Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-05-13

AI,OMfsSTlC STORY.
BY wILKEE COLLINS.

Expect me Tomorrow on business which
requires personal consultation"
That was the message. LII taking the long
journey to Cumberland Mrs. LinleyS legal
adviser sacrificed two days of his precious
time in London. Something serious must as
Surcdly have happened.
In the meantime, who was the lawyer?
He was liz. Sarrazn OF Lincolns Inn
Fields.
Was he an EngliShman or Frcnchman?
He was a curious mixture OF both. His
ancestors had been among the prosecuted
French people who found refuge in En-
gland when the priest-ridden tyrant, Louis
XIV, revoked the edict Of Nantes. A Brit
ish subject by birth, and q thoroughly COM
petent and trustworthy man, Mr.. Salrazln
labored under one ingeterate delusion; he
firmly believed that his original French nat
ure had been completely eradicated, under
the influence of our inSular climate and or
inSular customs. No matter how often the
strain of the lively French blood might as
Sert itself, at inconvenient times and under
regrettable circumstances he never rccOg-
nized this foreign side of his character. Ills
excellent spirits, his quick sympathies, his
bright mutability of mind-all those qualities,
in short, which were most mischievOusiy
ready to raise diStrUst in the minds Of En-
glsh clients, before their sentiments chang
ed for the better under the light OF later cx-
perience-were attributed by Mr.. Sarrazn to
the eXhilarating influence Of his happy do
mestic circumstances and his successful pro-
fessional career. His essentially English
wife; his essentially English children; his
whiskers, his politics, his umbrella, his pew
at church, his plum pudding, his Times news
paper, all answered for him Che WAS accus-
toned to say as an inbred member Of the
glorious nation that rejOices in hunting the
fox and believes in mnumerable pills.
This excellent man arrived at the cottage,
desperately fatigued after his long journey,
but in perfect possession OF his Incompatible
temper, nevertheless
He offered proof Of this happy state of
mind on sitting down to his supper. An
epicure, il ever there was one yet, he found
the solid part Of the refreshments offered to
him to consist of q chop. The old French
blood curdled at the sight of it-but the true
born EngiShman herOically devoted himself
TO the national meal At the same time the
French viyacity discovered a kindred soul in
Kitty; Mr.. Sarrazin became her intimate
friend i'll five minutes. He listened to her
and talked to her as if the child had been his
client, and fishing from the pier the business
which had brought him from London. To
of the table-cloth when he had finished his
chop, and began to cOnjuTe 50 deftly with
the spoons and forks that poor little Kitty
Gotten dull, now, under the changed domestic
circumstances of her life1 clapped her hands
with pleasure, and became the Joyous child
of the happy old times once more. Mrs. Lin
ley, fattered III her maternal lOyc and her
maternal pride never thought of recalling
this extraordinary lawyer to the business
that was waiting to be discussed But Mrs.
PreSty looked at the clock and discovered
that her grandchild ought to have been in
bed half an hour ago.
Time to say goodnight" the grandmoth-
er suggested.
The grandchild failed to see the subject of
bed in the same light. ooh, not yet" she
pleaded; II want to speak to Mr." Hav-
ing only heard the visitors name once. and
not finding her memory i'll good working or
der after the conjuring, Kitty hesitated.
Isn't your name something Ike Saracen?"
she asked
Very likeF' cried the genial lawyer TRY
my other name, my dear Tan Samuel as
well as SarraZin."
All, that'II dor said Kitty. +Grandmam-
ma, before go to bed I've something to ask
Samuel"
Grandmamma persisted in defeIring the
question until the next morning. Samuel
administered consolation before he said good
night "Tll get up early" he whispered,
land We'll go on the pier before breakfast
and fish"
Kitty expressed her gratitude in her own
outSp0ken way. ''Oh, dear how nice it
would be, Samuel, If you lived with us!'
Mrs. Linley laughed for the first time, poor
soul, since the catastrophe which had broken
up her home. Mrs. Presty set a proper exam
pie. She moved her chair SO that she faced
the lawyer, and said: ''New, Mr.. Sarrazin!'
He acknowledged that he understood what
this meant by very unprofesSonai choice
or words. I'VE are in mess he began,
''and the sooner we are out OF it the better"
Only let me keep Kitty" Mrs. Linley de-
clared, land PII do whatever you think
right"
stick to that dear madam, when you
have heard what / have to tell you, and l
shall not have taken my journey in vain. In
the first place, may look at the letter which
had the honor Of forwarding some days
since?'
Mrs. Presty gave him Herbert Linley's let
ter. He read it with the closest attention,
and tapped the breast pocket OF his coat
when he had done.
IF didn't know what have got here"
he remarked, Il should have said: Another
person dictated this letter, and the name of
the person is Miss Westerield.'"
''Just my idear' Mrs. Presty exclaimed.
There can't be doubt of it,
''Oh, but there is very great doubt of it,
ma'am, and you will say so, too, when you
know what your severe son-in-law threatens
TO do" He turned to Mrs. Liniey. After
having seen that pretty little friend Of mine
who has just gone to bed chow much nicer
it would be fer all of us if we could so to
bed, toOD / think know how you answer
ed your husbands letter. But L ought per-
haps to see how You expressed yourself.
Have you got a copy?'
sit was too short, hIr. Sarrazin, to make a
copy necessary"
do you mean you can remember lt?''
Il can repeat it word for word. This was
my reply: Il refuse, positively, to part with
my child"
mo more than that?''
mo more"
Mr.. SarraZin looked at his client with I'M
disguised admiration. 1.-The only time in al