The morning news., 1892-02-21
[ALL RIGHrs RESERVED,


Selma was ordered away, and the lady OF
the house gave her niece majestic audience
in the front parlor. Tilda's aunt had al
ways been q striking person to Tilda's fancy.
her position as the proprietress Of 8 board
ing house of the select sort and the most un-
blemished reputation had surrounded beE
with halo OF respectability which was al
most awful to contemplate. TildR's father,
who had combined the business of green
grocer and coal merchant, and had spent his
later years in chronic state of drink and
impecuniosity, had held his sister in almost
religious reverence. and had pointed to her
lofty social standing as indicating the apex
from which he had been torn by ruthless
circumstances. MISS Thoms had never mar
ried, holding as she did strong views with
regard to the depravity OF man at large. and
having confirmed those views in the course
OF an observation extending over thirty
years of casual and permanent boarders.
These, though as select as she could make
them and ruled with rod Of iron by her,
self. were tarred with the brush of man
hood, and were unanimous in their demand
for latch keys, a circumstance which to her
virgin mind spoke volumes. The late John
Thoms had given the most ample cause for
her despite Of him, and beyond the fact
that Tilda was her niece she had no great
reason to love his daughter. But there was
a heart in that majestic bosom after all.
and when little Mrs. Potter had procured
her marriage certificate and shown her
wedding ring. the old lady was softened by
her distress and loneliness. and had already
began to cast about in her own mind to dis
cover in what way, with due regard to
economy, she could best be Of service.
When Matilda drew out the canvas bag of
sovereigns which Sam had brought from
the bank after cashing the lawyers check.
Miss Thums kissed her niece with genuine
affection. and when the legal papers estab-
fishing Sams right TO freehold property in
the parish of Upnor, in the county OF Wor-
certer, TO the value OF a4OO per annum, had
been seen. the stately old woman's awakened
feelings brooked no bounds. The special
cake, and special sherry, reserved for visit
ors OF high distinction, were set before the
traveller, and Matilda was enshrined in her
aunts breast for ever as the most Iovable of
little women. She was nightly to be pitied
condoled with aud Encouraged at the begin
ming, and later on to be installed in a cham
Der sorupulously neat and clean, with q
promise Of better quarters by and by.
And now, Matilda said Miss Thoms,
with her hands spread out upon her black
silk knees, and her figure a model of the
bearing of propriety; you must make ar
rangements so that your husband eau find
you wnen he comes back to England"
To her mind the case against Sam Potter
looked very black indeed, but as yet she
would not give voice to her suspicious. In
spite Of Matilda's protestations as to her
husbands sobriety Miss Thoms was con-
WINGED that he had stayed on shore to drink
with disreputable old bachelor companions
To her way Of thinking, the single state was
a high virtue in women kind, whilst for the
members Of the opposite sex 1t was the par
ept Of all the deadly sins. A confirmed old
maid was necessarily pattern Of pro
priety, and a confirmed old bachelor was
necessarily pattern of impropriety. A
married man in the clutches of bachelor
contingent was on the road whose slope led
swiftly to destruction.
"You had better CO." she continued, "to
the lawer whose name you showed me in
these papers. Your husband will be certain
TO go 10 him when he reaches England, and
you must leave your address,"
Matilda. comforted greatly by her recep.
ton, promised to obey this common sense
counsel, and at her aunt's leading launched
into long description of Sam, his manners,
history and aspect. She had black-nosed !
cheap photograph OF him given In the early
days of courtship, in which with his wild
hair and huge beard the poor Sam was
made to look like a most desperate cut
throat, with whom the marrying and de-
sertion of unsuspecting maidens was likely
to have been one OF the merest OF common
pastimes.
Whilst the two were In the full flow OF
talk, there came ring at the bell, and
shortly afterward d gentleman Of clerical
aspect entered the room, and, taking up q
book, retired 70 the back window and begar
to read.
Matilda surveyed him with such evident
astonishment and interest that after brief
pause. for proprietys sake, her aunt led her
from the apartment. and Questioned hel
whisperingiy in the hall,
II knew that gentleman In Australia,
said Matilda.
Ibid you, indeed my dear?" replied her
aunt. HE was talking last night at dinner
about it."
g. must find his name and address" cried
the little woman. "When Sam comes hom,
he'll want to know it."
"Pve got his card in my pocket now. 'Th,
Rev. Jordan Farrell, NJ A., st. john
Parsonage, Wellsted, Essex
Matilda begged for the address. and aftel
some demur and explanation her aunt sur
rendered the card to her keeping. The littl,
woman thought it well to say no more tina,
that the clergyman had In his charge tn,
child of Sam Potter's dearest friend. Tht
infant was an orphan now, she added, anC
Sam would think it his duty to see that i
was cared for properly.
Miss Thoms spent a considerable portion
OF the remainder Of the day in the attemp
to reconcile Sans cut-throat aspect as pre-
sented in the black-nosed photograph, will
his reported tender interest in the fate of al
orphan baby, but arrived at no satisfactory
conclusion.
The Rev. Jordan Farrell said grace owe
the O'clock dinner, and was affably instruct
i've to the boarders during the progress O
the meal,
Matilda was all eyes for him, and natur
| ally pleased to tind an auditor SO attentiv
and regardful, the reverend gentleman
turned most of his talk her way.
The selected gentlemen OF Miss Thoms
establishments voted him bore, but th
selected ladies, who were all elderly, all Of
serious turn. and each with a microscopic
competence. thought him delightful. Ma
| tilda would fain have asked after the Rev
Jordan Farrell's charge, but could not screv
her courage TO the point,
She had an unexpected meeting with hin
on the following day, when in pursuance O
her aunt's advice she went to see the LAWYER
The aspect OF the Offices frightened he
more than a little. They were on th,
| ground floor Of set of grimy chambers Il
| trays Inn, as airless, as inconvenient, AM
as pervaded with odors of dry rot as tn
| most conservative Of lawyers could desire
She was kept waiting in an outer room 70
some time where the heads Of whole roy
| OF clerks bobbed up singly at uncertain in
| tervals from behind dirty screen of cor
rugated glass to stare at her, and after thi
ordeal TO her nerves was ushered into
chamber where the gas was burning, though
II was broad. cheerful daylight outside. an,