The Hazlehurst signal., 1884-03-13
a single specimen will suffice to satisfy

ami .cc you about those two ponies owe you.
but his Loriship won't hear or my leaving:
Please let the matter stand over bit, and
spare yourself the trouble OF issuing writ.
Yours ever, T. liLIsKEH.
While engaged ON these important
compositions Tom could not resist Civ
Ing an ear TO the conversation which
was going ON on tho other side OF the
fireplace. He gathered that the prin.
cipal object of the lawyers visit was to
consult his Lordship about appointing
new steward. The post was at pres
cnt vacant, the late occupant having rc.
signed in hui, and Mr.. Penn nglon
wa in favor of giving it TO n practical.
busincSs-likc man. who would not be
above his work. His Lordship cordial
~ acquicsced in this view. and left the
matter in the lawyers hands. and. hav-
ing affixed his Signature to few docu-
mcnts, the conference ended.
Snow. gentlemen. let Us come and
have look around" said his Lorlship,
with an air Of relief. MIR. Blinher.
the butler will hand your letters to u
groom. who is now going into Bitches
ter, and who will deliver them immcdi'
ately."
Tom Blinkcr was trembling with sup.
pressed excitement, for IL hal suddenly
occurred to him TO apply TO his Lori
ship for the vacant stewardship. lilo
was almost startled by his own boldncsS,
and although not wanting in cool as
surancc. he could not Mt the moment
summon up courage To apply for the
post. lie resolved To wait until after
luncheon. by which time he hoped to
have created favorable impression.
Meanwhile he pulled himself together
and assumed n more sedatc and bust
nc,s-likc air. Tom was shrcwd fell
low. and was very well posted up ~ To
agricultural topics generally. lie had
u knack ol repeating Information gained
nj secondhand rs though IL were en-
tircly original, and he never confessed
ignorance on any subject whatever.
Fortunately for him neither Lord Mont
arlington nor Mr.. Pennington knew
anything of country lie except in its
frivolous aspects, so that during their
ramblc through the grounds and over
the stables Tom contriycd to impress
them both considerably without COM
hitting himself. At luncheon he was
still moro successful. for there was no
denying that he was capital company
on festive occasions. He made his
Lorlship roar with laughter at his Jokes
and wit,icisms, and even the lawyer be-
came quite hilarious and cheerful. The
result was that when Mr.. Icnning-
ton rose To dcpart-for his Lordship :
carriage was To take him IL the neigh
boring station Ia catch the LONDON train
Tom no longer felt any hesitation
about prcicrring his request.
"My Lord, there is a little matter |
should like To mention before Mr..
Pennington goes he said airily. 81
wish To offer myself rs candidate for
the post Of steward 10 your l.orlship.
As l m on the spot can yet into har-
ness at once. which will be an al.
vantage. III willing to come on sale
or return l mean on approval for u
month. That is IN advantage also,
And ilat,cr myself YOU wouldn't iinl
a better business man. nor one that
would serve you straightcr IL You were
To ill the TiDltS for six months With adj
vcrtiScmcnts.
Toms tone and manner were hardly
those Of person asking \ favor. He
seemed honestly conscious Of his own
worth, and Lord MontarlinGton, though
somewhat taken aback. was evidently
struck by tho suggestion. He looked
across at the lawyer and said;
"Eh. Mr.. Pennington9 What do YOU
say To that!'
"Wcll. really, my Lord. such 4 thing
hal never occurred 10 me-" said the
lawyer looking undecided. iii your
Lor,lship thinks Mr.. Blinker will 10
likely 10 suit ~
* months trial, ch?" in,crpose |
Tom, with alacri,y. every well. Then
that's settled
Aud SD IL was. His Lorlship
glanced ut the lawyer and the lawyer
nj him, but neither raised any objection,
and the result was that Tom received
permission to begin his duties on the
morrow. lie was proud man when
he drove into Chichester that evening
and announced his good fortune. He
found, however. that the nCighbOrs
were less surprised at the news than
might have been expected. for every
one had heard OF the letters which he
had written from the Castle on paper
bearing his Lor,lship's crest. II he had
come back aud said that Lord Mont
arlington WAS his long-los; brother the
crcduiity of his friends would have
borne the shock.
Tom proved himself quite compctcu,
to discharge the duties hc had So rashly
undertaken. When man has plenty
of assurance, backed 10y natural ability.
shrcwlncss and firm determination Ia
succeed, he can not very well turn out q
failure. Those who uttered Ominous
predictions based upon his unsuccessful
career in chichester overlooked the fact
that want Of capital was alone the cause
of Toms misfortune. and IL turned out
that he had powerful incentive 10
make him do his best in his new posi-.
ton. for shortly aftcrward he became
engaged To be married To the pretty
daughter of mine host of the Blue Boar.
Lord Montarlington left for the North
on the day Tom entered upon his new
duties, and three months altcrwarl, ON
passing through London he had an in
Ntsh
"By.thc-by." he said, at the close OF
their conversation, I'll suppose the new
steward is success, rs | haven't heard
TO the contrary"
''lIe Is the best agent your Lordship
has ever had; n prompt, busincss.llke.
energetic and Trustworthy man." said
Mr.. Pennington, warmly. "May | ask
ask how you came to know him?'
why. you introduced him. OF
course returned his Lordship. staring.
ii never saw him before that day."
"Nor did l." returned the lawyer.
opening his eyes; she offered TO drive
me over. and was certainly under the
impression your Lordship was nc
quainted with him."
Lord Montarlington and the lawyer
stared at one another for n moment in
opcn-mouthed establishment, and during
that brief period Toms prospects were
in imminent peril. Then his Lordship
suddenly burst out laughing. and Mr..
Pennington followed his example.
IL never heard of such bare.iaccd inn
pudencc in my liie," exclaimed Mont
arlington. rs soon rs he could speak.
"'Pon my honor, he deserves his good
luck. As he appears to suit. we had
better say nothing about the matter;
only keep your eyes on him, and don't
let his impudcnce carry him too far"