The Worthington advance., 1882-09-14
NAY BUDD'S REVENGE.

shire lived the Rev. Maximus Greene,
the rector of the parish, and the father
ola numerous family of boys and girls.
The eldest of the brood was called An
tinous by his godfather, and as he grew
up to manhood his appearance justified
the provision ofhis sponsor. 4 fine, tall,
broad shouldered fellow, with neck
like bull, head like a cocoanut, tho
figure of an athlete and the face Of .
Greek god, no was the handsomest
young man to be found for miles around.
Conscious Of his power of limb and beau
ty Of face, he staggered like a French
drum-lnajor, looking as if he could lick
all creation if he chose and as if the
mcaner fry swarmins at his feet owed
their immunity from destruction solely
to his mercy. And assuredly he seemed
as if he were MISTER Of his own life
and the captain Of his own ship. But
III point Of fact, he was the weakest
creature that ever twir!cd a mustacl,c or
swore by Jinso or St. George he would
smash the six foot poacher or double up
that pct Of the prize ring. Whatever
might be tho solidity Of his physique,
morally he was nothing better than II
pumpkin, and any one with brains and
the knowledge how to use them could
circumvent him as easily as Ulysses cir
cumvcnted Polyphcmus. To women he
was as wax III the hand of the
mouldcr, rs tow in the flame of the fur
No fnn k<<, Il
Clcd, too scanty 20 wrap him from his
own will and bring him round to hers;
and he always declared that kisses need
cd no pedigree, and that II well turned
ankle was its own justification. The
weakest creature alive, he was also tho
vainest and greediest Of tattery. Moth
ing came amiss to him. Praise him for
his intellect and he lauLcd your perspi-
cacity and gave you credit for just SO
much intelligence as could appreciate
his own. Tell him YOU respected his
inc heart and, noble nature, his indie
pendcnce and integrity, and hG was
your slave. Let 4 woman look up into
his face and say, 'ilow handsome you
are" and he was her lover: let her pre-
tend to be his lover, and though she
were one of the most notorious birds in
the wood he believed in her devotion
and took it all for pure unsophisticated
passion, born Of his charms and due to
his merits. With such nature as his.
then, it may we'll be supposed that his
amourettes were legion; but among
them all he loved only one sincerely.
and this was Miss May Budd, the duug!:-
ter of the market gardner Of his fathers
parish. But he had just common sense
enough to know that he could never 90
l>nS l,o<< D1 nC l..
family, and with Il face and figure that
should make his fortune, it was folly.
and would be suicide. to marry NAV
Budd, with nothing but her pretty eyes
and the percentage to be got out of her
fathers cabbages. Still, he had not suf-
lcicnt resolution to cut the matter short:
and whenever he came down on leave
to the old place he hung about MAY
Ruld Il great deal more than was wise
in him 10 do or prudent in her to al
low.
The grande dame Of the parish was.
undoubtedly, my Lady Julia Lam}kin.
Now, my Lady Julia had seen her best
days and had passed her grand cli,n,c-
tcric. She was sixty-six, ifa day, with
"a past that wonlu scarcely bear mi
croscope, the remains Of beauty deity
patched and repaired by Fay and her
own maid, Il title, great connections and
aJolnture which Was an Ell Dorado to u
man like Antinous Greene, with moth
ing but his pay as lieutenant in the
Hcavies, and more debts in pounds than
he had pence whcrewith to liquid:,,e.
Lady Julia Lambkin was by no means
one OF those who think, with Solomon,
that there is a time for everything
love among the rest-or it she did, then
did she not believe that her time for
love had passed, and that she ought to
bc contcntcd with memories. of which
She had goodly store. She had been
too much accustomed to admiration in
the years gone by to be able to put Nd
with the chimney corner and regrets:
AND AntlnOus Greene was ready made to
her hand. Weak, he was to be 1:.ttered :;
lHPccunlous, nc wi,o to be bought !:
handsome !, and young, he was desirable !;
Il bachelor, he was possible. On all ac-
counts then he was Lady julia 1ambkin's
affair, aud she set herself to spread hcr
ar IS for this magnificent human peacock
who would, she thought, make such u
deil@i!tful addition to her household.
IL should like to make your fortune" :"
Sue sand to Antinous, with a fond look
in her blcared old eyes which the an
timony round the lids made fearful to
behold: with your talents, my dear
AIr. Greene, you ought to be a general
before you are thirty"
1t was in the days of purchase and
promotion by private interest.
Antinous wagged his small head. while
fatuous smile stole over his handsome
fi,cc.
"Worse men have been promoted"
nc said, with artful motlcsty. "But mer-
It goes for very little ut the Horse
Guards, and un fortunately / am not
rich: My fathers large family keeps us
all short" >
eyes, l know" said my Lady Juli:. :;
<'but I am not poor and | have no chill
tlrcn."
She hung her head rs sho said this.
and looked down ON the ground will:
touching sweetness.
"By George, wish she would make
nc her SON" thought Antinous, squecz.
ing her hand.
"And should like to be of use to
you, continued Lady Julia.
"lon arc an angel of goodness" an
swercd Antinous.
~ should like to see you general, y
she said warmly.
81 should like to bo one," he answered
naivc!y.
"Wou1d your" she returned languish-
insiy; but something that was not Ian
gushing came into her eyes, and for the
moment oyerpowered the ghast.y effects
of the antimony.
II would not disgrace my uniform, -
raid Antinous.
"You would honor it, my DEAR" sale.
the lady, as she laid her white and
shriyclcd hand carclessly into his.
"You are too good," he answered
kissing her we'll preserved finger
tips.
''Shall work for you now? Shall l
make your fortune and insure your
advancement" she then asked, leaning
little heavily against his shoulder.
mo one could do it SO well, and to no
one should I be more grateful" was his
reply.
'Thcn is that understood? I am to
use my influence to gain you prOmOtiOn7
And you-what will you do for me in re-
turn, Antinous."
Her voice fell as it fingered on his
name. She had never called him by it
before.
.'Wha. shall I do" said the young man,
CALAMITY; but his voice was not 80 dulcet
hovc 0v,xl l,sc Eonr< ,,,oo q, ~..~.A Ill