The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-07-18
A MOST UNFORTUNATE AFFAIR.

1 had resigned the name OF Leigh with
out a sigh, and blossomed forth as
Francis Hughes-Norreys. Esquire. of
Copseby Manor. in Derbyshire.
But il was as Frank Leigh. and not as
Mr.. Hughes-NOrreys. that 1 returned to
Barbelham some weeks after the funeral.
For the present, at least / had decided
to keep my good fortune a secret. / was
always romantic, and l now desired TO
play the part of Lord Of Burleigh" I'm
little romance Of real life. / would allow
Caroline 10 marry me under the impress
sion that she was taking me chiefly for
worse, take her into Derbyshire for the
honeymoon, show her Copseby Manor,
and assure her that I was not the poor
clerk she thought me, but lord of all the
lands for miles around. Then we would
settle down, and live happily ever after
ward. Still. I was by no means unwilling
to see a little more life first, especially
now that | was so we'll provided with the
sinews of war, and so, when Caroline told
me that the long-expected answer had
come, and that Mr.. Jagg insisted on
years probation, I cheerfully consented.
l had already obtained work in law
yer's office, | saba statement which
was very near the truth. since / had much
legal business to transact in connection
with my successiOn-and l promised TO be
so industrious that when Mr.. Jagg re-
turned TO England in the following spring.
he would be compelled to abandon all
opposition to our union. SO we kissed
and parted. Caroline praising me for my
courage, but at the same tiple entreating
me. for her sake, not TO injure my health
by overwork. And. for her sake, l prom
ised that 1 would not.
OF the next few months 1 need only
say that ! kept my promise, and If | in
jured my health, ii was not through over
work. On the whole. / thoroughly en-
joyed myself, but there were days when
L 81 1V,1
l flew on the wings of love 10 Caroline
to be petted, soothed. and gently re-
buked for disObedience, for of course
she attributed my paleness to too close
an application TO my duties. So the time
sped away until Christmas arrived, and
went down into Derbyshire to spend
the season at the manor.
1 now come 20 an incident which. /
must confess. at the first blush looks
rather awkward. l refer, Of course, 10
my engagement 70 Miss Westbrook. In
excuse, 1 can only plead that. at the
time. my bright side was completely in
the ascendant, and that Lillian was a
girl well calculated to arouse the gay
est emotions Of my nature. Her society
acted as stimulant. in short, and IL is
a well-knOwn fact that the practice of
taking stimulants, once INDUCED IN, rap
idly grows upon one. Mrs. WestbrOok,
who was a widow with a family of three
dren, was my nearest neighbOr, and as
she was very hOspitable, l was often at
her house. of which Lillian was the life
and soul. II was impossible TO meet her
frequently and not come under the in
huence of her spells and l am only
human. Yet I protest that I was never
Intentionally false TO dear Caroline, and
TO this day I can hardly tell how II hap
pened. All I know is. that one night.
during Children's party the WestbrOoks
were giving. | found myself in the con-
servatCry alone with Lillian. that / lost
my head. and said l don't exactly know
what. and that next moment Lillian was
murmuring that it was all so very sud
den. but perhaps I'd better ask mamma.
Thus. before 1 had time TO realize the
situation. it was all over and 1 was en-
gagged two deep.
Well there was no help for it. Mamma
evidently knew all about it before the
end of the evening, for when / took
my leave. she blessed me effUsivelv in an
undertone, and made an appointment for
the next morning. BY noon the follow
ing day 7 was Lilians formally accepted
sutton. and by the end of the week our
engagement was known to the whole
county. and congratulations began TO
pour in upon US. The wedding. how
ever. was not TO take place till the au-
tumn, owing TO the absence of a certain
Uncle john, who was travelling abroad,
out Was expected nome IN June. WIN
out Uncle John the WestbrOOks apparent
ly could do nothing. Uncle John was to
fix the date; Uncle John was 10 super
intend the drawing up of settlements;
Uncle John was To give the bride away,
and propose her health at breakfast aft
erward: in short. all the arrangements
were 10 be left TO him, and he had TO be
communicated with before anything
could be decided on. In due course the
great mans answer came. Uncle John
was graciously pleased TO approve Of the
enga cement, and ventured 10 suggest
September as a suitable month for the
ceremony
You may be sure that 1. for one made
no objection. September was eight
months off. and in eight months any
thing might happen. At all events, l
had time to turn about in, and TO de-
wise some means Of escape from the very
delicate position in which I had placed
myself. But neither my mother-wit nor
the chapter of accidents came TO my aid !;
and when in April l accompanied the
WestbrOoks up To town for the season,
| was as deeply engaged as ever. And,
let me assure you, the successful carry
ing on of two ngagemenets at the same
time involves no incOnsiderable mental
strain-a strain which soon began 10
tell upon me. As a result my temper
became extremely variable. One day
was in the hight Of high spirits, and de-
lighted to dance attendance upon Lillian
the next / was in the most dismal
depths Of depression, and then my
thoughts dwelt persistently on Caroline
The consequence was that / was never
in one mood long enough to devise
consistent plan of campaign; for just as
| was beginning 10 see my way TO
rupture with the one, my mind changed
and / at once turned my attention to
some scheme for breaking with the other
My situation. i'm fact, was precisely that
of Capt. Macheath'' in THE Beggar's
the position of a certain animal, which
shall not permit myself to name, be-
tween two bundles of hay.
But the crisis was now close at hand
One night toward the end of April Lillian
informed me that she had some news
for me, and then whispered four little
words which nearly turned me into
stone. Uncle John had comet He had
arrived unexpectedly that afternoon, and
was staying with Mrs. Westbrook. who
expected me to dine with her next day
in order to make his acquaintance.
stammered out a few words expressive
of my great delight; and soon afterward
/ slipped away to think things over Sc
riously at my chambers. What was to
be done? Now that Uncle John had ap-
peared upon the scene, events were like
Of discovery and enraged guardians, of
breaches Of promise, and possibly of
breaches of the peace, flOated before my
eyes.
Besides" I muttered, as I paced the
room, the time Of Mr.. Jagg's return is
drawing near, and If / wait till then, I'll
find myself between the devil and the
deep sea with a vengeance. At present
I've only Uncle John to deal with, and,
IL I Dlay my cards prODerlv I need never