Iuka reporter. (Iuka, Miss.) 1888-1894, 1889-07-18
LINK BY LINK;
The Rended Veil.
BY NATHAN D. URNER.
Author Of "Fiorence FaJhIand,r "The Mod
crn Crusoc," "Sqmirret- Can" "Hovcr
and Trader" "Thc SpeechIess
Spy," "Ecodne,- Etc, Etc.
CHAPTER u-Contin,,aa

49, e,, ~cs"cen writiuS-toDle and the
low-silled window, which was closed by
reason Of the chilliness of the weather
that also necessitated bright. cheerful
wood-fire sparkling on the hearth. In n
lew minutes we'll be ready to talk the
whole thing over.
why not ut once, grandfather?" said
young Dixon, with \ look Of ANNOYANCE,
We'll, ah, you see, have sent for Mr..
Jocelyn and Mrs. Miogles to be present.
what have your steward and house.
keeper to do with our private family af-
fairs, thought said the grandson, his look
OF annoyance deepening to positive
Tut, tut, boy! don't be ill-natured, said
me ola man, pettishly; you know how l
trust them IN everything, you know"
he was cut short BY the abrupt and un-
announced entrance Of the parties in cues
tion themselves.
l had seen Mr.. Jocelyn before, and didn't
like him, though believed him to be capable
and honest. He was close Tipped quiet
hammered man, apparently Of fifty odd,
with restless eyes, heavy shock of white
gray hair, and such masses of short, gray
beard, almost totally concealing the greater
part of his face, as would, to my professional
eye, have occasioned suspicion as to it's
genulneness, but for q meditative habit he
had OF hugging at the tuft on his chin with
nervousness that was proof enough to the
contrary. He had been Mr.. Dixon's stew
ard, house-agent, and general business
man for about six years, and WAS reputed
to have obtained complete ascendancy
over his somewhat superannuated EMPLOYER
with good reason, as / was soon con-
WINGED.
Mrs. Miggles. who took seat by his
side, had been in the service of the family
somewhat longer, first as governess to the
children, then as nurse to their invalid
mother during final protracted illness
that had completed their orphanage-their
father. old Mr.. Dixon's only son, having
passed away by shipwreck when they were
but infants-an now as housekeeper and
sort OF general lady manager of The
Aspens. She was still comedy woman on
the right side of forty, very ladylike. and,
judge, OF passionately self willed dis
position.
Are We all ready now, grandfather" said
young Dixon, sarcastically, "or shall we wait
for Eunice and the other servants?"
Tut, tut" repeated the old gentleman
while neither the housekeeper nor steward
appeared to pay the least attention to the
young mans implied affront; "we are all
here together now, and may suitably weigh
and discuss the events Of this remarkable
day."
Butat this moment there was timid knock
at the door, and another member to the con-
ference was admitted. 1t was the pretty
and graceful bridesmaid, Miss Marion
Digby.
Il really did not wish to intrude," she
said, pausing just inside the doorway with
pretty confusion. but Lulu, who is much
better, insisted that / should leave her in
Enn1ca'g charfro 1oro ~
see what is going on, as her representative
She heard that there was to be a sort of
conference, You know.
Happy to have you with us, my dear,
am sure, chuckled the old gentleman, ris-
ing and bowling with true old country po-
likeness, while his grandson eagerly arose
and escorted her to seat on tho lounge, at
one end of which was sitting. "Oniy be
sure that we shall say nothing further of
the most recent adventure of Lulu's, at
which my old friend Piercer, here, CHANGED
to be of such inestimable service.
Tit out! Set 'em up Ggainl Oh, Lord,
out I'm hungry suddenly vociferated a
shrill, discordant voice directly over my
head.
They all laughed, and / turned quickly
to perceive that there was still another
member of the family gathering whom /
had taken no notice of before. 1t was n
large green parrot that had been sleeping
in its cage, half concealed by one Of the
heavy window curtains Just behind my end
of the lounge, and which at this moment
happened to dawn back into its noisy and
garrulous wakefulness.
y The affability of the bird continuing. the
old gentleman strove to coddle it into
silence with pet names and wheedling ex-
pressions. while his grandson surrepti-
,tiously punched it with stair-rod behind
my back; the rest of US being more or less
amused.
In the meantime having, as a matter of
habit, taken an inventory of all the old
fashioned but expensive belongings of the
apartment in which we were sitting, made
the following mental notes concerning my
companions:
l. Old Grandfather Dixon is rapidly APP
preaching his dotage, if not already in it.
2. Steward J0celyn and Housekeeper Mig
giles have between them already got almost
complete ascendency over him. 3. Young
Dixon hates both Jocelyn and Miggles. BY
reason of this ascendancy, and is also very
much in love with his sisters friend, Miss
Digby instance the pleased flush with
which he led her to seat by his side and
other signs. 4. Mrs, Miggles is in love with
Jocelyn and extremely jealous-pide GER
fectly natural glance Of admiration which
he cast upon Miss Digby. 5. The influence
of Jocelyn and Migg1es over Grandfather
Dixon may be honestly exerted for the
good of the heirs-t be; am rather disposed
to think that it is.
Such were the mental memoranda of my
first impressions, which generally prove
correct
The parrot having been temporarily sup
pressed, Mr.. Dixon resumed his seat, twid-
died his thumbs nervously. and then i'd
dressed himself directly to me.
Mr.. Piercer, you know something of tine
deplorable contrefenps of to-day, and
hope you will be able to assist us by your
professional experience and knowledge of
human nature, or rather human contrari-
less. said he. with comical mixture Vi
.bonhomie and aristocratic assumption in
his manner. ut seems, sir-you can Judge,
sir. how unwillingly make the confession
that have permitted myself to be grossly
deceived in the character of the man who
was to have married my granddaughter to-
day. Did you ever happen to meet h m?"
q but once had man pointed ont to me
on the railway station platform ns Mr.. Mon
tague de- NIarchmont, the gentleman then
understood to be engaged to the young
lady. replied.
UA1, thar ttoro ie <,,Is- <,.e -, .,,, 49,.