Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-01-06


women, the schools. the new pony trap and
| the points of view. They treated with a
| respect and consideration that was entirely
| rovel. and for which suspected 1 had to
| thank my uniform (Which l had been i'm
/ plored to bring with mel, but which was.
| nevertheless, gratifying. 1t was all very
pleasant and home-like, and quite forgot
| how very much in love with Nora McCran
I had begun to be one short week ago in
| Ballynoggin.
My mother, in the pride of her heart, took
me to pay visits with her all over the
| came round, / felt quite intimate with at
| lea st half the congregation.
| Who was the funny old lady in a yell
low bonnet and furs. sitting under the pull
| PITT" asked after dinner
Miss Corbett of Brockwood," said my
mother. You know we called there on
| Thursday, but she was OUT
| And the little Niger with herr"
| "Ohi That's a real African prince, her
| latest pet, son of Oke Jumbo, King of Bon
ny She wanted heather to convert, her
/ self. and the missionaries had no end of
| trouble to steal this one for he-, as she in
| sisted on his being OF good family" Gertie
| explained.
"Shes wild about pets" Freda continued.
! land she changes them once a fortnight. at
] least. The place was just like the parrot
house at the Zoo once, when we first came,
and the next thing we heard of her was
| that DR.. Burnaby was furious at being sent
| for one winter night to see her kangaroos.
/ The climate wasn't agreeing with them.
| She kept tame snakes once, and they es-
! capped and were never found. No one dared
| cross the park for months after, as they
were supposed to be hiding there
/ heard a good deal more about Miss Cor
belts eccentricities before long. She had
taken violent liking to my father. ana
| used to send for him constantly, much to
Freda's disgust. as she had to drive him to
| Brockwood-'the man." compound of
| gardener, butler and coachman, being in
valided. The old lady's gravest considera-
Al sfA r6o - .a.. lar
property. which was absolutely under her
| control. Her prospective heirs were as nu-
merous as her pets, and nearly as often
| changed. She'll end by dying intestate or
| leaving everything to the county charities,
my father used to say on coming home from
| enc Of the numerous interviews he had with
| her on the subject. She ought, in common
| decency, provide for her faithful old ser
wants and that unlucky little African in her
| lifetime, and so 1 told her."
Next day II was, We'll, / think the old
| lady has made up her mind at last. She
| has sent for her nephew from London-her
| natural heir-and made will in his favor.
| 1t is all very right and nice. L saw II sign
| ed and witnessed, and the old one destroyed;
] that is her regular custom before she signs
| the new one"
what's the new one nke?" asked Gertie.
Has he Gomez"
"Oh, such a horrorr' broke in Freda, clocks
| like a little Jew tradesman-and his manners
are insufferable. / shan't go near Brock
wood again during Mr.. Jonathan Marilliers
stay"
.Marilnery' exclaimed. 81 thought had
met with Brockwood before. but couldn't
| imagine where"
' What on earth are you talking about?
| said the girls together.
| / explained. When 1 had done Freda be-
| gan: That's the very Major Marillier that
poor Miss Patty Payne-Miss Corbetts COM
panion-is always telling me about. Yes,
| he's a cousin, a distant one, and four years
ago was here on a visit. Miss Patty goes
! into wild raptures about him on small pro-
vocation. He was very kind to her, poor
/ forlorn little woman Miss Corbett was de-
| lighted with him at first, and then quarrel
| ed furiously with him. l believe he used
disrespectful language about her monkey.
| 1.-The monkey shouted.
| why yes, she had one for pet just
| then, a nasty, thieving, mischievous Great
ure. Every one hated 1t, and 1t ended by
costing poor Major Marillier Brockwood
Miss Patty doesn't know exactly what the
quarrel was about-but Miss Corbett called
him a swindler and time-serving hypocrite
one day at dinner, and he got up. said good
bye to her quite politely, and left the place al
| once. His luggage was sent after MIN
and the monkey. He left orders with the
| butler that If ever it was to be disposed of,
he'd like it. Next day Miss Corbett did
nothing by cry and moan after him-saylns
| he had deserted her, and that the monkey
should be hanged-so Parker, the butler,
| took it away, and sent 1t of to Major Maril-
lier without telling her"
4 L
and had the satisfaction of seeing all the
| family as puzzled as myself.
| II wish your friend could be induced to
make some advances to Miss Corbett," said
my father. I'm sure he would have good
chance of the succession
! THAT Marillier will never do" l replied,
| emphatically. Hes not that sort of man..
| Its shame!'' said Freda. Indignantly.
| 'T'll speak to Miss Corbett myself tomor-
row; 1 know she likes me. No. you shall
go and tell her what fine fellow her cousin
| is. Wen drive over together"
| That interview never came off. Once only
| in our lives were Miss Corbett and l des-
| tined to meet. From the moment of MIR
/ Jonathan Marilliers arrival, all outsiders
like ourselves were gently and unobtrusively
| kept from approaching the poor old woman,
who looked feebler and shaker every sun
| day. Poor Miss Patty's eyes and nose bore
| signs of much weeping, and We heard of
| new pets being adopted.
One night came furious peal at the bell,
| and a mounted groom delivered a note from
| Miss Patty begging my father to come with
| out delay. I'm drive YOU" / called out 10
| him, plunging into some clothes; and in a
| quarter of an hour We were on the road
| greatly wondering what had caused the
| summons.
| Lights were in the Brockwood windows as
| we drove up "One! clanSS from the tall
| clock tower over our heads as we passed
| under the echoing archway that led to the
| big hall. Brockwood was a rambling old red
| sandstone pile smothered in ivy, looking
| gloomy and ghost-ridden enough by day
| light, but positively grewsome in the small
| hours. l was left by Parker who shook his
head dolefully when 1 inquired after his
mistress, with one candle, in a spacious vault
| of a dining room, surrounded by grim por-
| traits Of dead and gone Corbetts, staring
out white from their dingy backgrounds
] The gloom and the stiffness grew so appall-
/ ing that fairly jumped when the door sud
denly opened, admitting a truly awful APP
rariuon-a figure with disheveled black
| rtnglets, in shawl-pattern dressing gown
carrying bed room candlestick.
| Mr.. Marillier, presume" retained suf-
/ hcient composure to remark.
| Yes. I'm Mr.. Marilier, Miss Corbett's
nephew. I've not the pleasure of your ac-
| quaintance sir, and at any other time should
| be happy to make it; but for a stranger to
be here just now is-you must excuse my
saying it-a-a species of intrusion"
| Miss Corbett sent an imperative sum-
mons to my father" 1 replied
| Most extraordinary! A very extraordi-
| nary proceeding. / am Miss Corbett's natu-
raj guardian and protector-Im her nephew
She only took the name of Corbett with the
! property. Dear, dear! Rhoda ought to have
| been here now; lady can be of SO much
! use-such a pity to have brought your IA
ther here at this time of night, And DIR.
| Burnaby refuses to allow me to see NV
aunt Rhoda should have been here. hut
our baby-our ninth-is only four DAYS old
or she should certainly have been with her
| dear aunt. Dear. dear, it's such a pity to
| detain you herep' and so on he maundered
| in a querulous monotone, while / listened
to the clock Ginning the quarters and won
| dereQ whatever going