL - -. ,c x1o - FIR
sake" said Jane. decidedly. "f he won't. we'll
put Chimney sweep in the house, or the traTel-
ing tinker" Bat I didu't feel quite so certain,
knowing that landlords are usually tenacious Of
their rights.
Our landlord was not natiye-born Welshman,
but q retired attorney from one OF the large
TOWNS, who had bought the property at barCain,
and was bent upon MAKING the most out OF it.
He lived in small cottage, about quarter of
mile away. with rather bold faced housekeeper.
He and I we're friendly enough, but Jane would
never take the slightest notice of the housekeeper.
and think the young woman resented this han
teur little. Mr. Tranter-that was my landlords
name-evidently Thought me- good tenant, for
had spent good deal OF moneyln pntslng things
to rights about the house, which had been be-
fore In rather neglected condition. paid
rather high rent for tho place. as rents went in
that out-of-the-way localty-f90 year paid
half-yearly. The custom was in those parts to
pay the rent on specified day. = good Wblle
be paid late in June, and the Michaemas abo1G
December.
1 was great simpletoo. I thought afterwarde,
to write such letter; for there is no need for 3
man to trumpet his miafortunes, which get wind
soon enough without his aid. But had at that
time stupid kind 0; confidence in the goodwill
OF people about me, engendered by careless.
good-na1ured temper, OF which it has taken =
good deal of experience to rid me.
The day following that on which the sad news
came WAS the 25th Of March. Al the sunshlne
was gone now chill no1theaster blowing; all
tho e1citement, too, attending our misfortune
was over. and the cold, dismal reality clearly
visible. The news Of our trouble had got about.
through the medium OF Tranter and Company,
no doubt. Every one. at least so We fancled,
looked queerly ut us; = shower Of unremem-
bered little bills came drifting in upon us. In
the course of the day came reply from Mr.
Iranter,-a note, ut least, taking no notice OF
my letter, but reminding me- that the half-Jears
rent was this day due.
Tia same evening, about 6, was told that d.
yid the fisherman was in the kitchen, and wanted
particularly to see me. David had teen my guide
aud companion in many pleasant fishing
e1pediti9n Try little fellow. his o,;sH fsse
ntseeat asa aoa and % ops the nssts that
we're deft At anything. Davio's wife went out as
. nurse, and in that capacity she had been re-
tanned by my wife for her approaching trouble.
"Beg your pardon, sir" said David, touching
his foralock IN eRlutatlo0. l WisQ 70 bpeah
with you very particular yes"
With that / took Deyid into my orR room.
pardon. sir" he said, breaking forth suddenly
into speech, you'll think me- . very inpudens
fellow, but do you owe Mr.: Iranter any money"
s. Not L; why do you ask, David :"
swell, sir, as happened to make call as the
'Skinners' Arms JUST now, MI. cousin, Hugh
Jones, came into tho bar, not seeing me. and no
said to tho man he was With: L. it good job
will have At Brynmor tomorrow Capital
SAID Mor1is,-for that WAS the one he was with i
there viii be weak's possession. and then the
sale and between Mr. Tranter and me ne. will
skin the young Englishman nicely. There's for
This Morris, it seemed, was an auctioneer and
agent in small wsy, bailin Of the County Court,
and wreckcr in general. A ,burly, downeast
looking man, going about in silent, stealthY
manner; respectful to obseauiousuees to per-.
sons above him in position but with bard, cold
eve that BODIED i'll for any one at his mercy. But
Twas in no danger Of any process Of law. WHAT
could Morris be to me ]? Then in m instant I re-
called the fact that this was legally the rent.day,
and taat the law accords to = landlord, without
MOTTO, or process, the night to seize bis tenants
effects and take possession Of his premises.
* all Anct a1 t1rnf