The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-01-12
SATURDAY, JAN. y, 1873.

world.
And well have the Graces since indicated
their claim to popular esteem. | fearlessly
appeal to all accessible archives in proof of
what l allege. How faithful is every Grace,
usually, to the traditions of her name! How
rarely have we to deplore the coming to seri-
GUS grief of one so sweetly called. Was ever
Grace divorced, except, peradventure! from
luDatic lord? Has society once had to
blush for kleptomaniac Grace? Doth she
smoke or tipple? Is she beheld gloating
over the dovicides of Nottingham, or heard
lamenting that her sex large as is its present
iatitude) forbids that pastime in which
horses shns are battered their mouths
spoiled, their tempers ruined, and the laws
for their supposed protection openly VIC
lated, under the name of Polo? Never.
Where Grace is cruelty and self are not
Love, peace, charity inseparably companion
her, and all these are comprehended in her
delicious name.
Grace Darling was an appellation worthy
of the young heroine who bore it. But when
l changed Grace Fairlocks (Which became
the wearer welD into Grace Sweetloye (Which
became her better l latter myself that, in
point of melody, Miss Darling had to yield
the palm.
The espousal of Gratia Fairlocks and my
self, Adolphus Sweetlove, could not be stig-
matized as mercenary. Neither of the con-
tracing parties coveted the others wealth.
money at ALL or less. For, albeit Miss Fair
locks enjoyed net income of one hundred
and thirty pounds year, she had impigno-
rated that revenue for three years to come,
in consideration of an immediate payment OF
two hundred and twenty pounds, for the sole
purpose, it would appear, of losing this lat
ter sum in certain undertaking which, on
the eve of floating triumphantly into the
market, stuck in the mud, and that of so
clinging a character that the directors are
not, to this day, purged of the consequences
of the immersion.
My own pecuniary resources were even
less ample than Grace's. | was, to own the
TRUTH Slightly in debt, and at the epoch of
my marriage | had at my command Just
thirty-five pounds sterling! For the better
comprehension of the following singular
tale must recur, very briefly, to the circum-
stances of my ante-nuptial life.
On the death of my parents, which oc-
CURED during my absence on service in In
dia, found myself in the somewhat unusual
position of scarcely possessing blood rela
ton in the world. | could, indeed, boast
(but rarely did) of an uncle, my mothers
only brother, Mr.. Lewcraft. But this gentle
man, for all legitimate avuncular ends, might
as well have fourished in another age.
Mr. Lewcraft's country seat, Fountain
Violet, was perched upon bleak hill, over
looking the entrance of western harbor re
nowned in past days for sending forth many
hardy mariner, sometimes to defy his coun
try's foes, sometimes its excise, for the very
formation of the rocky sea-faee, and the char
sacter of the adjacent country, marked it out
as spot expressly designed by the foresight
of nature for an important run.
Wherefore Fountain Violet no man
knew Fountain there was none; nor even
hedge or bank on the wind-swept down un
der which violet could nestle. The edifice
itself was, as to its outside, low-browed and
forbidding; as to its interior, dark and
draughty, full of echoes, strange wind whis-
ties and melancholy croaking sounds, as if
the aged mansion, conscious OF its tendency
to collapse, was debating with itself whether
1T should try yet another tussle with Time
My uncle had acquired this cheerful prop
erty for very moderate sum; the mansion,
in addition to its other attractions, having
the reputation of being haunted. Mr.. Lew
craft was understood not to discountenance
this rumor. Owing, it was whispered to some
grievous wrong or disappointment in early
life, the lord of Fountain Violet lived the life
of misanthrope, and was more than sus-
pected of being a miser, too.
An avenue of stunted lines representing
almost the only vegetable life of the domain,
communicated with narrow path winding
down the cliff and ending in a little sheltered
cove just within the harbor's mouth, of a
size sufficient to contain any vessel up to
100 tons. Herein lay the link that still con-
nected Mr. Lewcraft with the outer world
He had always loved the sea, and wooed it in
all its changeful moods with the serene in
diligence of a lover From harbor punt he
had proceeded to a stout fishing wherry, and
at length became the master of a splendid
forty fve-tOn cutter yacht, now snugly
berthed in the little natural harbor Just de-
scribed.
On board this vessel my uncle was known
to spend the greater part of his very ample
leisure. What he did there, even at times
when it was manifestly impossible to put to
sea, was subject of much speculation to
the seafaring youth of the neighborhood,
who, weather-bound themselves, devoted
their idle hours to vain efforts to penetrate
the proceedings of the "Ogre," for by that
agreeable title was the lord of Fountain Vio-
let popularity known, partly from his mystic
rious prowling ways, partly from the fact
that the unsparing dentist, Time, had with
cruel pleasantly, punched out every alter
nate tooth in Mr.. Lewcraft's head, thereby
xmpartiDg to his countenance an aspect of
greed and ferocity.
Work of some sort was at all times going
on in the Cockatoo. Gossip affirmed that Mr.
LewcratJ had conceived theory connected
with the stowage OF ballast, which, when per-
fected, would be likely to work a complete
revolution in that essential feature His table
at Fountain Violet was known to be strewn
with models, sketches, diagrams, calcula-
lions, all bearing upon the point IN question.
But the nature of the invention or discovery
was inexorably confined to the proprietor
himself, and TO a certain shaggy old sea.dog
of morose manners who had obtained his
discharge from the coast-guard to take com
mand Of the Cockatoo.
think have only to add that my uncle's
modest establishment at this period con.
sisted of an aged cook, believed to have no
other name than Louisa (by the itinerant fish
merchants, with whom she occasionally
drove hard bargains, roughened into
"Squeezer,") and younger lady who did
the meaner chores, and was, thanks to her
prodigious stature but scraggy form, famil.
1iarly accosted as Maypole Mol.
fly back on Loves wings to my Grace.
Our formal betrothment, l would here re-
cord, took place at the theater during a
scene in which Mr. Irving (for whom, though
j don't know him, have ever since cher
ished a warm personal attachment), in a
brisk conversation with one Lady Anne,
dwelt strongly on the expediency of sud.
den and definite engagement. We felt the
justice OF his arguments, we gazed in each
Others eyes, we returned to our respective
homes aflianced.
Now arose the question Of means At a
cabinet council, held in the beautiful gar.
sdens OF the Star and Garter, Richmond, the