Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-11-08
MR.. NELSON'S WILL.
BY II. RIDER HAGGARD.

priSes were not to end there. A lew MIN
utes afterward, just as she was leaving
the cabin, a gentleman in uniform came
ap, in whom she recognized the Captain.
He was accompanied by pretty, fair
haired woman very becomingly dressed.
Excuse me; Miss Spaithers, I believer
he said, with bow.
eyes,
az am Captain Alton L hope you like
your new cabin. Let me introduce you to
Lady Holmhurst, wife of Lord Holmhurst,
the New Zealand Governor, you know.
Lady Holmhurst, this is Miss Smithers,
whose book you We're talking so much
shout"
"Ohl 1 am delighted to make your &C
quaintance, Miss Smithers,' said the great
lady in a manner that evidently was not
assumed Captain Alton has promised
that I shall sit next to you at dinner, and
then we can have a good talk. I don't
know when have been SO much delighted
with anything as I was with your book.
[ have read it three times; what do you
think of that for q busy Woman?"
81 think there is some mistake" said
Augusta, hurriedly and with slight
blush. II am second-class passenger on
board this ship; and therefore cannot have
the pleasure Of sitting next to Lady Holm
hurst"
ooh, that is all right, Miss Smithers,"
said the Captain, with jolly laugh. "You
are my guest, and I shall take no denial"
'When we find genius for once in our
lives, we are not going to lose the oppor-
tunity Of sitting at its feet" added Lady
Holmhurst with a little movement to-
ward her which was neither curtsey nor
bow, but rather happy combination of
both. The compliment was, Augusta felt,
sincere, however much it exaggerated the
measure Of her poor capacities, and, put
ting other things aside, was, coming as it
did from one woman to another, peculiar
~ graceful and surprising. She blushed
and bowed, scarcely knowing what to say,
when suddenly Mr.. Nelson's harsh tones,
pitched just now in respectful key, broke
upon her ear. Mr.. Meeson was addressing
no less person than Lord Holmhurst G.
c. NJ. G.. Lord Holmhurst was stout,
short, dark little man, with a somewhat
pompous manner, and kindly face. He
was Colonial Governor Of the first water,
and was perfectly aware of the fact
Now, Colonial Governor, even though
he be a G. G. NJ G. when he is at home, is
not a name to conjure with, and does not
fill an exclusive place in the eye of the
Governors in the present and past tense
to be found in the purlieus Of South Ken
sington, where their presence creates no
unusual excitement But when one Of
this honorable corps sets foot upon the
vessel destined to bear him to the shores
that he shall rule, all this changes. He
puts off the body of the ordinary betitled
Individual, and puts on the body Of the
celestial brotherhood. In short, from be-
ing nobody out OF the common he becomes,
and very properly so, q great man. No
body knew this better than Lord Holm
hurst, and, to person fond Of observing
such things, nothing could have been more
curious to notice than the small, but the
gradual, increase in the pomposity of his
manner, as the great snip day by day
Cleaned further from England and nearer
to the country where he was King. 1t
went up, degree by degree, like a Their
lnometer which is taken down into the
bowels of the earth or gradually removed
INTO the sunlight. At present, however,
She thermometer was only rising.
II was repeating, my Lord" said the
harsh voice of Mr.. Meeson, "that the prin-
ciple of an hereditary peerage is the grand
est principle our country has yet devel-
oped. 1t gives US something to look for
ward to. In one generation we make the
money; in The next we take the title which
the money buys. Look at your Lordship.
Your Lordship is now in proud position;
but, as l have understood, your Lordships
father was a trader like me-"
"Hum-wel. not exactly. Mr. Meeson,'
broke in Lord Holmhurst. Dear me,
wonder who that exceedingly nice-looking
girl Lady Holmhurst is talking to can be?''
Nov, your Lordship, to put a case
went on the ren1orseless Meeson, who, like
most people Of his stamp, had an almost
supersitious veneration for the aristocra-
cy, Il have made great deal of money,
as | do not mind telling your Lordship;
what is there to prevent my successor
suppOsiag l have q succGssOr-from taking
advantage of that money, and rising on it
TO similar position to that so Worthily oc-
cupied by your Lordship?"
Exactly, Mr. Meeson. A most excel
lent idea for your successor. Excuse me,
but l see Lady Holmhurst reckoning to
me-" And he fed precipitately, still fol
lowed by Mr.. Meeson.
"John, my dear!' said Lady Holmhurst
81 want to introduce you to Miss SmitherS
tho Miss Smithers whom we have all
been talking about and whose book you
have been reading. Miss Smithers, my
husbandr'
Lord Holmhurst, who, when he was not
deep in the affairs Of State, had consid
cradle eye for pretty girl-and what man
worthy Of the name has not?-bowed most
politely, and was proceeding to tell Angus
ia, in very charming language, how de
lighted he was to make her acquaintance
when Mr.. Meeson arrived on the scene
and perceived Augusta for the first time
Quite taken aback ut finding her, apparent
ly, upon the very best of terms with PEG
pie of such quality, he hesitated to consider
what course to adopt, wherein Lady Holm
hurst, in a somewhat formal way, for she
was not very fond of Mr.. Meeson, mistak
ing his hesitation, went on to introduce
him. Thereupon, all in moment, as W.
do sometimes take such resolutions, Au
gusta came to determination. She would
have nothing more to do with Mr.. Meeso1
she would repudiate him then and there
come what would of it.
So, as he advanced upon her with out
stretched hand, she drew herself up, anC
in cold and determined voice said, &c
already know Mr. Meeson. Lady Holm
hurst; and do not wish to have anything
more to do with him. Mr.. Meeson has no
behaved well TO me-"
Pom my word, - rnurmured Lord Holm
hurst to himself, 81 don't wonder she ha
had enough of him. Sensible young VIC
man, thSt!'
Lady Holnhurst Looked little aston
ished and : little amused. Suddenly, how
ever, light broke upon her.
EsOht see, - she said. 81 suppose tina
Mr.. Meeson published Terminals Vow!
OF course that accounts for it. Why, &c