The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1878-03-26
THE COLONEL'S HEIR.

HUGH HUDSON was fortunately
alone when he broke the seal of the
following letter
DEAR SIR,--At the request of our
client, your great uncle, Col. Hugh Hud-
son, of Hudson Hills, 1t becomes our
unpleasant duty to inform you of his
desire that all communication between
yourself and his family should cease
from this date, and that you Will con-
,@ider yourself rs having, by your
conduct abroad, forfeited all claims of
interest or affection upon him. Your
own property, amounting to some fif-
teen thousand dollars, which he placed
in our hands for your use, some time
since, we have appropriated, as you re-
quested, to the payment OF your expen-
.es during your foreign tour; and 1t has
exactly sufiiced for that purpose, as the
iuclosed statement will show. You are,
therefore, left clear of debt, but other
wise unprovided for. Our client for
warded, with his communication, the
accom- panying check for five hun
ttred dollars, which he trusts will re-
5ieve you from any temporary inconve-
nience in this sudden change of affairs.
Trusting that you will not hold us, indi-
vidually, responsible for our clients
opinions, lin which we yet hope an al
teration may be effected and that you
will still continue to honor us with your
regard and confidence, and command us
whenever we can be of any service in
Your future career, we remain, etc.
Your obedient servants,
LECTION u LETToN,"
"A pleasant greeting home, " said Hugh
Hudson, tossing the letter aside. latter
ten years of absence L could scarcely
have had . colder reception from those
newfoundland icebergs, had we sunk
among them that foggy night, when we
never hoped to see our own dear land
sgain. Step.mother Fortune, it was
hardly kind to let me livel'
HALF sad, half smiling-for his cheer
4ul custom was to laugh at fate, and
gather courage where others found abun-
dant cause for despair-the young man
drew his writing-desk across the table,
and set himself seriously to the compo-
Stion of his reply-for this ungracious
epistle had been waiting for him week,
and could not be answered too soon.
The task was quickly done; brief but
tand note despatched to the old lawyers,
in which he acknowledged the receipt
of their favor" and thanked them for
their interest, without giving any init
nation of his future plans or prospects,
with an Enclosure for his uncle, in writ
fng which, some drops of moisture visit
ed his eyelashes-some pangs of bitter
and not undeserved regret assailed his
heart. Within the second of these let
ters he placed the five hundred dollar
check; and having carefully sealed
Them, 'ffoF the Last time" as he inward
y decided, with a handsome seal-ring,
iais WneVe's present, he promptly rose,
pushed his chair away, and walked over
TO the fireplace to get a full-length view
of his position
After, all, there is no great harm
DONE" he cried. / have ruined my
self, with nobody else to blame for it
that's all. Many man has done the
same before me; | must only go to work
and make myself over again. Thank
heaven am able to do it / am young
NbhOhS othh aStlNCs ShOuiu ioNC bISll
ashamed to depend on my uncle in any
oase--the dear old boy may keep his
money wanted only his good opin-
ion-and that will have yet, if it is to
be earnedl"
A beautiful English pointer, aroused
10y the unwonted commotion, thrust
her slender head into her masters hand,
and gazed mp into his face with look of
human affection and comprehension.
Both pair Of eyes were handsome; 1
hardly know which was most so, dogs
or mans; both were brown, clear, gem
>tle, velvety soft, and tender, yet capable
of lighting up with courage and keen
intelligence. They evidently under
stood each other; and Hugh was COM
forted by his friends silent sympathy,
for his spirits rose rapidly as he played
with her silken ears.
''We must take account of stock, Su-
sette," he continued, ''and see how near
the prodigal is to his husks.' Digging
IN his pockets with deep so!emnity, he
brought forth their contents, one by one
and laid them on the table before the
dog, who examined all with ludicrous
imitation of his earnestness, successive
ly rejecting them as inedible and unin-
viting. The pile of property was not very
imposing, even after being recruited
from his traveling-b bag. Handkerchiefs,
gloves, shirts, socks, and slippers, prop
erly belonging in the half-filled trunks