Middletown transcript., 1892-08-04

ing little body--one could scarcely
think Of her as full grown woman
and much might be forgiven the man
who had chosen to fling behind him
the freedom and pleasures of bachelor
hood for the sake of her bonny blue
eyes.
Up to the time of his marriage
Phil had been content to live the
life Of a bachelor in lodgings; now,
however, it was only to be expected
that he and his wife would want a
house Of their own. Still it was q
matter Of surprise, not to me only,
but to the whole town generally,
when it became known that Phil had
decided to set up housekeeping at
Needwood Lodge, an old-fashioned
country mansion which stood in its
own grounds mile more away on
the London road. It was true the
place was his own, he having bought
the lease Of it, bargain, couple Of
years before, since which time it had
been without tenant. But it was q
big, rambling house, roomy enough
to accommodate not merely a large
family, hut numerous staff of do
mestics, and to keep it up in anything
like proper style would necessitate an
income considerably larger than any
body imagined Phil Redmayne to be
in receipt OF. Ibid not fail to re-
monstrate with him the first time I
saw him after the report reached my
ears ; but he only laughed in his
pleasant, easy going way, and said:
II thought by this time, godfather,
you gave me credit for knowing my
way about. Is it not more sensible
to live under my own roof rather
than pay rent elsewhere, with the
added risk of the lodge remaining for
an indefinite time without a tenant !?
And as for keeping it up shall do
that in a very humble sort Of way,
you may be sure. Besides, it is just
possible that my balance at the bank
is better than you have a notion Of,
and I may whisper in your ear that
Mimi herself will have tidy lump of
money when she comes Of age"
I was glad to hear the latter fact,
aud it also pleased me to learn that
he had been prudent enough, immedi-
ateIy after marriage, to insure his
life for e5 1000. As time went on,
however, I found that Phi's notion of
keeping up the lodge " in a humble
sort Of way differed very materially
from mine. In the first place, the
house was put into what ID, I believe.
called thorough decorative repair, !"
the bill for doing which must have
amounted to a pretty penny; while
half a dozen men were hard at work
doing the same by the gardens and
shrubberies. Then somebody came
down from London with pocket
book and measuring tape, and a
week or two later one van load OF
furniture after another arrived by
railway. till the lodge would hold no
more. A little later came the house
warming, an event which was talked
ofin Tidsthorpe for many a day to
come. Not everyone to whom an in
yitation had been sent honored the
lodge with his or her presence on the
occasion, but for all that pretty Mrs.
Red.nayne, in her bridal costume was
the radiant center Of throng OF
people such as had never been brought
together in our little town.
Before long the young wife might
he met met driving driving abeas The town and
neighborhood in brand new victoria,
which together with pair Of match
ed ponies, had been her husbands
birthday gift. And now a week
never went by without at least one
dinner party or dance at the lodge
and as q natural consequence Of such
profuse hospitality, when Mr.. and
Mrs. Redmayne were not entertaining
friends themselves few evenings passed
on which they omitted to return the
compliment by visiting elsewhere.
CHAPTER II.
When Philip Redmayne's married
life was about year and a half, l
who had scarcely known what it was
to have days illness, was soon la'c
by the heels. AS soon as | was wei
enough to travel, was ordered OF tt
one Of the Germae spas, and told tha
| I must on no account think of busi-
ness for at least six months to come
Ny sister, Charlotte-like me, to'
sensible to marry-who had nursee
me through my illness, accompanied
me abroad. Phil and his wife CAM
to the station to see us of. Mimi hat
hardly let a day pass during my ILL
ness without calling to inquire how
was but that dragon ofa Charlotte
who had taken an unaccountsble dis
like to her, would never allow her t.
come near me. although, as Phil toll
me afterwards, Mimi had imploret
her more than once, with tears in he
ewes, to be allowed to relieve her to
- fwo now and then at M