The Morning herald., 1877-01-06
CORD AND CRgRSR.
CHAPTER XVIII.
INou1RIn.

/! .Dvt INQUIRIES.
30 many years had elapsed since Bran
don had last been in the village which
bore the family name that he had no fea,
Of being recognized. His features had pas.
sed from q transition state into their
maturer form, and, a thick beard and
mustache, the growth Of the long voyage
covered the lower part Of the face like a
mask. His nose which when he left, had q
boyish roundness Of outline, had since be-
come refined and chiseled into the straight
thin Grecian type. His eyes alone remain
ed the same, yet the expression had grown
different, even as the soul that looked forth
through them had been changed by exper.
ience and by suffering. ,..a
He gave himself out at the inn az an
American merchant, and went out to begin
his inquiries. Tearing two buttons off his
coat, he entered the shop Of the village
tailor. ..... s-,t -,
Woodworking" said he, civilly.
"Good-morning. Sir; fine morning, Sir,"
answered the tailor, volubly. He was a
little man, with cast in his eye, and on
looking at Brandon he had to put his head
on one side, which he did with aquick, odd
gesture. ....
"There are two buttons of my coat, and
I want to know if you can repair it for
meW (
Certainly, Sir; certainly. Take off
your coat, Sir, and sit down." a
1.-THE buttons" said Brandon, "are lit
tie odd; but if you have not got any exact
ly like them, anything similar will do"
"Oh, think we'll fit you out, Sir. I
think we'll fit you out" rejoised thetailor,
briskly.
He hustled about among his boxes and
drawers, pulled out large number of art.
icles, and finally began to select the buttons
which were nearest like those on the coat.
"This is fine little village" said Bran
don, carelessly.
Eyes, Sir: that's fact, Sir; that's just
what every body says, Sir.
"Wbat old Hall is that which 1 saw Just
outside the villagef
"Ah, Sir, that old Hall is the very best
in the whole country. 1t is Brandon Hall,
Sir"
Brandon Hall"
eyes, Sir"
II suppose the village takes the name
from the Hall-or is it the Hall that is
named after the village?"
well, neither, Sir. Both of them were
named after the Brandon family"
us it an old family? 1t must be, of
course"
1.-THE Oldest in the country, Sir"
Il wonder if Mr.. Brandon would let
stranger 90 through his grounds ? There is
. bill back of the house that should like
to see."
"Mr. Brandon !" exclaimed the tailor,
shaking his head "Mr. Brandon There
amt no Mr.. Brandon now p
"How is that?''
'Gone, Sir-ruined-died out"
Then the man that lives there now is
not Mr.. Brandon?
Nothing of the kind, Sir He, Sir
Why he isn't fit to clean the shoes of any
Of the old Brandonsv'
who is he ?"
His name, Sir, is Potts."
Potts That doesn't sound like one oil
your old country Names,
II should think not, Sir. Potts Why.
slr, he's generally believed in this here
community g: to be villain, Sir" said the
ilttie tailor, mysteriously, and with the |
look Of man who would like very well
to be questioned further.
Brandon humored him. ''How is thatp'
LIS long story, Sir"
Oh, well-tell it. I have great curl
oslty to hear any old stories current in |
your English villages. I'm an American,
ana English life is new to me-" |
!, II bet you never heard any thing like
TINS in all your born days." |
"Tell it then, by all means"
Ihe tailor jumped down from his seat,
went mysteriously to the door, looked
cautiously out, and then returned.
IT'S just as we'll to be q little careful" |
said ne, "for if that man knew that was
talking about him he'd take it out of me
quick enough, tell you." w..
1on seem to be afraid Of him."
We're all afraid of him in the village,
and hate him; but hope to God he'll
Patch it yetp -"
How can you be afraid Of him, You
VI Sy say that this il free country"
80 man, Sir, in any country, is free ex-
eept he,s rich. Poor people can be op-
pressed In many ways; and most of us are
"a ~ one way or other dependent on him.
Me |,,s nate him all the worse, though. But
Fu tell you about him." Nr
Yea, 60 on" "' 't"e
We'll, Sir, old Mr.. Brandon, about
|Nenty years ago, was one of the richest
aen IN the country. About fifteen years
go the man Potts turned up, and however
pe old man took fancy to him never
Oold see, but he did take fancy to him,
ut a.! MS money in some tin mines that
WIS had started, and the end Of it was