The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-03-05
LORD MERVlN;
on,
NOT IN TIE PEETA G T.
Prom Lonton cocfefv.
CHAPTER I.
A WRONG SCENT.

bankruptcy, and in the antcccdent spring
had been the victim of gross piece OF
injustice ON tho part OF near relation.
The late Mr. Sirius Saturn, +. II. =, the
eminent astronomer, was my uncle, and
on the death Of my father, his younger
brother, being childlcss and "a widOwer, he
adopted me, promising my mother, who
died shortly afterward, that / should In
herit two-thirds of his large fortune. The
remainder was bequcnthed 10 his sister.
then Mrs. Vernford and subsequently
to her daughter, Berry, Nernford, my
cousin, both OF whom had never seen till
last year.
My uncle was by nature very eccentric
and irascible man. lie was staunch old
Tory, very proud of his name and pedi-
gree; and therefore when he heard that
his sister, who had been left in reduced
circumstances by Col Nernford, had con-
tTcted an alliance with n MIR. Eli Scubbs,
wealthy tallow merchant doing n con-
siderable business in the Levant trade. no
one was surprised that he made a codcil
deprivng her and her daughter OF every
shilling he had previously left them.
A year before his death no had deter
mined to make one more grand effort to
demonstrate the truth Of his remarkable
opinion respecting the brighter "facu-
lW" ON the suns disc. and with
that view he requested me one morn
ing TO rrepnte bis lnrce telescore for
observatur. did so. Elnted at the idea
" yet Convulsing the scientific world by
his great AMI ingenious discovery, the I'M
fortunnte man al preached the powerful
instrument and, re- ewing my assurance
hat all was in readiness, applied his eye 10
he cyc-piece. Alas he never saw with il
again. In the most careless and culpable
manner | had omitted to put ON the col
)Ied glasses, and the piercing streak of
ight that met his glance rs he Gnzed
through the telescope blinded him forever.
To describe the old gentleman's rage when
ais oculist informed him that his right or
gan of sight was i'reparably destroyed,
would he ms painful us It is superfluous.
suffice II TO say that when his VIII was
opened il was discovered that he had fully
maintained his character for eccentricity
to the last, having added another codicil
by which he declared that was not to in
herit his for une unless l married my
cousin Berry, Nernford within year OF
the day OF his death. should this Condi-
ton be uacomplied with, the estates were
to he sold and the proceeds devoted to
founding Hospital for the Relief Of In
dgent Astronomers.
What was to be done OF course the
marriage by which aud my cousin were
to inherit "a fortune was out ct the Ques-
ton. In he INST place, Miss Nernford had
Informed Professor CopernIcus one of the
executors and the only real friend pos
sesss,d, that no consideration should in-
ducc her to even see her cousin under such
rOnditionS;" while her mother added that
although regrettiug the fragrant injus-
tice displayed toward her daughter, by
which she had been deprived of her rights,
.he could not wish her TO so far forget
what was due to her as 10 consent 10 such
a marriage.
Thus things looked hopeless enough, but
1t was absolutely necessary that something
should bo effected. Tor my position was
rapidly becoming altogether untenable
With the exception OF miserable pittance
OF eighty pouuus year, i, who had been
brought up "a heir-apparent to an estate
worth i've thousand pounds per annum,
had no means Whatever to live upon. Be
ing fond OF the drama, determined TO try
the stage ana for brief season uld the
.eadug business at the Theatre Royal,
iiranOhoruugh. wntTC ! was known, ac-
ruIdiug 10 The Aaulbllls. us " the great
trugediau, Mr.. Mcryyu LoTd." Ere long,
however, | GuuIIellcd with the principal
lady. an elderly person with pa ssouate
nature, who complained that l did not
really kiss her in the love scenes, and the
result WIS llNk / lt'lt tue t~lall l-Iiilt'ul.
AfterwLrd became tutor but found
that still more unpaiatabie; and at last
went boldly to the Professor
" Professor" 1 laid, what am | to do?
This mari age, tins iuiqu,tuus marriage,
Is not TO lie tho ught Of. Sooner would |
take the oath OF celIbacy aud, joining some
monastIc institution, live a lie of penancc,
than enter INTO the maIlltd state on suCh
ignpminiou- terms.
Tho Pa ofessor. who was wagshly in
rhucd. had nothing 10 suggest except that
perhaps | might ultimately be employed
A. secretary - the proposed Hospital for
the II 'ief OF INDECENT Astronomers
Two months had passed III iileness
Eight trying weeks of inpeCuniosity and
discomfort had dragged on "A miserable
existence III Bavswater lodging. My for
mer creditors too. had sought me OUT, and
threatened lmm. dlate prOct edings. My
position was intolerable. i resolved to
all one" more On the Professor and solicit
h's klLd intervention on my behalf. We
lalk"d the matter over, and my Old friend
informed me that my aunt and her daugh-
Lsr were 10 leave England very shortly to
JON Nj. nj Us, who was likely To be de-
tanned abroad tor some time ON busiL ess.
lic strongly urged me TO pay them a visit
brine thor d, partuTe aud cndeavor, if
NGs IDLE, tu remove their prejudlces. To
I'm ~ lirst vchcInently demurred Then
the Professor drew narrowing picture Of
ny desperate ronul~on. Then lie repre-
'rNlcd an attractive one OF my cousin
Be.Nl Then / hail relcnted. Then the
Professor alluded again 10 the spectral
IC-pital for the r licf Of INDECENT Astron-
|uris, aud finally determined to make
nn tremendous effort 10 win wife aud
i,Itiule.
My aunt aud cousin were stopping for "a
n II 9 IN At the quiet seaside town of
!,AcLLnI, and one Inc afternoon in July
iOunN me knocking at their door, and Ieel-
~ very contemplate ana cross
Al,. Scuhbs mr. | inqlIr, of the
landlord, an unfortunate victim of epilep-
~. who could scarcely speak.
"CA--uo, ne replied. IN a sort Of squeak.
SHE ana her daughter, Miss NerntuTu,
nave 20 - 10 London Tor "A week"
jus my luck thought, and hurried
abruptly from the house. lrritated and dis
u9pp.ntt u.
The ATTRACTIONS Of Bcacham, where I re-
hhihcd dnrn- The week, were limited.
bul-lde the town nud on the sea beach
were the remains OF an oid ruined castle.
notice board nNmat, "a that beyond that
polht me Nouug ldca OF Boacham might
learn 10 shoe. tWlth cntapuits but that
any one found .urE 90 ou the town sid
al II would lD prUs,D uttd. II,ielu4ed 10
sptnd the MNlnirE hlliN- up the ocean
with pcldIe- ana W,dftuting IN what
'm'c,y Oh nothing | shouiu pass tne after