The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1878-08-07
THE STORY OF a LETT Err.
BY JULIA KAVANAGH.

Every one has heard of Sir Johr
Percy's great lawsuit. 1t is great
trouble to Sir John. At least ht
says so his first, be calls it; but
always thought his troubles began
with his name. He claimed to be q
real Percy. Illnatured people said
that his grandfather had been q
green grocer this may be true, or il
may not, but never knew more
honorable, undetermined man than
Sir John, and | mean to say that
whatever his real origin, the Percv's
might have been proud of such q
kinsman. There would, therefore,
have been little harm in his claim ol
noble descent, which no one had ev-
er dreamed of opposing, if good Sir
John had no thought fit to strength
en- it by assuming the temper and de-
pertinent of Hotspur One of his ia.
vori.e theories was "race," and the
transmission of hereditary peculiar
tiles.
"My dear Sir john" | argued
once, "allow me to tell you that type
changes. Keen observers tell us that
there is periodic alteration in man.
He passes from the nervous system
to the plethoric, and hence, phvsiolo-
gists declare, spring those cycles OF
disease which are one OF the puzzles
of modern science"
You should have heard Sir John
laugh "My good fellow" said he,
you know nothing about it. Go to
Rome; you will find Measalina or
Faustina in the Capitol, in old dis
colored marble, and you will also
find her in the streets with a silver
arrow in her hair, looking at you no
longer with cold stony eyes, but with
pair or sparkling black ones. Nay.
more, l have seen the pure Etruscan
type in Rome, girl whom you could
have painted on vase holding q
mystic serpent In her hand. But
need We go so far Look at me Am
not one OF the old Percys in phys
iognomy as well as in blood? And
unluckily for ne, have | not got
that dreadful Hotspur temper which,
as it cannot be vented ia rebellion,
or on battlefield, has brought this
eternal lawsuit on my hands 2"
| groaned, for about one part OF
this statement there could be no
doubt; it was the Hotspur temper
that had brought on the lawsuit, and
as / candidly believe that Sir John
acquired that temper to prove his
descent from the same ilIustrious line
as gave Chevy Chase its hero, and
Lord Douglas his enemy, | am jus,i-
fed in my assertion that bis troubles
began with his name.
Among the troubles Of Sir John
there was one which seemed to me
as real as his relationship to the
Percys. He complained that all his
letters lid not reach him, and be laid
the blame to his legal opponents. AT
FIRST he concluded that they had an
agent at the Post Office then he
gave up this crotchet for one as i'm
probable, but at least more plausible;
the agent was not in the Post Office,
but out of it and it was bis habit
to waylay the postman, and either
bribe or drug him, as he might find
most convenient, then abstract Sir
Johns letter-for this knowing agent
never took but one letter, though, of
course, it was always the right one.
This explanation of his losses, how.
ever, had to be given up as well as
the first; and Sir Johns third and
last conclusion was the saddest and
most ominous Of the three, SO far, at
least, as his peace Of mind was con-
cerned; be declared that the agent
was one OF his three female servants
His only man servant, James, was
incorrup,ible but Mrs. Green, the
housekeeper Ann, the cook. and
Martha, the house-maid, did not, un-
luckily, belong to that immaculate
category. They were changed re-
peatedly-Mrs. Geeen became Mrs
Long, Ann and Martha turned into
Eliza and Mary, Bramah lock was
adapted to the letter-box; but letters
important letters, said Sir John
all referring to his lawsuit-contin
ued TO be lost, or, what came TO ih'
same thing, not to reach him.
j ! began to feel staggered. 81
John was positive, and though yer.
angry, he preserved q sort Of calm
ness in his anger which was unlik