New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-10-17

| ana 1nacllOn was the only part OF my
fathers temperament that shared.
Especially did the incubus of this dull
melancholy hover over me as sat by the
tire talking in monosyllab to my father.
Hannah was away for days holiday for
| reireshment after labors in nursing my poor
father, and We were waited upon by girl
named Bridget, the successor of Sarah.
Ny father was irritable and impatient. The
Cruel was burned, he complained, and
nothing went right.
In the midst of his GuerulOus grumbiin 90
heard a hesitating single knock at the
door, and as the maid was busy in the
kitchen l got up and went out into the
stone-paved hall and opened it.
"Eh, Master Dick,' said female voice,
| familiar but strange, "what, don't you
know met"
"Why, you're Sarah" said. after long
look at her, aud taking her by the shout.
ders l gave her a hearty salute on each
check
Sarah blushed snd adjusted her bonnet
What. you're still the same, Master
| DickY" she cried "But I'm married now
to one of the overlookers at the factory"
That's pity" said; "why couldn't you
| have waited for me-
"Nay, Master Dick, you never axed ME
to-" said Sarah, slyly. But I've got a
good comfortable home and a good hard
working husband; and what more can a
| lass wanlg'
what, indeed l replied Except a
dozen babies"
"Ay, and we've made start ct that too,
Master Dick" replied Sarah. laughing.
Here l heard my fathers voice in com
plant Of the atreet door being left open.
Come in, Sarah" cried, ''And talk to the
old gentleman"
But Sarah shook her head, "Nay." she
said, Give got naught to say to him; but
| come out into the street, Master Dick, and
let me talk to thee bit"
| went out and shut the street door after
me, and walked with her "a few PAGES to-
| ward the village.
"Have you heard of the goings on here?"
whispered Sarah.
| NO, nothing in particular"
| well, l hope thee nayn'C. l hope they
haven't hurt thee, my lad. But there's been
bad work going on here, can tell thee.
Hannah and that lawyer from Siapton,
they've been leading the old man fine
dance. Thee keep an eye on EN-, that's
| ALL"
| What, do you mean Polkhorna" said
och, no; not him. He's an honest chap
| yOn, and your father and he couldn't get on
| bit. Brutf is the man now, and he and
| Hannah do as they like with the old chap.
Thee keep an eye on 'erI. l was like to
| come and give thee bit of hint; and now
| good-by; mustn't talk any longer with
| thee. She's over there with him yonder this
| very day. Thee look out"
And with these warning words she quilted
me.
| My father was cross enough at nv alb
sence, and began to hewail his fate and cry
peevishly for Hannah to put him to bed. /
offered my services instead, as Hannah had
not returned, and after awhile, as he felt
| very weak and feeble, he consented to allow
| me to act as nurse. When he was settled
comfortably in bed he seemed quite pleased
| at my hardness and looked at me almost
with affection.
Dick" he whispered to me, "if aught
happen to me, my willis in the strong box
under the bed, and the keys-the keys
Ay, what was l saying"
"About the keys of the strsng box,
father"
GAY, they're safe enough" said my father,
cunning expression crossing his face.
Good night. Dick"
l kissed his rough grizzled cheek, and
went down stairs. The parior looked so
lonely and ghostly in the twilight that /
didn't care to sit down in it, but went out
into the passage and opened the front
door, feeling that the lights in the village
and the sounds of life about it would be
little company for me. 1 hadn't stood there
long. when heard the clatter of hoofs and
wheels approaching along the Sapton road.
Our house stood Just by the cross-roa
and you could see d good way down the
Slapton road from our front door. But now
everything was hidden in gray mist, and
it was not till the vehicle was close upon
me that l was able to distinguish that it
was dog-cart drawn by q powerful black
horse. l could see that tall stout man
was driving, and that woman sat beside
him, who turned her head as they passed,
but it was too dark to recognize any one.
The night was cold and damp, drizzlipg
rain falling, and l shut the door, feeling
quite chilled, and went back to the fire,
stirring it up into q cheerful blaze. Pres
emily the door opened and Hannah came in,
quiet and demure, dressed in dark cloth
cloak and white straw bonnet with black
ribbons. She came into the parlor to ask
how her master had been during the day,
and seemed much relieved when told her
he was no worse. She volunteered the in
tel!igence that she had been to Slapton, and
that on her return home she had been over
taken by Mr.. Bruff, who had given her
lift homeward.
His appearance and address were rather
pleasing. He was TALL fiorid, whiskerless
man. A pleasant smile always lowered
about his lips. After sitting Tor half an
hour with my father he asked me to accom-
pany him back to his inn.
Bare and unattractive in its outward as
pect, the inn at Halton was comfortable
enough within. There was a good sit
ting room for guests, the windows of
which commanded a view of the village |
street. Here Mr.. Bruff had established him |
self with deeds and papers-he explained
to me that he was settling the title of a |
neighboring estate-before fine roaring
fire, and here he entertained me- ordering a |
bottle Of wine and producing some very |
good cigars.
He seemed little preoccupied and anx.
ious. l thought, and he had habit when |
he talked of fixing his eyes on some distant |
object beyond; but he was cordial and warm |
in his manner, and so far from appearing to |
side with Hannah, he gave me some very
broad hints that he thought she had great |
deal too much influence with my father, |
and told me that ought to assert my own |
authority In the house, and bring my influ-
ence to bear upon him.
and for the moment took his seat at the /
farther end of the fireplace, to avail myself |
Of the light to read the local paper during |
his absence. Looking up 1 was surprised to |
see what good view of the village was to /
be had from this seat, and that above the |
roofs of the cottages the gable end of nv |
fathers house was visible, and a top win. |
dow, the window of Hsnnah's room in fact. |
observed, too, that Q brass birdcage hung
In tho window, and was little surprised /
81 that, Tor had never given Hannah credit
for any fondness for birds, and didn't know
that she kept one. Mr.. Bruff in Q few mo.
ments, and went back to my former scat
We sat and smoked till darkness came on,
and then took my leave. The weather
had cleared, and It was frosty night: the
smoke from the village rose upwards in q
light Athareal Cnluuu The f.ntc-i.. I.I-