The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-05-17

your constituents will accept even so plausible
an explanation-for your appointment. Vacate
your seat and it is possible that they may refuse
to re-elect YOU"
them. l will contest the place which the death
of Mr.. Patrick Smith leaves open to u.s. Did you
note his decease in this mornings Chronicles"
II did"
"Then with all respect to Lord Aberdeen, and
my duty to him and my thanks say he may
count upon my patriotic service to his govern
ment, to the throne, and to the country"
The constituents of his native borough did re
ject Mr.. John Needham, emphasizing their
rejection with rotten eggs and dead cat; but ne
contested the seat in which Mr.. Patrick Smith
had sat with honor for twenty years; and he
won it.
His enemies charged him with bribery, and
declared that the third candidate who carried on
a lot of 'plumpers" from Needham's real rival
was confederate of the Junior Lord of the
Treasury. But the victor was content. He cared
nothing for the opinion of the defeated, nor for
their evil reports
1t was May Day in London when he re-
turned to town triumphant Lord of the Treas
ury, and with all the influential responsibilities
of what seemed to the outer world a great anc
undimmed future before him.
But how little that ''outer world knows OF
anything and anybody 1t thinks it knows, says
it knows, and believes it knows. Mr.. John Need
ham could have astonished that outer world very
much in regard to his Treasury appointment if
ne had held forth on the subject. Nobody could
have dreamed of how great an Importance his
elevation was in his own estimation He hardly
dared confess to himself the truth of his posi-
ton; did it seem necessary, since fortune, in
this matter, appeared to smile so benignantly
upon him. He was quite satisfied with himself,
contented happy and if there were obstacles in
the future that threatened his peace. he did not
fear them; they were shadows that his rising sun
would speedily dissipate. AT least SO he thought,
and he calculated his chances with astuteness
and experience.
| their silver bits at the arrival platform of the
| Great Western Station. They were appointed
| in the best taste; and on the box of the hand
| some brougham sat tT0 smart servants vic
were conscious of the Importance attached to
their service by the attendance of several rail
way officials. who had been ordered to receive
| the new Lord of the Treasury. Mr.. Needham
| accepted the compliment with an easy and salts
fed air. tipped the guard who carried his writing
| case. and slipped guinea into the hand of the
| platform inspector.
| The spring sunshine seemed to follow him
| with especial favor as his horses flew along the
streets to Portland Place. 1t flashed gaily or
| the silver harness of his faultless steeds; i.
brought out the golden bars of his coat of arms,
on the door-panel of his faultless brougham; and
| the first breezes of summer waited about him,
as he stepped upon the pavement, the perfume
| of ten thousand hyacinths from the beds OF
delightful touch missing; the chronicler of this
| history feels it's absence, though possibly the
| new Lord OF the Treasury did not. No wife,
nor child. welcomed home the victor; the Hon.
John Needham, NJ. p, was bachelor.
CHAPTER III.
| INTRODUCES THE READER TO THE LIVING M
AGE OF JOHN NEEDHAM
| So also, had nearly written, was Joseph Nor
| bury, of Bramblng House. Wyedale, Derby
CHI q mi faly IA M rHo on
| the point of view | had in my mind. Joseph
| Norbury was a wdower without children,
and at the moment he possibly felt more alone
| than even John Needham for he had loved his
| wife with good mans devotion. John Need
ham had an only brother, Joseph Norbury had
| an only sister.
| Knowing neither John Needham, nor having
| any association, nor connection with him, not
| having even seen him, Joseph Norbury was the
very image of him, even to the possession of his
| hesitatng manner. and his touch of dandyism.
| Tall, pale, brown hair, dark blue eyes, shaver
! face, not a great talker, but eloquent when
reused. Joseph Norbury was physically another
| John Needham, morally he was his antithesis,
| If he could have given Needham half of his
| goodness and taking again himself half of Need
| hams hard nature, they might have become two
excellent fellows instead of one excellent fellow;
| for Norbury had, fguratively speaking, heart
enough for whole parish He was in the first
| months of bitter grief. His had been love
match, and the loss of his young wife was an
affection he rather nursed than tried to evade,
| either by the artifce of travel or increase of oc
cupaton. But on that May day when Mr.. Need
| ham returned to London newly elected mem
| Der of Parliament and an office holder under the
! government, Mr.. Joseph Norbury had promised
| to consider the the serious advice of his doctor
| that he should take sea voyage.
| Since the death of his wife, Joseph Norbury's
| only sister. Kate, had taken up her permanent
abode in his house. He was five and thirty, she
dozen years his junior. They had been or
phaned at an early age, but with sufficient means
| to lead a life of independence They had only
| been separated when Joseph married, and then
Kate had thought it best she should live with her
aunt at Manchester, leaving Mr.. and Mrs. Nor
! bury to posses together the dear old rambling
house on the Derbyshire Wye, near Matlock.
| They were only separated, alas, for five years;
but now that they had come together again the
| shadows of the tall white broken column in the
little churchyard fell right across their two lives
| Joseph's trouble had even postponed indefinitely
| it was feared, the long hoped for happiness OF
Dick Woodvie, who had been engaged to Kate
| for more than year. He was Manchester
merchant bright. cheerful. prosperous young
| fellow, and he had won his way to the affecGc
| of both brother and sister.
| just about the time that Mr.. Needham, NJ
was entering his town house on that first of Ma
previously mentioned, Joseph Norbury his sister
Kate. and Mr.. Richard Woodville were engaged
/! in pleasant after-dinner chat at Brambling
| House. the old family residence of the Norburys.
| ~ was dH ACcptiouaiiy HHo anu wal III udy IoA
| Wyedale. where spring, rule, came tardily.
| This year it had fastened its visit. The river
raced along almost with a summer song. There
were gilliaowers in the garden, rosemary and
| rue; the thrush was singing in the copse, and
| the wild cherry was in blossom.
| Dick had come over, as was his won't to spend
| Sunday and to return to business on Monday.
| They sat together, with the window open, though
| there was fire blazing and cracking on the
| hearth Kate and Dick sat near each other,
Joseph at the head of the table. The dessert was
| laid on an old service of Crown Derby and the
table was polished oak, rejecting dishes and
fruits in world of lovely tints and positive col
ors. They were drinking old port wine in the
old fashion, Joseph occasionally holding up his
glass against the yellow fame of wax candle
to catch glimpses of 'the wing" that foated like
bits of dead gold leaf in the purple liquor. They
dined early and there no real need for the
candles, but it was the custom to light them,
and Joseph thought as his father before him,