The Morning herald., 1876-11-07
CORD AND CREESE.
CHAPTER l.

THE LETTER FROM BEYOND THE SEA.
On the morning of July 81, lS46, the
Daily News announced the arrival OF the
ship Rival at Sydney, New South Wales.
las ocean steam navigation had not yet ex.
tended SO far, the advent OF this ship with
the English mail created the usual excite.
nent. An eager crowd beset the post.of-
ice, waiting for the delivery Of the mail
/ an little knots at the corners were busily
discussing the latest hints at news which
had been gathered from papers brought
ashore by the officers or passengers.
At the lower end of King Street was a
large warehouse, with an Office at the upper
Extremity, over which was new sign,
which showed with newly-gilded letters the
vOrds:
COMPTON & BRANDON.
The general appearance Of the warehouse
showed that Messrs. Compton and Brandon
we're probably commission merchants, gen
sral agents, or something Of that sort.
On the morning mentioned two men
we're in the inner office of this warehouse.
One was an elderly gentlem an, with kind,
benevolent aspect, the senior partner OF the
firm. The other was the Junior partner
and in every respect presented marke,
contrast to his companion.
He had face Of rather unusual appear
ance, and an air which in England ls usu-
ally considered foreign. His feature were
regular-a straight nose, wide brow, thin
lips, and square, massive chin. Ills COM
plexion was olive, and his eyes were OF a
dark hazel color, with a popularity about
them which is not unusually seen in the eye
Of the Teutonic or Celtic race, but is some-
times found among the people OF the south
Of Europe, or in the East. 1t is difficult
to find name for this popularity. Itmay
De seen sometime in the Gypsy; sometime
in the more successful among those who call
themselves spirited mediums" or among
the more powerful mesmerizers. Such al
eye belonged to Napoleon Bonapsrte, Whose
glance at times could make the boldest and
greatest among his narshals quail: Wha'
Bit? Magnetism Or the revelation o.
the soul? Or what? -.
In this man there were other Things
which gave him the look OF the great Ma
poleon. The contour Of feature was the
same; and on his brow, broad and massive
there might be seen those grand shadows
with which French artists love to glorliy
the Emperor. Yet in addition to this M
had that same serene immobiIity Of coun
tenance which characterized the other, ,whlcf
could serve as an impenetrable mask u
hide even the intensest passion. >.
There was also about this man certain
aristocratic air and grace Of attitude, or o ,,
manner which seemed TO show lofty oirtf
and gentle breeding, the mysterious IN
dex to good blood or high training
How such man could have happened u
fill such position of junior partner IN
commission business was certainly prop
lem not easily solved There ne was' now
ever, man in appearance out OF place. ye
In reality able to fill that place with sue !S
cess; man, in fact, whose resolute WI, u
enabled him to enforce success in any call
ing Of life to which either outside clrcnm
stances Or his own personal desires mls'l
invite him.
THE mail ought to be open by this tune, e;
said Brandon, indihierently, looking AZ ~ ~
watch. II am somewhat curious 10 ss
how things are looking. noticed quGta
lions Of wool rather higher than oy ls'