Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-02-07

and he's sure to go into the country with 70
little to pay for it; it's just like him. Anddo
think of it, Jane, thsre's Lowell"
l did think Of it. Thought Of Mr. Brians
large family, eighteen Of them altogether,
and whether it was possible could intrudc
gracefully upon them Mr.. Brian bad retired
from cocoanut fiber and street door mat
business in the Tottenham Court road, and
was pretty well of, with only slight neces-
sity of letting his drawing room 1oor. He
was evidently not q rich man, and ther-
were few struggles to keep up an appear
ance," although he went out Of town with his
family for = month every summer, by ex-
press desire Of Mrs. Brian, who required
change every August, and regularly sailed
forth, en- famille, from her large establish
ment in Prossiter street to . house down a
back slum in High street, Margate, where the
rooms were small, and the children were
heaped together sardine fashion, and now
and then came back with something catch
ing as wind up to the seasons enjoyment
And this particular August was asked to
Join them There was the sea, and You
must take little change" said the doctor,
and Lily Brian was very pressing, and Capt
Choppers had talked Of going away for .
week or two, and the boys Goode were COM
ing home for the holidays. and /, Jane Neild,
was able to pay-and would insist upon pay
ing-my fair share for board with the Bri-
ans, having my little room out Of the house,
too, for that peace and quietness which is not
always found in largv1Amiiies. Yes, would
20 down to Margate when was strong
when was well enough to bear the fatigue
Of the journey.
This was a promise on the day the Brians,
with much for1nality Of departure, left town
for the season, and made up my mind to get
well and strong as soon as possible, and join
them. When | was dowl LARS ayain il my
little lack roo, there WIS great surpri3c
awaiting me. ..a.lad against the wal, under
my fathers catiaet sized photograph. was
brand new Ornaments little car vim, il oak
of u dead bird hanging by its claws down.
ward, and with every feather wond rfully
delineate,l l stared at it with intense as
tonishIncns, and Bridget stood in the back
ground with a grin on her face from ear to
ear.
'Where did this come FRONT Good
gracious, how beautiful how-well I never
did.r
Ny thoughts flashed to Mr.. Goode for he
was liberal at times, and grateful for any lit
tie attentions in his widowerhood's estate in
the shape Of darning stockings or re-estab-
fishing the security Of buttons; but the truth
soon came out, and then / was more aston
isbod than ever.
IF you please, MN, it's the young man
who lost his umbereller," explained Bridget,
with loud guffaw at last and a violent
stamping of both her big Irish feet, like an
excitable person with bone in her throat.
What"
YES, mm," continued Bridget; land
was to say nothing about it to anybody but
you-and not till you were down stairs again
because he wouldn't have you worried
about anything, he said, not for worlds"
'He said all that"
"Ycs, MIN"
"But, blees the man. I exclaimed, 'what
has he left this here forF'
''Its-it's present, nm, I'm thinking
"A present to me, and from that imperti-
nent bcingl" l said; an see about his pres
ent presently. When did he Gomez
Hes been here every day, MN"
Every dayf'
Twice a day. Bridget replied. "And
the day you were 80 ill he came three times,
to make sure the doctors weren't killing
you"
Its very extraordinary"
"He is 'stronary, MN" asserted Bridget,
"shure, and there's not much doubt Of it.
The way he axcd me and badgered me about
that umbereller, min, every day after you
were took ill, you'd have thought he was q
Judge and jury rolled into one-and Sarah,
too, poor critter"
II never heard of such behavior In my
life"
Right ye are, Miss Neild, as far as that
I,.k = ~. I.x<
he was very sorry and gave her art a crown;
and 30 he did me, MIN, like real gentleman,
when l thought it was quite time l cried
too, when arf crowns were flying about like
that"
''Thatl do, Bridget" said, for Bridget
when loquacious was familiar "When was
he here lastf'
This morning."
"And l told him you were quite come
round, and he said, That's a good job and
went away
''Do you think he'll return"
81 don't think so, nm, for he said. Good
by, Bridget; mind you take caro- of her. as
he walked hisself of"
"Did he say anything elsef'
"N-no, MIN, don't seem to recollect"-
ANSWER me truthfully, Bridget what else
did he say"
Sorry word else, except he hoped Mar
gate would do you a power of good"
"How did he know l was going to Mar
CATER inquired
That's more nor mortal can say, MN.
He knows a great deal more about other
peoples affairs than he ought He interferes
like, doesn't heI He's . terrible curious young
man."
Bridget, you have something more to tell
me, I'm sure you have"
''Ohl Miss Neild"
"How dare you deceive me! how dare
Mercy ON US, my dear mistress, don't 20
and throw yourself oil TIE way back agin by
6aring off like this. I'll tell ye evrything,
and it's not much, after all. if yen only keep
cool and comfor'ble"
"Well-so on
And ye may give me q months warning
and send me away afterward, if yell only b
cool. miss, and don't blame me too much Jest
at Lrisint;,"
why don't you explainf'
well, then, he took it into his head Mr..
Goode had got his umbereller or else Capt.
Choppers, and one day, when they were both
out, be sxed me to lot him look into their
rooms, and l did, m'm-and, begorra,
shouldn't have been surprised if either of 'en
had got it, name souls that they are with
never q kind word to those who are shaving
tn, r. hearts out for EN-, and"-
bridget, 60 downstairs directly"
ITO DO sure, MN, will if ye don't want
me any more"
Bridget departed, and it dawned upon me
that she had been imbibing just lttlc-and
this had occurred once before, when papa
was alive. And she had too, but il was for
joy that was better, and to drink good luck
to me, she afterward confessed, and for
gave her, especially as on the next day she
oincd the Blue Ribbon movement, in sheer
ooaSriteness Of spirit, and was forever after
ward-that is, up till nova worthy, if
humble, member Of society
But this Mr.. Geoffry Bird, how the man
did trouble mel How his nasty, suspicious
nature had led him to poke and pry about
my establishment, and to take advantage of
my helplessness, and the proneness of Bridget
ard Sarah for half crowns, to ransack the
whole place! Ny blood boiled with indigna-
ton. And then his present-if it were a
I-esent-obtrusvely nailed against the wall
too, as if | cared for his carvings. or did
anything but despise his miserable manners
and his uncharitable self He could not take
my word that no one had stolen his UNI
brclla, oh dear, mol He must prove for him
self that I Was not Sreatin thu truth u,vv