The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1879-10-29
THE TRANsFUsED TRANSFORMED
JAMES PAWN.

If you live in Downshire and do not know
the IF iendells of iendell court, you are
unknown indeed; the circumstance of their
name being spelt with two little is. and pro-
nounced Fendall. stamps it with a peculiar
aristocracy Radicals, indeed-persons who
interest themselves in roots-assert that there
was at one time such thing as a capital in
our alphabet, and that it indicated by
the duplication of the small letters. As intel
ligence increased capitals were invented, and
the last persons to use them were of course
the most illiterate, so the retention of the two
small is is not, intellectually speaking, a
feather in the f iendell cap. On the other
hand, as token of antiquity, it Is invaluable
The possession of a name that nobody can
pronounce without instruction is also obvi-
ously great inheritance, and in this case it
was the more valuable, since there is no
cord of f iendall of Downshire haying
been distinguished in any other way. eThe
family had shourished' for centuries, in the
sense that an old tree is said to flourish, and,
like it, most of it was underground.
Sir Godfrey Fendall flor we will take the
liberty of spelling his it was pro-
nounced as though he were an ordinary
Christian), the present tenant of the court,
was widower, childless, and stricken in
years The long line which had moved as
directly as pawn in chess for so many
generations had ut last failed, and the sue
cession was going aslant; nay, even zigzag-
like the knights move-to second cousin,
young Percival Fendall of Lincoln's Inn,
barrister-at-law. His father had subsisted on
a very moderate property, the income from
which had in no way become supplemented
BY the head of the family and had bequeathed
it in a reduced condition to his son. The
former had discovered by bitter experience
that the fact of his name being spelt with
two IS did not enhance its financial value at
the back of bill; while the latter was seri-
ouslv thinking of discarding the popularity
altogether, as an atfectation out of which
nothing had ever come but ridicule, when
suddenly old Geoffrey, acting under advice
(not legal but medically, awoke to the fact of
his heir-presumptive's existence. He wrote
from Downshire with his own hand to invite
Percival to Fendall Court.
Most Young men would have jumped at
such an offer, nor was Percival himself by
any means blind to its possible advantages;
but he was a man of that disposition which,
in poor people, is called obstinacy, in per-
sons of moderate means, firmness, and in
rich people, determination of character.
Thanks to nobody but himself, he was sure
lv. but slowly, making his way in the world,
and he was not disposed to barter his indie
pendence, even for the reversion of the fam
lily estate This was not entailed upon him,
but it would have been contrary to all trs-
dtions of the house with the two IS that
Cousin Godfrey should leave it to any other
person than the natural heir. The young
man knew in fact, that unless he gave his
kinsman some grave cause of offense, he
would one day reign in his stead. Would it
not be better, therefore, as he had not an
idea in common with the old squire, that
they should keep apart, so that ofense
~ I'll vol nj,
did not wish to go to Downshire. 1t was
November, and, since he was no sportsman
he greatly preferred London at that season
to the country; Just now, indeed, he prefer
red il at all seasons, from the circumstance
that it contained, in Gloucester Place, 8
Young lady called Mary Blake, whose name
it was his intention to change to Fendal
with one Fl as soon as his income had be
come sufficient for him to marry upon.
Her father was hop merchant, and N,
doubt given to speculation in his own line
but strongly opposed TO contingencies in con
nection with his daughters settlement in life
He had ut first refused to take Percivaps grea
expectations into consideration Mt all; bu
when this invitation came from the old bar
onet he had visibly thawed, and even helt
out hope that he might not now insist upor
seeing Percivals ledger, setting forth that h
hadreceived in fees; ETC., at least $500 year
before he would give consent to his daughter
marriage.
To the young man himself this relaxation
of Mr. Blake's proviso gave much less salts
faction than that gentleman had anticipated
In his own mind he was persuaded that tn
match would be disagreeable to Sir Godfrey
and render his expectations even less promis
ing than before; and this was ONE of tn
reasons that made him incline to be yer,
dutiful to his venerable cousin at distance
and through the medium of the postoffice
He did not like the old gentleman; he ha,
resented the GOODNESS he had shown to hi
father: and he did not appreciate the over
lures now made to himself, which he thor
oughly understood were not owing to an,
personal regard, but only because eircum
stances had made him the sole surviving
member of the house of the two fs At tn
same time he was much too sensible I
throw away the brilliant prospects whic
had thus unfolded themselves to his view
he could retain them with self-respecf an
without much inconvenience. Although
very unworthy descendant of his race q
regarded the belief in their blue blood
which he looked upon either as imaginary
or as a very serious physical silment-he ha
inherited strong indisposition to be bore
or troubled Old Sir Godfrey himself, wit
his 100000 year and an obedient count,
did not like being aput out Iaore than h
did, and when he was annoyed he took q
little pains as his great kinsmsn to concea
it. Such men are, socially speaking, til
very salt of the earth, who among a worl
Of snobs and toadies speak the plain trut
TO its little tyrants, even if they do not sue
coed in teaching them how to behave then
selves. But Percival had no sense Of apps
tleship whatever. He simply liked his ow
way as his betters did, and-since his amb
ton was limited-almost as often got it
man who did not walk, and look and spea
as if the street belonged TO him, but rather q
if be did not care one-half-penny (which wa
the case, to whom it did belong. Mor'
over, his father had been no " tenth tram
Initter off foolish race" and this youn