The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-03-16
THE NEW ORLEANS DEMOORAT SUNDAY MARCH 49, 1879

rather boisterous, I suppose, In the country
different In town."
Nelly made no reply Jabez had inspire
her with fear and repugnance It was not s
much his rough manner, as certain revolt
ing coareeness that made her shudder at hi
touch The presence OF this man greatly In
| tensitied the autipathy she already felt TO
the house and it's inhabitants.
There was one consolation, however. The!
had a private room, and Nelly resolved Il
| keep to it pretty closely-at least while Jabe
was at home.
The next day being rainy, and her mothe,
being very unwell from the fatigue OF thu
| journey, she had an excellent excuse for ad
herring to this resolve.
Sampson brought her apologies from his
son for his behavior of the previous night.
You must not mind him. he said. HE
l9 little boiSterous-a rough diamond, but
you will like him when you know him better
All the ladies do, and l am sure you won't be
an exception"
The next day Nelly ventured down to din
ner, but Jabez was not present.
he evening proving remarkably fine aid
balmy for the time OF year, leaving her
mother asleep upon the couch In front OF the
fire In their own room, she strolled out toward
sunset into the fields, and had proceeded some
distance when she perceived the night was
closing in, and the mists from the fen lands
around we're beginning to rise.
She now quickly retraced her steps, but by
the time she entered the gates it was nearly
dark. She was still some distance from the
house, when figure suddenly emerged from
behind q elump of bushes and advanced to-
ward her. She could not repress slight
shrek.
Don't be frightened. little popsy; it's only
Cousin JabeZ, said thick voice.
Dark as it was she could perceive that his
face was flushed and swollen, as II he had
been drinking
She tried to pass ;him, but he blocked the
way and caught her hand,
When Nelly entered the house few min
utes afterward, she was white as ghost, and
trembling 80 she could scarcely stand
The next morning Mrs. Armytage sent for
her sister to come to her room.
Rebecca had heard nothing, but she could
perceive, from the excited expression Of the
others unusually languid features, that some
thing had TRANSFERRED.
She was not long kept in ignorance OF the
meaning. Jabez had grossly insulted Nelly
the previous night as she was coming through
the grounds, and Mrs. Armytage poured
forth her Just wrath In no measured terms.
How dared you bring me and my dear, In
nocent child beneath the.same roof with such
a ruf1ian?" she exclaimed. From this time
forth | wash my hands OF you all, and leave
your house this very hour"
Rebecca spoke no word, moved not mus
Gle, bat with lowered eyes stood listening to
her sisters v1tuperatiOnS until she was eX-
hausted. Then, without making any reply,
quilted the room.rs
II told you that wretched william, that I
blush TO call son, would finish our ruin p
she said to her husband.
And then she repeated to him all that her
sister had said.
"Bahi" he answered. 1.-THE boy only tried
to latch kiss from the squeamieh little
fool"
''That kiss will cost US dear. The girl Ia
packing up for their departure"
She may pack, but they don't leave this
house to-day, nor tomorrow, nor till /
choose!'. cried Armstrong.
For Heavens sake, no violencep exclaim-
ed Rebecca, with terrified look.
He grasped her arm and sank his voice al
most TO whisper as he spoke:
This Is no time for scrupleS or silly fears
1t Is neck or nothing with us now. Unless
I've large sum OF money within sixty DAYS
we shall be sold up and cast upon the world
without shilling or friend to help u.s. We
have one chance-this girls becoming Jabez's
wife. We must risk something, and II we
can't get the better OF two silly, frightened
women, we deserve to die in kennel2'
Rebecca sank down shivering into a seat.
From long and bitter experience she had
learned the uselessness of opposing herself
to this mans will.
Then he left her and went up to Mrs. Army-
tages room, knock d and entered.
His reception was far worse than even
that OF his wife. In vain he fawned and sup
plicated, and almost went down upon his
knees to apologize for JabeZS behavior, and
pledged himself most solemnly that for the
future the ladies should be treated with the
most profound respect. Mrs. Armytage was
until her unusual agitation threw
her into fit Of Mysteries, which was followed
by utter prostration.
"You cannot go to-day" said Rebecca to
Nelly, "unless You want your mother to die
before you get TO the end of your Journey"
And there seemed to be much reason to
believe that such would be the result of any
further agitation or fatigue to the sick
woman.
50, with sinking heart, Nelly had to con-
sent to remain, at least until the next day
Rebecca made no attempts to conciliate
her; she could play the hypocrite but poorly,
and her proud, bitter spirit had been SO stuDg
by words her sister had uttered, that she had
only gall and NORWOOD for both. But Samp-
son assumed an air of the deepest soIicitude
and compassion.
When the Armstrong; descended to their
sitting-roouI, Jabez, who had only Just come
down, was seated at breakfast.
His mother, with a bitter look OF scorn
turned upon her heel and left the father and
son together.
"Jabez, you made fool of yourself last
night" said Armstrong, advancing to the
table and cycling his son with a scowl.
"Yes, replied. the other, indifferently; 81
was little too fast. I'd been taking an extra
glass. Has the little fool split? 1t was only
a struggle for a kiss, after all p
Yes; and there's been fine scene this
The mother insisted upon quitting
the house, and would have tried hard for it.
too, IL she hadn't been seized with fainting
fits"
That's just what you'll have, old man,
when you read thatv said Jabez, handing
him an open letter. johnson swears that he
will put in an execution tomorrow morning
II you don't Tie up a hundred pounds before
10 o'clock tonight"
II could just as soon give him hundred
answered Armstrong, with con-
tracted brows.
1T must be got somehow
"How?"
Suppose we were to borrow Mother Army
tage's trinkets 7"
The two men gazed at each other silently
for a moment
Then the elder remarked:
They are never out of their room both to-
gether, and they lock and bolt the door at
night; and they will be particularly careful
10 do 80 after your foolhai diness last night"
"Humph! Yes; but think we can manage
it,, answered Jabez, with cunning grin.
Much to her relief, Nelly saw no more of
her aunt and uncle that day; and her mother,
entirely overcome by such excitement as she
had perhaps never known i'm all her life ha-