New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-12-24
THE sACKFUL OF SOvEREIGNs.
CHAPTER 1.-THE SUMMONS.
In Three Chapters.

CHAPIER 1.-THE sUMhONs.
A sunny garden slope upon the southern
side of Higbgate Hill; at its lower end a
delicious tangle of orchard, long grass and
underwood, russet-tinged briers and com
mon ferns
Higher up, the gDarled and twisted old
apple trees. thick with frosted fruit, give
place by degrees to q strip of goOseberry
and currant bushes and Kitchen greenery;
until these, in their turn, edged by high
box border. sweet and gay with waving
lavender, gilly flowers, cabbage roses, sun
flowers, holly hooks and the homelier order
of garden treasures, terminate in a smooth,
we'll kept lawn.
Upon this look several windows of a
quaint, Old-fashioned, irregular red-bIicked
cottage, partly matched ana partly tiled;
with hOney-suckls and many q sweet
scented creeper clamberiDg round the
angles, and even going come way up little
stack of twisted chimneys; the whole-cOt-
tage, garden and Orchard-surrOunded by
an old moss-grOwn wall which, on the front
or high road side of the domain, ia bright
and OdOrOus IN spring with Overhapging
lilac and laburEum, while, where the an.
tique iron gateway makes gap, great
arch of ivy marks the entrance to this pleas
ant home-one of those homes, indeed,
which, rural and unpretentious, might have
been found in many London suburb .
quarter of q century back; but which, alas.
Lave well-nigh disappeared now, since the
overwhelming wave Of bricks and mortar
has swept ont from the great city. like the
Overwhelming eddy on the surface of a
lake when rising fish or idly thrown stone
disturbs its placid waters.
There is wooden summer-h0use, also in
perfect harmony with its surroundings,
save that part OF its roof has been recently
repaired with patch of somewhat too new
and overnight red tiles. Nesting snuglV
under the shade of a big elm free midway
on the slUpe, between orchard and kitchen
garden, it overlooks that well known view
which terminates with St. Pauls, dmly
IOoming-with chimney stacks, towers and
spires-thrOugh the long line OF murky and
dusky sky.
A sweet retreat for toil-worn citizen, or
any caring for the gentler, simpler ways of
Particularly suited as background does
it seem to the figure seated at the rustic
table, in the little arbor on the soft Septem-
Der afternoon when our tale begins. He is
an aged but tolerably hale looking, broad
shouldered man Of about seventy five, with
keen brown eyes, and having that Snug
old.fashioned aspect in dress and mien be-
fitting the retired well-tO man of bust
ness, that all who have any acquaintance
with Matthew Hickman know him to be
Open before him lies small memorandum
book, in which he seems to be adding up
some figures; and beside him, with ink
scattered papers. Now and then, in
the pauses OF his calculations, ne strokes
his clean-shaven chin, or toys with
his muttOn-chOp strip of pure white
whisker, and the quiet expression of salts
faction with which from time to time he
looks out upon the view tells of content
ment with both place and circumstances.
I'll \ 4 49, 4
mouth very close observer might detect
some signs of waning health, and there is
at times q knitting of the brows and .
raising of the garden hat which might sug-
,gest occasional twinges of pain passing
across the forehead. Toe clock of the
neighboriug church chimes out the half
hour past five, and while the sound dies
away ON the delicate cir he draws from his
fob, by lis broad ribbon and bunch of seals,
large cid fashioned gold watch to COM
pare the time. Presently he is deep in his
figures again, when footsteps approaching
along the winding gravel-path that leads
down from the cottage to the summerhouse
divert his attention, and hastily gathering
up some of the scattered papers he places
them with a certain air OF secretivepess
under the book he is examining.
''You are home earlier to day, George"
says Mr. Matthew Rickmar, looking up to.
ward the figures of a young man and woman
who had by this time come within speaking
distance.
"a Little, sir, perhaps; we have had rather
q elack day at tbs bank" answered the
former, u pleasant, biue-eyed, fair-haired
young fellow, albeit with somewhat weak
and change!ess expression of facs His
tall hat and tight.f tsing black frock-coat,
apart from his remark, proclaimed him
straight from the city.
II am not aorry either" he resumed,
stretching himself with an air of WEAKNESS,