Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-05-16

his only wealthy relative, n rich and &C.
centric bachelor, was lying dangerously
i'll at bis country house and that his pres
euce was required ut once
Mountford was not by any means a du-
tiful nephew, but his own interests COM
manded that he should start without de-
lay. 50 he wrote hurried note to Mrs.
Biuks and i'll couple of hours was on
bis way north by an evening express.
Mountford's departure was somewhat
unfortunate. The widow only half be-
lieved his explanation and could not i'm
agine that he was justified in leaving her
side mt 10 critical juncture Mt the bid
ding Of Il comparatively distant relative
whom, he Informed her, he had not even
set eyes upon for years. For the next
day or two her temper was exceedingly
trying even TO the long suffering Miss
Bowscr, WHO more thun once was on the
point of throwing up her situation. How
ever, couple of days after Mountford's
departure Lord Slumly called-this time
accompanied 10y Lady Sapphira Polking-
ton, and that celebrated philanthropist,
Miss Flint, and this distinguished and
enthusiastic company--for the time at all
events-rccouciled Mrs. Binks to the tenn
porary loss of her admirer Lord Slum-
ly enlisted her aid us patroncss of the
society over which lie presided, and Mrs
Binks undertook to take regular course
OF district visiting i'll the parish of the
Rev. Septmus Cruciform.
Accordingly during the next few days
she visited some terrible slnms, smelled
exceedingly bad smells, subscribed large
ly to the society of which the Rev. Sept
mus was secretary, presented old women
with sundry hulf-crowns, talked M i'm
mcnse amount Of philnnthrophy and be-
came filled with the proud and happy con-
seriousness That she was doing n vast
amount of good in most aristocratic COM
pany. She inquired of some of her new
frlenls as to what manner of man Mr..
Mountford was and received somewhat
unsatisfactory answers.
Mr. Septimus Cruciforn, in the mean
time, paid her assiduous attention and
lost no opportunity of impressing her
with sense Of his profound admiration
for her goodness and virtue. Nay, more.
he occasionally limited at the duties which
attended the possession of great wealth,
and gave her to understand that, under
proper direction she might attain but
little inferior to that of the Baroness BUR
1t was at this iuucture that Mountfori
returned to London. He had buried his
uncle, who had caused him great incDn-
venicnce by lingering nearly three weeks
after his seizure. The old gentleman
had left the insignificant legacy Of II thou
sand pounds, and as the whole of his
creditors Immediately threatened strong
measures. Mountf,rd was rather worse
on Juan before. Hence he resolved to
waste 10 'iillr' nut TO settle bis late ut
once 10 H'tlfeI hlmSelt III fnultIess
81 i,i'"ihllR' ana drove on to Portman
'oiu,te 'ile GHy "iter ms return.
;, lou see l lose no time in coming to
r"ll on you ne began. The widow,
however, was not to be ia ken by storm.
.,,, n, gu nave been ont OF town, think?
Sn ~ SomeW nat coldIy.
Mouhtlord was not easily discouraged
anu 80 went on !; II have, am sorry to
'";. !. seems aGes SINCE saw You
a. ny ht'N OF TWO, thlnI, replied
'ile CIV, "luoW' =,
one WIS c'luehttE lndlsposed to give
IA Luz an opening ana hount1ord was rapid
!! ''coil l'S desperate, When lne footman
"nuouucto NJ Cfucllofm. There was a
so'u ~ i"uiili'fltN ABOUT the very manner
III wLich 'n"t reverend gentleman enter
cu t"o room TI'lch lrfltated hountford
pIolo"nollS' he looked, moreover, more
PiooPci1us tl'l before, tne holiows III
ms Cileehs We're less married., his smile
""1 iesa HoIntly aHn more complacent and
"o ,'o 'iu,h'iy invested IN new coat
anu ii"': Moull'iord greeted nm with as
ni'!cH clNl!i'S as ne coniu muster, and
m"ltru PGtientiy Tor his departure. But
we NY. oPP'ilhns showed not the least
nifli Vi moving anu tic widow evlnced
A,.cii an obvious preference Tor his details
"' lhe ProceeuihSs OF me Phllanthropic
7pc!e'y 'ii"t honhli0rd was at length con-
strained TO take his leave first.
;dIE can a8Hn tomorrow he ask
eu, nan ASIDE.
1Iursday is my usual day, she re-
ZONE" dandy, without lowering her
voice
. Mountiord felt utterly dumbfounded.
oolHetn'ng was clearly very much amiss !;
aud the news he extracted from the but
a,n;nn l ~ Ei'ciiolni' or s0me othef
ernrr Io rD' Irni nIo cnlleu nearly
MANS ta4Sao "" - niS aoSence' ny no
Ua wa Ia ,n W. 'IHSo"io nin'
on tbis new om ,l'JU ,'r,I ""at' iulnIna'lhB
Iorano IL" ""', ~ nl'sensanl feature III his
norota anI LIS "ilniIe were really ues-
n the o n, ite W"S crI'nln 'hat nothing,
lie ~'eiIoe VI li"rN casIi, Womb quiet
,| a- .o ops,'tpuf9u' creditors unless 1t
making a rich msrriage He Fl. pp, nov. ",
than half inclin.I f. en+rnst ~. liz iiioio
ton Of his lcgacv 70 s,ma f"ith t tsi
and make a cI.nr hoIt tmtLaa ,'i; iiiT p
he thought h, had h.,ter j , oo,on'e ;oh pa1
rest before orrivino al n doGnit. I. misn, o
The next mornin1 fo'nJ h;,,r uvc,s,oI,
in the same frame 81 MINI 'N' T Sei null
his tbonvhts ther.fnro ho o,.r ~ u,'aiu y
take s6nrn wall, IN ,ha $50 - ifinIu 70
he honnenad f. no.. 'n,o tGu,So ~ "nici
where he had franr@ntIr on 80 LII ~ =
h0ur in hstenind - a. oa ppInr "n 'u ~
fences not without Il cbnrm for u" st ~