New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-08-14

A pause, during which we all grew breathless
Marillier looked as imperturhable as ever IF
one will afford you satisfaction, MIR. OFlah-
erty, don't see how can in fairness refuse you.
keep the beast BECAUSE expect him some day to
be worth "a 900 year to me-
And that was all we ever got out OF him.
got leave in January, and started homeward
My father had been promoted to good living in
the country since left home, and the first week of
my visit was spent in seeing and being seen. My
sisters Freda and Gerte trotted me all over the
place, displaying the church, the COW. the pet old
women the schools. the new pony-trap and the
consideration that was entirely novel. and for
which | suspected had to thank my uniform
which was nevertheless gratifying. 1t. was all
very pleasant and home-lke and quite forgot
besu to- short to Week IN
pay visits with her all over the country. so that
when the first Sunday came round, felt quite In
| innate with at least half the congregation.
Who was the funny old lady in yellow bonnet
| and furs, sitting under the pulptT asked after
Miss Corbett, of Brockwood, said my mother.
You know we called there on Thursday but she
| And the little niger with herr
OH That's q real African prince, her latest pet,
| son of Ole Jumbo, King of Bonny. She wanted a
heather to convert herself, and the missionaries
had no end of trouble to steal this for her, as
she insisted on his being OF good family Gertie
She'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
OF 6r we rsf that % mTnabW Ma rs
being sent for winter night to see her kanga
| roOs The climate wasn't agreeing with them. She
kept tame snakes once and they escaped and were
never found. No dared the park for
months after, as they were supposed to be hiding
there
heard good deal more about Miss Corbett's
eccentricities before long. She had taken yio-
constantly, much to Freda's disgust as she had to
drive him to Brockwood-' the man a compound of
gardener, butler and coachman. being invaded.
The old lady's gravest consideration in life the
disposal OF her large property which was absolutely
under her control. Her prospective heirs were as
numerous as her pets, and rearly often changed.
She'll end by dying ntestate leaving every
thing to the county charities my father used to
say on coming home from one of the numerous in
terviews he had with her on the subject. She
engh1t in common deeeeney to provide for her faith
her lifetime, and SO told her.
Next day it was, Well. l think the old lady has
made up her mind at last. She has sent for her
| nephew from London-her natural heir-and made
will in his favor. 1t is all very right and nice /
stroyed that her regular custom before she signs
What's the one like p asked Gertic. Has
Oh, such horror broke in Freda looks like
little Jew tradesman-and his manners are lnsutfer-
able. shan't go near Brockwood again during
MIR; Jonathan MarillieI's stay
Marillier! exclaimed thought had met
What on earth are you talking about 2 said The
/ exp[a ned. When had done Freda began:
That's the very Major Marillier that poor, Miss
Patty payne-Miss Corbetts companion-is always
telling me about. Yes he's II cousin distant one,
and four years ago was here on a visit. Miss Patty
goes into wild raptures about him on small proyoca
ton He was very kind to her, poor forlorn little
woman. Miss Corbett was delighted with him at
first and then quarrelled furousy with him. l
believe he used disrespcctful language about her
monkey
The monkeyr / shouted.
~. Why yes, she had one for pet just then, nasty,
thieving, mischevous creature. Everyone la ted it.
aud it ended by costing poor Major Marillier Brock
wood Miss Patty doesn't know exactly, what the
quarrel was about-but Miss Corbett called him a
swlndler and a time serving hypoerite one day at
dinner AMI he got up. said good-by to her quito
politely. and left the place at once. His luggage
was sent after himl-and the monkey. He lett
posed of, he'd like it, Next day Miss Corbett did
nothing but cry and moan after him-saying he had
hangedIso Parker the butler, took away and sent
IL Oh TO MAJOR Marillier without telling her.
When Ereda stopped, | began my story, and had
the satisfaction of seeing all the family puzzled
, Il wish your friend could be induced to make
some advances to Miss Corbet,' said my father
I'm sure he would have good chance oil the sue
That Marillier Will never do replied emphat
lcaily. He's not that sort OF man
It's shame! said Freda. Indignantly. I'm
speak to Miss Corbett myself tomorrow | know
she likes me. No you shall 90 and tell h what n
line fellow her cousin is. Well drive over together
That interview never came off. Once only in our
lives were Miss Corbett and / destined to meet
From the moment of Mr.. Jonathan Marers
unobtrusivey kept from approaching the poor old
woman. who looked feebier and shaker every
Sunday: Poor Miss Patty's eyes and nose bore signs
oil much weeping, and we heard of pets
being adopted.
one lght came furious peal at the bell and n
mounted groom delivered note from Miss Patty
begging my father to come without delay. I'm
drive You. called out to him, pungin2 into some
clothes and in a quarter of an hour we were on
the road greatly wondering what had caused the
summons.
Lights were the Brockwood windows NJ we
drove up One" changed from the tall clock tower
over our heads as we passed under the echoinp
archway that led to the big hall. BrockwOod was "A
rambling old red sandstone pile smothered IN ivy
looking gloomy and ghOst-rdden enough bv day-
was left by Parker, who shook his head dolefuly
when inquired after his mistress, with one candle
grim portraits of dead and gone Corbetts, staring
out white from their diDgy backgrounds. The
gloom and the stiffness grew so appalling that
fairly juInl cd when the door suddenly opened ad-
hitting "a truly awful appariton--a figure with
dishevelled black ringets in shawl pattern
dressing gown, carrying bedroom candlestick
MT Marilher, pIesume,' l retained sufficient
compOsure to remark.
>, Yes, rm Mr. Marillier, Miss Corbetts only nephew
at any other time should be happy to make it but
for stranger to be here just now is-you must ex-
cuse my saying it-a-a species of intrusion
father replied.
Most extraordinary! A very extraordinary pro-
ceeding. am Miss Corbett's natural 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
father here at this time of night And Dr. Burnaby
refuses to allow Inc to see my aunt Rhoda should
have been here. but our baby--our ninth-is only
four days old or she should certainly have been
with her dear aunt Dear dear it's such pitv to
detaln yOu here! and on he mallndered in
qnernlous monotone while | listened to the clock
going on.
Mr.. jonathan Marillier had talked himself to sloan