St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1889-09-21

lively party. that numbered among its
members two pretty Americans. two
wealthy young guardsmen-to whom
the Americans were laying siege-the
Fowler family and Captain Challoner,
whose account of the family Mr.. Ash
ton soon pronounced to be correct.
Mrs Fowler was q distinctly pretty
woman. but not pleasing one. Her
expression lacked frankness, and her
manner suggested an almost morbid
vanity. She had little air OF making
a speech every time she opened her
thin lips. Miss Fowler was simply
lovely, and far too charming to be
married for her money. Captain Fow-
Ter was palpably under his wife's
thumb-a chinless being whose fluid
character evide:tly took the impress
OF the strongest hand that grasped it.
"A hopeless case" thought Horace.
after the first few minutes talk with
his hostess. This woman is an arrant
snOb. and the bare idea of becoming
mOther-in-law to a viscOunt has turned
her weak brain: she won't give in.'
Presently the conversation. which
WINS somewhat general. turned upon
defective postal arrangements. One of
the American ladies had lately posted.
with her own fair hands. letter to a
friend in Regents park that had never
reached its destination. Think how
many an important communication
may have been lost" said Captain
Fowler. speaking with all the assertive
temerity OF the weak. If a letter is
rightly addressed and posted it is de-
livered."
Mot always" interpolated Horace.
Il could tell curious story"
''Oh. do" interrupted chorus OF
female voices
ashton tells q story awfully WE'LL"
exclaimed Humphrey Challoner.
please tell US your story, Mr..
Ashton" murmured Mrs. Fowler in .
patronizing tone.
1T is an incident, an episode. rather
than q story" said Horace. "A story.
we are told, demands three things-a
beginning. a middle and an ending.
My tale has only a beginning. And
now to begin, and must make it
short. for the hour is late.
''One November day. some five
years ago. l happened to come in
earlier than usual. at about four p. M.
feeling very tired and desperately
sleepy. ordered tea to be brought
up at once. but before l had finished
my second cup I fell fast asleep. with
a newspaper and some letters that my
servant had just handed me lying in
my lap unopened. and my fOx-terrier,
Nell. DOING at my feet must have
slept. l suppose. for nearly an hour.
when l suddenly woke with a violent
start that sent both newspaper and
letters flying on TO the hearth rug. the
former bursting its cover in the fall.
when had sufficiently recovered
from the shock of this rude awaken
ing to make any move l stopped down
and picked up the letter that was near
est to me. and which happened to be
lying seal uppermOst. and without |
even glancing at the address tore open
the envelope and proceeded to read its |
They were startling. l must |
admit
"Was the letter from a lady or a gen.
tleman. Mr.. AshtOn?" asked one Of the |
From the former, and it stated that |
being weary Of life and unable to sub
nit any longer to paternal tyranny.
she intended to avail herself Of her
larling's Oftrepeated request that she
should fly with him. and that she.
therefore,. requested him to meet her
at the terminus here (where here
night be, know not. for there was
neither date nor address a!fixed) on
Tuesday next at 4:1j. had scarcely
line to finish the letter, or to wonder
Who could have written it to me. when
ny servant entered with telegram
an immediate answer.
While l was framing my reply Cuth-
vert busted himself with making up
he fire, and in so doing came
nto active collision with Nell. whom
Re never could managerial who
It once began to bark in a way that
drove me nearly wild. As soon as my
elegram was dispatched l looked
'Ound for the cover of the mysterious
epistle. which had decided by this
ime ought never to have fallen into
ny hands; but it was nowhere to be
cen. l asked Cuthbert il he had no
iced it-a long white envelope.
q suppose. SIR he answered in an
lggrieved tone. for he and l were Oft
a at issue where Nell was concerned,
that that was what the dog had got
lOld Of just now. I did try to take it
rom her, but I know you don't like
o hear her bark. She dropped it at
asst and l threw it into the fire. but it
Tas just mere pulp then. You
ouldn't have read what was written
u it
$50 the envelope was destroyed. and
nth it had gone every chance Of my
yer being able to restore its contents
0 their destined recipient Cuthbert
hen proceeded to inform me that he
ad only brought me in two letters
lue ones-with the newspaper, and
here they both were on the table,
Till unopened. So this third epistle.
'hich was, unquestionably. never in
ended for me had evidently arrived
etween the leaves of The Field. and
I'D slipped out when the latter
urst its cover in falling from my lap. I