St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1883-11-17


you know who Mrs. A. was. OF course?''
Mrs. Annerly! No! Who was she?"
inquired Sam, quickly.
"She was the daughter of old Tom
Rogers, who kept the Silver Grid in
Fenchurch Street years ago. You
wouldn't think it, would you2 I'm told
the Annerlys move in tip-top society.
But her father died when she was quite
a child, SO | suppose she has cut the
connection"
s'Then it seems she hasn't got much
to be proud Of after ALL said Mr..
Markby, spitefully. "Only publican's
daughter! She gives herself the airs of
a Duchess"
''They mostly do, my boy, when they
come from nothing. By the by, y
added Mr. Montagu, thoughtfully, 'she
had a brother once-a regular bad lot.
The last heard of him was that he was
quodded for forgery, and believe he is
still aliye.''
"You don't say so!'' exclaimed Sam,
exultantly.
Mr.. Montagu seemed good deal sur
prised at his young friends evident sat
isfaction; but he asked no questions.
and Sam shortly afterwards took his de-
parture with radiant countenance.
He was a yindictive little man, and he
hurried off to concoct some scheme of
revenge based upon the discovery he
had made. But, though the secret of
Mrs. Annerly's origin seemed at first
sight to furnish promising material to
work upon, he found difficulty in util-
ling it to his satisfaction. The An
nerlys had attained too firm foothold
in society to be easily assailed, and
though it would do them no good to
have it spread about that Mrs. Annerly
was the daughter of publican and the
sister of a returned convict, the scandal
was hardly likely to affect the:rposition
materially. The consequence was that
Sam gloated over the compromising
secret for some months. while waiting
for an opportunity to turn it to account.
Meanwhile he cherished his resentment.
for he was one of those morbid-minded
individuals who brood over their
wrongs and never forget an injury.
At length the newspapers announced
the engagement of Miss Amy Annerly
with young Lord Reavely, the Earl of
Bestwood's son. AS Sans vindictixe-
ness was intensified by a thrill of
jealousy, he perceived that the time had
come to discharge his venom. The oc-
casion was promising, for it was hardly
likely that Lord Reavely could be aware
of Miss Anneriys antecedents. AS TO:
the Earl, Sam was convinced from what
he had heard of him that he would
never consent to his son making such a
mesalliance. The prospect of breaking
off the match, thereby aiming a blow at
the Annerlys in general and at Miss
Amy in particular, while at the same
time giving circulation to the scandal,
filed him with savage satisfaction. He
was the more eager to avail himself of
the opportunity, because he realized
that. if the marriage took place, the
Annerlys' social position would be so
that his precious secret
would be valueless.
His first impulse was to communicate
direct with Lord Reavely or his father,
but he naturally preferred to keep in
the background. A more effectual and
at the same time safer plan seemed to
be to work his revenge through some
influential third person, and with this
reflection the name of Lord Algernon
Todd. the Earl of Bestwood's brother,
naturally occurred to him.
Lord Algernon was we'll known
the money Lenders. at the West
End Of town, and he had also been
mixed up in many shady transactions
east of Temple Bar. Always impecuni-
Gus, and by no means prescriptions,
Lord Algernon was a ready tool of
company promoters, and though his
name had long since lost its
ailuring influence with the knowing
portion of the British public, he still
found it marketable commodity. With
his family, however, Lord Algernon
had always contrived to remain out
Wardly, at least--upon good terms, hav-
ing keen eye to his own interests. But
for this circumstance his reputation
would hardly have survived his moral
AS it was, many of the
best houses were closed against him,
but in club and on the turf, and, in
fact, on neutral ground he was rather
popular than otherwise, on account of
his genial manners and his imperturba-
bic good humor.
It occurred to Sam Markby that |
Lord Algernon might easily be prevailed
lpon to open the eyes Of his brother,
he Earl, and generally to make things
for the Annerly's. He knew
here was no love lost between him and
lis nephew, SO that the prospect of in
5erfering with the lad $ happiness would
lot be likely to deter him. Moreoyerit
vas notorious that Lord Algernon was
The most obliging man in the world I
when properly managed, and Sam was
well acquainted with him to |
eel no hesitation about paying him q I
1isit.