Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1889-09-14
Mr.. NELSON'S WILL.
BY III. RIDER HAGGARD

"a = hAiA'A was ICllutT ClElSfN uOI
bow, but rather a happy combination OF
both. The compliment was, Augusta felt,
sincere, however much il exaggerated the
measure of her poor capacities, and, put
ting other things aside, was, coming as il
did from one woman 10 another, peculiar
ly graceful and surprising. She blushed
and bowed, scarcely knowing what 70 say,
when suddenly Mr.. Nelson's harsh tones,
pitched just now In respectful key, broke
upon her ear. Mr.. Meeson was addressing
no less a person than Lord Holmhurst, q.
c. NJ. G.. Lord Holmhurst was a stout.
short, dark little man, with a somewhat
pompous manner, and a kindly face. He
was a Colonial Governor of the first water,
and was perfectly aware of the fact.
Now, n Colonial Governor. ever though
he be a G.. c. NJ. G. when he is ut home. is
not a name to c~onjure with. and does not
fill an exclusive place in the eye Of the
English world. There are many Colonial
Governors in the present and past tense
TO be found in the p~urlieus Of South Ken
sington, where their presence creates no
unusual excitement. Blu when one Of
this honorable corps sets foot upon the
vessel destined To bear him 10 the shores
that he shall rule, all this changes. He
puts off the body Of the ordinary betitled
individual, and pnts ON the body of the
celestial brotherhood. In short, from be-
ing nobody ont Of the comfnOa he becomes,
and very properly 80, "A great man. No
body knew this better than Lord Holm
hurst, and, 10 a 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 ship day by day
steamed further from England and nearer
to the country where he was King. II
went mp, degree by degree. like n Their
mometer which is taken down into the
bowels of the earth or gradually removed
into the sunlight. At present, however.
the thermometer was only rising.
II was repeating, my Lord" said the
harsh voice Of Mr.. Meeson, that the prin-
ciple of IN hereditary peerage is the grand
est principle our country has yet devel-
oped. 1t gives us something 10 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 a proud position:
but. as / have understood, your Lordship's
father was a trader like me-
"Hum!-well, not exactly, Mr.. Mecson,"
broke In Lord Holmhurs:. "Dear me, I
wonder who that exceedingly ~nice-looking
girl Lady Holmhurst is talking TO can be?'
Now, your Lordship, TO put n case, +"
went on the remorseless Meeson, who, like
most people of his stamp, had an almost
superstitious veneration for the aris;ocra-
cy, II have made n great deal Of money,
as | do not mind telling your Lordship;
what is there TO prevent my successor
%supposing | have a successor-frOm taking
advantage of that money, and rising on ii
To a similar position TO that 50 worthily oc-
cupied by your Lordship;"
Exactly, Mr.. Meeson. A most excel
lent idea for your successor. Excuse me,
but I see Lady Holmhurst reckoning TO
me-" And he fled p~recipitately, still fol-
lowed by Mr.. Meeson.
John, my dear!" said Lady Holmhurst,
~ want to introduce you 10 Miss Smithers
the 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 a consid'
cradle eye for a 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 at finding her, apparent.
~, upon the very best of terms with peO-
pie of such quality, he hesitatedto 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 a moment, as W !,
do sometimes take such resolutions, Au'
gusta came 10 "A determination. She would
have nothing more to do with Mr.. Meesor
she would repudiate him then and there
come what would OF il.
So, as he advanced upon her with out
stretched hand, she drew herself up, and
in a cold and determined voice said, 81
already know Mr.. Meeson, Lady Holm
hurst; and / do not wish TO have anything
more TO do with him. Mr.. Meeson has not
behaved well 10 me-"
"'Pon my word, "murmured Lord Holm
hurst TO himself, II don't wonder she ha:
AstU tutu-n VI lii 1NASAoAC soAhS wv
man, that!'
Lady Holmhurst looked a little aston
ished and a little amused. Suddenly, how
ever, a light broke upon her.
"Oh. | see" she said. Il suppose that
Mr.. Meeson published Terminals Vow.
OF course that accounts for 1t. Why, ! de
clare, there is the dinner bell! Come
along, Miss Smithers, or we shall lose thu
place that the Captain has promised u.s.
And, accordingly, they went leaving Mr.
Meeson, who had not yet fully realized tn,
unprecedented nature of the situation
positively gasping on the deck. And OF
board the Kangaroo there were no clerk
and editors on whom he could wreak hi
wrath
And now. my dear Miss Smithers, " sait
Lady Holmhurst, when, dinner being over
they were sitting together in the moon
light, hear the wheel, perhaps you vii
tell me why You don't like Mr.. Meeson
whom. by the way, l personally detest
But don't, IL you don't wish TO, you know.
But Augusta did wish to, and then an'
there she unselded her whole sad stor.
into her new-found friends s~ympatheti
ear: and glad enough the poor girl was 4
find a confidant TO whom she could un
bosom her sorrows.
"Weil, upon my word.' said Lady Holm
hurst, when she had listened with tears il
her eyes 70 the history Of poor httls Jean
MES death, upon my word, Of all th'
H. = - - 49, Az.