Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-08-27

it was something of trouble to her that
her lfework Of benefcence involved no
severer self-denial than that Of leisure.
Blarney's widowed sister kept the New
York house for him, and through attending
the same church was associated with Miss
BemniSon in various parish committees.
In this way Miss Bennison had made the
acquaintance of the eminent ex-senator,
who had more than once used his influence
with success TO further certain public move
ments in which Miss Beunison took deep in
terest. Though their relations could scarcely
be described as those Of strict friendship,
there certainly was reciprocity OF regard on
one side for character and on the other for
usefulness, which at once set some scandal
loving tongues u wagging about mysteri-
Gus rebuf that was said to have been adj
ministered by Miss Bennison. 1t was,
however, only 4 church fiea-bite.
Blalnaby always made point of accept
ing every invitation to Miss Bennison's en-
tertalnmentS-overy one, that is, that
reached him. Some, somehow, did not.
Among the persons to whom ne was there
introduced there were three men whose
friendship he set himself to gain. For
Blarnaby had the small change of converse
tiCn in ready abundance. He could hold
anybody on any passing topic long enough
to find out whether it was worth while TO
hook him with bigger bait. There was the
venerable but vigorous Abram Sebag, head
of one of the worlds most famous financing
houses, a literal king of kings, when the
royal talk was Of cash, and yet as humble a
gentleman as ever lacked q rent-rol. A
grand stroke, unused Blarnaby, TO get old
Sebag to take up the Scheme. Then there
was Roger Winslow, good man TO know,
an angel to help you, but demon if de-
ceived. Winslow was one Of those native
Americans who stand midway between the
old New Englanders and the new Old Eng
landers, no prouder of their American birth
than of English descent. Patriots, these,
of the broadest kind, because they aim to
bring closer together the sister peoples
whose destiny is the sure supremacy of the
English speaking race. Winslow, thought
he, will come in handler by-and-bye than d
real full-blown diplomatist, raised, per-
haps, in Kankakee, licked into shape in
Washington, and pitch-forked up to KAN
schatka or the Court of Timbuctoo.
The third was quiet-looking younger
man, guiltless of diamonds, lacking even
the muStache with curly waxed ends, but
graced with natural air of refinement that
could be felt. His name was peculiar (if
any set of names can be so in a free and in
dependent republic), being Ettrick Shep-
herd Hogg. 1t was understood that this
gentleman's father (or was it his fathers
fatherJ had enigrsted from Scotland and
had built up large industry and fortune in
Illinois. Whether so named in admiration
for the poet, or some relationship perhaps,
it Is not certain, but the uncouth name i'll
suited the appearance, the manner, and pur-
suits of its owner Mr. Hogg was scholar,
a traveller, and philosopher. In their
place and way he was something OF sports
man, dilettante, and thorough all-around
man of the world. His means enabled him
to be citizen of the two worlds, Eastern and
Western, and the wonder grew in New
York circles on which side the Atlantic he
would choose his wife, and where he would
settle. To him Blarnaby looked as proba-
bic trump card in his pack of friends.
How did Miss Bennison's friends look
upon the Hon. Dewitt NJ Blarnabyl In
orally successful man. Blarnaby, whis-
pered society, is, of course, one of your
clever, self-made men who graduate from
the stump; but he is rising above his sur
don't you know, and if he con-
tinues to cultivate good taste he may de-
velop into greatness, or even into one of
Dur select selves. Personally, neither
Sebag, Winslow, nor Hogg felt any differ
emily toward Blarnaby than toward any
other guest at Miss Bennison's table. If
hey felt anything it was not apparent. Be-
sides, no one knows who may be able to do
)ne good turn, our mutual interests are
so involved nowadays. Hogg possessed
arge estates out West, somewhere near the
lewly-found asphalt yield in the territory
controlled by Blarnaby. When Blarnaby
'ound it advisable to scamper post haste to
london, to place his scheme on the mar
Set, he had no hesitation in asking Miss
3ennison to favor him with introductions
which might promote business. II was
Easy, and business like, TO fortify himself
With recommendation from that lady to
'undry of her influential business friends,
md among them the three already named.
To Miss Bennison he suggested that intro
luctions to few of her connexions (for
ONE of her family had married into
he British aristocracy) would bring him |
nto contact with prominent men in the |
financial and, consequently, the political |
world, which was the height of his imme- |
late ambition. These he duly received, |
nd duly presented, as we shall see. From |
Ir. Sebag (who disdained to use foreign |
tile some impecuniouS monarch had con- |
erred upon him) he obtained note which |
truck him as unnecessarily formal, but +!
worth carrying, II not using. Mr. Hogg |
vas happy to be of any little service to SO
veil known 3 gentleman as Mr.. Blarnaby, |
nd inclosed a couple of very kind intro
uctions to an English baronet who was
lember of parliament and all eminent Lon
on barrister. Mr.. Winslow gave him q
etter to leading stockbroker, sort of
artner of his, for Winslow was himself
otable figure in Wall street.
Miss Bennison had living with her as
and in legal sense Us ward,
right young lady, not long escaped from
or teens. This was Genie Dabchic. an
rphan long enough to have forgotten the
ain Of her bereavements. She was the !
fe and soul of the house. as many sigh
lg suffer could testify. What in ordinary
iris Miss Bennison gently deprecated as
'ivolity, in Genie was only the innocent
Suberance Of high spirits. For Genie had
ute an unusual knock of combining sense
18th her nonsense, of dropping from cloud
md down to solid earth in the turn of SEN
lnce; and this added new charm to her
ivacity, and often new terror to small
Tx chatters who bored her. She happened
} trip into the drawing room one morning
) Mr. Hogg was about to take leave of Miss
enniSon after call upon something relat-
e to the church extension fund
"Oh-I beg thousand pardons. auntie;
id no idea you were here, Mr.. Hogg."
pray don't mind me, Miss Dabchie; I'm
,body, and I'm gone
No you're not, MIR. Hogg, for I'm your
iler now-mayn't be, auntie, dearl'
That depends on the length of YOUR pris-
ler's sentence, Genie; and l don't know
hat his crime is yet
But don't you know, Miss Bennison. that |
this free country man may be locked in |
e TombS for years before ne knows |
neither he is legally criminal or notl
ut plead guilty TO wasting your precious
ne
'tNo-that's my crime now, Mr.. Hogg,
ID I'm going to add to its Nervousness BY |
aStlQp bit more of V0urS-if v0u'l1 lat 1