The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-12-22

he had acquired the cynical, heartless man
ner OF a disappointed man; that wished hin
for friend no longer; and | was bidding hin
in a peremptory manner never TO allude tt
the subject again, when ] was interrupted by
the man servant, who entered at this moment
and handed him note.
"Pray what impertinence is this ?" he cried
reddening as he looked at the note. 'Maste
Laweyl Who the devil has brought this p
'Sir Thomas Humpleby's man, sir; and b.
Is waiting for an answer, II you please"
Lawley considered for an instant "Ill rine
for you" he said. when Eve written the re
ply"
Diminishing the man with these words, hi
tore open the note and read as follows:
"Wy Dear Boy Why, / have never seer
the man in my life, 1t must be mistake /!
MY old friend, your father, writes to say you
mas holidays. Lady HumpIeby and myself
will be delighted IL you will come on Christ.
mas Eve, and stay over Christmas Day
have written note to Mr.. Fosbery, to beg
him to excuse your absence" IConfound his
impudence u "and to say that will not fail
to send you back In good time on Thursday
morning. | fear ! shall not be able to send
the wagonetto for you ii the frost continues,
as ] have q preiudice against having my
horses sharpened; but the milk cart !"
Lawiey looked at me with face full Of such
serious CONSERVATION that ! could not help
bursting out laughing. "The milk Cart he
gasped, rs the note dropped from his hand.
picked it up and finished it.
"But the milk cart will be passing Furze
House at 5 o'clock, and | dare say you will
not mind coming up in that.
yours sincerely.
THOMAS HUMPLEBY."
In my minds eye ! pictured the thing
Lawley, the best whip in the country. who
had driven the st. Dunstan's drag to New
market on the Two Thousand day for two
successive years; Lawley, whose turnout
was 50 well known in the park; Lawlcy. the
exquisite, driving up to the door of Humpleby
Hail mo doubt full of visitors) in mik-cart
Come, Lawey," | said, sit Is evidently a
mistake. Sir Thomas thinks you area boy at
school. Pocket your dignity and write a civil
note accepting the invitation. You will enjoy
yourself, am sure"
He walked once or twice round the room In
thought and then said suddenly: Eyes, give
me Q sheet Of note paper; | will accept it, but
/ will do SO with dignity"
"Mr. Lawley presents his compliments to
Sir Thomas and Lady Humpleby, and begs to
thank them for their kind invitation Having
50 far exerted himself on paper, he seemed re-
lieved and disposed to view the matter more
complacentlyl, which he will be most happy
to accept. Mr.. Lawley begs that Sir Thomas
will not trouble to send any conveyance for
him, as he will drive ever in his own trap.
"Furze House, December "a, 1S41'
Il dare say he said, as he folded up the
note. lit will be very good fun. Better than
being cooped up here. at any rate"
j assented. and ] suppose must have done
so in rather q mournful tone; for Lawley,
with that good nature which is his true char
acteristic said Immediately:
by yove! Harry, old boy, | quite forgot
you Will be quite to yourself here: wont
go, of course: quite forgot. What selfish
beggar ami
just written, but | took it from him.
81 really should not be happy said. 'if
go In for bottle of their old port afterwards
0arcon on Christmas day! No: now l come
to think of it, don't care to go to this mans.
] believe him to he pompous, stuck-up old
fellow, and ten to one he has invited q set OF
people as disagreeable as himself. We will
spend Christmas together, Harry"
In vain urged him on no account to miss
SO good an opportunity. painted a glowing
picture of the delight Of Christmas eve in the
the inviting words, skating, Christmas cheer,
pretty girls, improvised dancing after dinner.
Ii was all to no purpose; he Stsrnly began to
write another note declining the invitation.
He had reached the middle OF the note.
when | saw him stop and smile. Soon he put
grin, and at last 1t became loud laugh. He
then rose deliberately, put the note into the
fire, and rubbed his hands, chucklng the
while with intense delight. At last he burst
out with:
Il have thought of the best Joke In the
world. We will both go | will go in my own
trap-at least hired one from Martingale's-
md you shall come as my servantr'
! was not disposed to jump at this proposal
with so much a ass " as he had Sqpposfd
De splendid fun for you! Great doings in the
servants hall-pretty maids and mistletoe-
coughs! You're capital actor, and they will
never find you out. Here, ring the bell.'
| have described above my personal appear
lnce, but have not touched on my character
las. | was one of those weakminded in
lividuals who are "eaSily led" Lawley could
ak me over to do anything. however absurd
might consider it on the first representation
On this occasion he did not give me time to
for after dispatching the note,
lie said
"Now to business no time to be lost Come
long to the tailors and get rugged out.
lon't mind if go halves In the Expense my
1t seemed tome only fair that he should 20
yholcs in the expense; but did not say 50,
or he talked away 50 vOlubly that 1t was i'm
possible to get o word in edgeways until we
ound ourselves in Cuttaway's shop. The
ailOr, brought out a grooms coat which he
lad IN stock; II was, 50 tight that ! could
hardly breathe in 1t; but Lawley said must
nut up with 1t, and SO | did. This, with
'eltt, stickup collar, q white cravat, breeches,
nd pair Of tops" borrowed from the shoe
makers completed the equipment.
PUT a black cockade In the hat, Cuttaway,"
aid Lawley as we left the shop; Il shall be |
4 her majestys service In a couple of months.
nd there is no harm in anticipating a little
And now to Martingale's to arrange about
he trap. Here was more difficulty still At |
rst he simply refused to let us have tan
EN- at all. He objected to have his horses
happened. If Mr.. Lawley insisted on it he
'ould put himself out to have pair"
harpened for the mail phacton II that would
nit him. But it did not suit Lawley. He
ad set his mind on astonishing Sir Thomas
[umbleby with a tandem, and tandem he
lust have. The man stuck to his determin-
ton for some time; but on Lawley's threat
ming never to pay his bill if he refused, he
hanged his tone, saying, "Well. | know as
w you can drive, Mr.. Lawley; but wouldn't
Q it for any one else, promise you"
recollect spent most of the night in i'm
yinary conversation between myself and
omcstsc servants Of different grades until at
st sank into q kind of doze, in which |
az rather uncertain whether | was in bed or
the servants hall whether | was Harry
uthbert, or Fibbins, Mr.. Lawley's man.