The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-11-05

the schools, the new pony-trap, and the
points of view, They treated me with re-
spect and consideration that was entlrely
novel, and for which suspected had to
thank my uniform (which had been I'M
plored to bring with mel, but which was
nevertheless gratifying. 1t was all very
pleasant and homelike, and quite forgot
how very much in love with Norah McCran
| had begun to be one short week ago in
Ballynoggin.
MY mother, in the pride of her heart,
took me to pay visits with her all over The
country, so that when the first Sunday came
round felt quite intimate with at least fal1
the congregation.
"Who was the funny old lady in yellow
bonnet and furs, sitting under the pulpit?'
asked after dinner.
"Miss Corbett of Brookwood" said my
mother. ''You know we called there on
Thursday, but she was out.
"And the little Niger with her?'
s'Oh! that's real African prince, her
| latest pet, son of Oko Jumbo, king OF Bon
| ny. She wanted a heather to convert, her
self, and the missionaries had no END OF
trouble to steal this one for her, as she IN
sisted on his being of good family Gertie
| explained.
'sShe's wild about pets," Freda continued,
"and she changes them once fortnight at
| least The place was just like the parrot
| house at the Zoo once, when we first came,
and the next thing we heard of her was that
| Dr. Burnaby was furious at being sent for
one winter night to see her kangaroos. The
climate wasn't agreeing with them. She
! kept tame snakes once, and they escaped
| and were never found. No one dared cross
| the park for months after, as they were sup
| posed to be hiding there"
| heard good deal more about Miss Cor
| belts eccentricities before long. She had
| taken a violent liking to my father, and
used to send for him constantly, much to
| Freda's disgust, as she had to drive him to
\ Brockwood, ssthe man." compound OF
f! gardner, butler and coachman, being in
| valided. The old lady's gravest considera-
| ton in life was the disposal of her large
| property, which was absolutely under her
| control. Her prospective heirs were as
| numerous as her pets, and nearly as often
changed. sShe'll end by dying inestate OF
| leaving everything to the county charities"
| my father used TO say on coming home from
one of the numerous interviews he had
| with her on the subject. ''She ought in
common decency to provide for her faithful
| old servants and that unlucky little African
| in her lifetime land so told her."
Next day it was: ssWeIl, think the old
| lady has made up her mind at last She has
| sent for her nephew from London-her natu-
| raj heir-and made will in his favor. 1t is
| all very right and nice. saw it signed and
/ witnessed, and the old one destroyed; that
| is her regular custom before she signs the
| new oue."
"What is the new one likepo asked Gertie.
| "Has he Gomez"
"Oh, such horrorr' broke in Freda, CLOCKS
| like a little Jew tradsman-and his man
ners are insufferable. | shan't go near
Brockwood again during Jonathan Marilli-
| er's stay"
"Marilherp' exclaimed, 81 thought /
had met with Brockwood before, but could
not imagine where"
s'What on earth are you talking aboutP"
said the girls together.
explained When had done Freda be
| gan: "That's the very Major Marillier that
| poor Miss Patty Payne-Miss Corbett's COM
panio,,--is always telling me about. Yes,
| he's a cousin, distant one, and four years
| ago was here on visit. Miss Patty goes in
| to wild raptures about him on small provo
cation. He was very kind to her, poor for
lorn little woman. Miss Corbett was de-
| lighted with him at first, and then quarreled
| furiously with him. / believe he used dis
| respectful language about her monkey"
1.-THE monkeyP shouted.
ssWhy, yes, she had one for a pet just
| then-a nasty, thieving, mischieyous crea-
| ture Every one hated it, and it ended by
| ousting poor Major Mariller Brockwood.
| Miss Patty doesn't know exactly what the
quarrel was about; but Miss Corbett called
| him a swindler and time-serving hypocrite
| one day at dinner, and he got up, said good
| bye to her quietly, and left the place at once.
| His luggage was sent after him-and the
| monkey. He left orders with the butler that
| if ever it was to be disposed of he'd like it.
| Next day Miss Corbett did nothing but cry
| and moan after him-saying he had deserted
| her. and that the monkey should be hanged.
So Parker, the Butler, took it away, and
soue io on w Majvl Maiiliior "ithonsstellias
| her."
When Freda stopped began my story,
| and had the satisfaction of seeing all the
| family as puzzled as myself.
| 81 wish your friend could be induced to
| make some advances to Miss Corbett," said
my father, sTm sure he would have good
| chance of the succession"
| 'That Marillier will never do,o replied,
emphatically. sHe is not that sort OF
| man.
9sIts shame,'' said Freda, Indignantly,
| srll speak to Miss Corbett myself to-mor-
| row f; know she likes me. No! you shall go
| and tell her what fine fellow her cousin is.
| Well drive over together"
| That interview never came off. Once only
| in our lives were Miss Corbett and l des-
| tined to meet. From the moment of Mr.. JON
| athan Marillier's arrival all outsiders like
ourselves were gently and unobtrusively
kept from approaching the poor old woman,
who looked feebler and shaker every Sun
day. Poor Miss Patty's eyes and nose bore
| signs of much weeping and we heard OF no
new pets being adopted.
One night came furious peal at the bell
and mounted groom delivered anote from
Miss Patty begging my father to come with
out delay. 'sIll drive you," l called out to
him, plunging into some clothes; and in
quarter of an hour we were on the road,
greatly wondering what had caused the
summons.
Lights were in the lockwood windows as
we drove up. "Oner' changed from the tall
clock tower over our heads as we passed I'M
der the echoing archway that led to the big
hall. Brockwood was rambling old red
sandstone pile smothered in ivy, looking
gloomy and ghost-ridden enough by daylight,
but positively gruesome in the small hours
was left by Parker, who shook his head
dolefully when Inquired after his mistress,
with one candle, in spacious vault OF a
dining room, surrounded by grim portraits
of dead and gone Corbetts, staring out white
from their ldingy backgrounds. The gloom
and the stiffness grew SO appalling that
fairly jumped when the door suddenly OPP
ened, admitting truly awful apparition,-a
figure with dissheveled black ringlets in
shawl pattern dressing gown, carrying bed
room candlestick.
"Mr. Marillier, Tpresume," retained suf-
ficient composure to remark.
eyes, I'm Mr.. Marillier, Miss Corbett's
only nephew. I've not the pleasure of your
acquaintance, sir, and at any other time
should be happy to make it; but for stran-
ger to be hers just now is-yon must excuse
my saying it-a-a species of intrusion"
''Miss Corbett sent an imperative sum-
mons to my father" replied.
"Most extraordinary! A very extraordi-
nary proceeding. am Miss Corbett's natu-
raj guardian and protector; Pm her nephew.
She only took the name of Corbett with the
property. Dear, dear! Rhoda ought to have
been here now; a lady can be of SO much
use-such pity to have brought your faith
er here at this time of the night And DR..
Burnaby refuses to allow me to see my aunt.
Dear, dear, it's such pity to detain you
hereT' and so on he maundered in a queru-
lous monotone while listened to the clock
Ginning the quarters, and wondered what
WAS going on.
Jonathan Marillier had talked himself to
sleep in his armchair when my father en-
tered hastily.
'sTom, my boy, we want you at once"
and he hurried me off. "Most extraordina-
ry freak of the dear old lady's! She has
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