The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-12-28
THE EVENT OF OUR LIVES.
London Society.l


loved each other, and we had two children
who were as pretty and healthy and nice
hammered as parents could wish. We were
also rich, and when one has love and wealth,
not counterbalanced by bad health or bad
temper, one has pretty nearly everything
that can render lie delightful. We had, in
deed, only one subject of complaint: some
times we found existence trifie monotonous.
81 think" my wife would say, yawnlng-
81 really do think life is too uneventful. 1t
is quite stupidity fat. Why dosen't something
interesting happen?"
"Well. what should you like?" would re-
Join. "Shal ] hire an assassin to stab me at
the opera? or a gypsy to steal the children?
Or"
Nonsense she cried, laying her pretty
hand on my lips. ''0f course, / don't mean
anything fearful and hideous like murder
and kidnapping. don't know what mean;
anything would do, so long as it was exciting
and unusual"
This, however, was the one thing in which
1 couldn't crafty her, for one can't buy unu-
sual events by the ounce, or keep them bot
tied in ones cellar. Sol tried to assuage her
longing with philosophy
1--WE are both young / said. ''Who
knows what may happen before we keep our
golden wedding2 We must wait"
Waltz exclaimed my wife. Eyes, the
end of the world is coming, but we shan't
live to see IT,"
Time, however, proved that was right
One bay she received the following letter
from her only brother in Australia:
"my dear Lucy-I have just nursed back
TO life, after long and dangerous brain
fever, my great friend, George Stormont, and
as the doctors concur in saying a sea-voyage
is the best thing for him, mean to put him
on board the Mount Vermont on the 2Sth,
and ship him eff to England. His only rela-
ton. married sister, lives in Scotland, so l
desired him to go straight to you, as am
sure you will be willing to put him up for
short time till he is equal to a long railway
journey. and L feel confident you and Frank
will pay him all the attention you can for
my sake
''lf he RECEIVERS on the voyage, you will
find him sociable and agreeable and up to
everything; but the doctors tell me that he
may not be quite himself for some months,
and If so, you will see him as he is nova
silent individual, rather eccentric, preferring
solitude, and always incoming about the
place and wandering into rooms where he
has no business. But one must excuse the
vagaries of an invalid, and l trust that you
and Frank will bear with him, as L said be-
fore. for my sake.
"No more now, as l am busy with my
usual avocations, and extra busy looking
after Stormont. With much love to you all,
ever your affectionate brother,
EDGAR ARRowsMITH.
"P. S.--Stormont will arrive fortnight
after this letter.
He came, however, that evening. We were
astonished, but we fastened to welcome him.
and found him in the study-a small, spare
man, with a short dark beard, and cropped
black hair. BE rose slowly from the easy
chair in which he was seated, and looked at
us foolishly.
"We are very glad to see you. Mr.. Stor-
mont" said /, taking his hand. "How are
you? Better, hope"
mot much" said he in weaIied tone,
and putting his hand on his head.
Country air will soon set you up" said I.
"How did you leave Edgar?"
Edgar wrote you were coming by the
Mount Vermont, but surely she isn't in YETI"
remarked Lucy.
Il got off earlier than had dared to hope"
said Stormont. "In the Monte Rosa there
was berth, and it was thought better that
should not delay"
"That was the mail which brought Edgars
letter." said Lucy.
"Yes." said Stormont.
After that he relapsed into silence, and
we could only extract monosyllabic answers
from him. We sew that he was fatigued,
and presently showed him to his rooms
two apartments on the ground floor. which
Lucy's thoughtfulness had provided.
''My wife fancied You might like to be
saved the stairs" l said.
he thanked me warmly.
"It was very kind of Lady Dennis" he
said. 81 sleep badly, and often take walk
in the early morning. so this will suit me
exactly, as / shall be able to leave the house
without disturbing anyone"
stake care meme of my servants mistake
you for a burglar" said l, laughing.
oh, they won't do that" he returned, with
smile.
So left him, and as he was very quiet
and taciturn, and his brain evidently still
extremely weak, Lucy and found that his
"Don't mind me-" he said the next day.
81 feel exhausted, and conversation tires
me. But am not Ill, and you will please
me best and serve me most if you will let me
20 my own way and not concern yourselves
about me-"
So we left him to follow his own devices,
and as he preferred to have his meals in his
own room, we saw very little of him.
ITS too bad," Lucy said to me. Il did
think Mr.. Stormont would have been an ex-
citing element. hope we should have had
the house crowded with nurses and brain
specialists, and that perhaps he would have
gone suddenly mad, and you would have re-
strained him in some heroic manner. In
stead of which he is as humdrum as posi-
BILE. At least he might have gone little
crazy"
swell, he may yet" said /. "He has only
beer here week today"
That evening johnson demanded an inter-
view of me.
well, JohnsonP" l said to this old and
faithful domestic.
''I'm not easy about Mr.. Stormont, Sir
Francis" said johnson, carefully looking
over his shoulder, though he had as careful
ly closed the door behind him when he en-
tered.
'What about Mr.. Stormont?" / inquired.
"ae's an uncommonly queer gentleman,
Sir Francis" replied johnson. Several
nights I've found him wandering about my
pantry. and yesterday he frightened Mrs
Rowe out of her wits by coming in when she
and me was holding confidential communi-
cation in the housekeeper's room. Mrs.
Rowe's heart is weak. Sir Francis"
couldn't help smiling, fol it was no secret
where the weakness in Mrs. Rowe's heart
tended.
"What explanation did Mr.. Stormont
offer?" | asked.
"NOne Sir Francis" said johnson. "He
put his hand to his head and looked bewil-
dered, and then went off. He's been caught
upstairs by the girls just the same, and Jane
met him at your dressiDg-room door. And it
makes it worse because he walks so soft. We
Amt none of US angry with the poor gentle
man, Sir, Francis but we think hes stark