Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1878-06-27

Mr.. Audrey looked wooden and
imperturbabie. 10 him every phase
cf human roguery and duplicity
seemed not only possible, but proba-
BILE.
.sBut l won't stand it," cried the
old lady, growing more and more
excited, "I'll teach him a lesson"
"You will cut off supplies, ma'am?'
said Mr.. Audrey, interrogativeiy.
"No-oh, no!'' said Mrs. Castle
thorpe scratching her nose with the
point of her crochet needle, ''Pll
let him have the five hundred dollars
| promised HIM. l am person of
my word, whatever he isl with an
accent of infinite scorn. But, An
urey, / haven't told you about the
worst debt of all -
Indeed, ma ann"
Ills landlady's daughter-a poor,
little, blue-eyed thing, with her head
hanging down, and the prettiest yell
low hair l ever saw-came here yes
terday. He owes her heart!"
Borrowed, ma'amf" said Lawyer
Audrey, with a twinkle Of his dark
eyes.
"Well. yes" assented Mrs. Cas-
tlethrope, grimly. Engaged him
self to her while he boarded there.
Dropped her completely when he was
able to remove to more aristocratie
quarters. Broke her poor, little
heart. Bien. he shall mend it again. "
"Co you think it is probable,
ma am? asked Mr.. Audrey, rather
obviously.
II will make 1t probable!' said
Mrs. CastlethoIpe. resoluteiy.
"You'rc not engaged to dinner for
tomorrow evening, are you. Mr..
Andrey:"
Il believe not"
"Pray, give us the pleasure ofyoIr
company, them" said Mrs. Caste
thorpe AT six precisely. To meet
my nephew Jerome, and select few
of his trienGs."
Full dress: asked the lawyer.
"Oh. of course." said Mrs. Cas-
tlcthorpc, briskly.
/ And jerome Mordaunt, lounging
over French novel IN the elegant
secld,ion Of his apartments, was puz-
lied at the II, te he received from his
rich aunt.
| Dear jerome: Come to dinner
at six tomorrow night, and we will
have a little talk over your affairs.
The five hundred dollars will be
ready. Your aflcctionate aunt.
CONSOLATION CAsTLETH0RPE.
The old lady is coming 20 her
senses ch - said he folding the billet
into the shape of n cigar lighter
We'll, I'm glad of that. | couldn't
have kept up the campaign much
longer without ammunitioni I'll be
there punctual to the minute, dear
Aunt Conny may be quite sure!''
He was good rs his word At six
to the second, he bowed himself de-
bonai' Iy into Mrs. Castlethorpe's
old fashioned dlning-room -old-fash-
toned. but emincntly comfortable.
4 fire of anthracite coal, glowed and
cracked in the CRATE wax candles
shone with white lustre in silver can
delabra, and a large centre-piece of
flowers dcckcd the middle of the
beard. while solid silver glass orna-
mcnted with a monogram, and pain
ted china were arrenged to the best
advantage. Mrs. Castlethorpe was
rich, and she liked to show it.
"Oh." it's you, Jerome is it?"
sail she. pray walk in. Take
that seat at the head of the table.
You are my guest of honor tonight.
JONES'" to the old butler, "show in
nv other friendS.'
And while Jerome Mordaunt was
marveling what this unusual polite
ness could portcnd, old Jones threw
open the folding doors, and in march
ed Lawyer Audrey, followed by
Stitchem the tailor, In his Sundays
best, Mrs. Riordan, the waserwoman,
in surprising mob-cap. Lastly, the
consumptive little bootmaker, Hig-
gins, the jeweler, Pricken, the cigar
merchant, and Spill, the wine-dealer.
While last, but not least, followed
Mrs. Nuttingdale, the boarding
housekeeper, and her pretty, blush
ing daughter, Ruth.
Mrs. Castlethorpe stood in stately
dignity at her end of the table, while
Jones marshaled the miscellaneous
crowd of guests to their seats, Jer-
ONE sprang from his chair with low,
muttered exclamation at first, but
seated himself again. Evidently he
was Gin for it," to use popular and
most expressive phrase, and the only
way was to make the best of bad
bargain.
The dinner progressed. Fish sue
ceeder soup-game and entrees fol-
lowed fish-elegant side dishes came
and went, and with the grapes, pine
apples, and ices, came rare wines and
champaign. Mrs. Castlethorpe rose
with the dignity of a hostess of the
old school.