The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1897-03-27
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CHAPTER Y.
HON l. AGAIN.


from New York the DIZZY before, had an
nOunccd his coming, and, On alighting
from the train, he found the carriage
awaiting him, and the old coachman he
remembered so We'll beaming q smiling
welcome.
Five years had wrought very percept-
Iblo changes in the aspec. OF the coun-
try The small town lying within the
shelter OF the valley, true to its old
progressive spirit, revealed q wonderful
development. New and imposing resi-
dences were to be seen on all sides.
Busy activity was everywhere visible,
and Brian began to imagine himself a
modern Rip Van Winklc, returning to
his home after Il long absence.
Hjs home? Alas this was his home
no longer. For the first time perhaps
the full force Of this idea struck him.
From the carriage window he caught
distant glimpses of Elmwood, the state
by Old house browning the brow Of the
hill like q sentinel guarding the village
below, its terraced gardens sloping to
The narrow river winding like silver
thread between its green banks, and
the splendid old forest trees clothed in
the tender foliage of May
He sighed as he turned from the pic
ture. He had never been particularly
fond OF EImwood in the old days, the
country under no circumstance Offering
Inducements that he found alluring, but
now all was changed The home he had
booked upon as his had passed into the
hands OF another, and the knowledge
raised new longings and new desires in
his heart.
He tried to picture the cousin who
had taken his Inheritance from him, but
his imagination could grasp nothing
definite. Ho wondered If she were tall
or short, dark or light, cold or affable,
and then he fell to framing Il face in his
mind; and as the intangible shadow
assumed a clearer shape it unconscious
ly took on The form and features of the
Margaret he had left in the fishing town
on Nantucket.
Bother it," he cried gnawins his
rnustacho with a ticrceness that argued
inward disturbance. The want of
money is the greatest bore under The
sun. Margaret was such a dear girl.
This thought came as Il natural Sc
quence to the other, and he smiled at
The possibilities it suggested
Poor Brian had his faults; among
them an overweenng love for his own
comfort. and an intense dislike for what
ever could cause him the least incon-
vcDience. His love for money was rela-
tive, not abstract. Money could buy
pleasure and luxury, therefore he de-
sired it's possession.
He had no ambition for the fame to
be won by his own endcavor. No de-
sire TO take his place in the working
world and win his way in the struggle
for prominence. Privation and hard
ship, those prolific mothers Of greatness,
were wanting in his life, aud the activ-
ity and industry which Margaret adj
mired were to him laborious effort
that no after greatness could compen-
safe. His education was in part re-
spOnsiblc for these ideas. Selfish and
Indolent by nature, he had early been
deprived of his mother and in her per-
son, of the careful training and jUdicious
dicipline which might have weakened, il
not wholly crddicated. these traits.
His father was lily fitted for the guard
5anship of Il quick, imYulsive hoy. and
tho injudicious indulgence of an old
nurse strengthened the already strong
characteristics. When, as frequently
happened, Brian grew unmanageablc,
his father was appealed to, and his Sc
verify on such occasions had far from
tho desired effect
Such course Of training had a prac-
teal effect on Bran's after life. When
he left college, he studied medicine, in
accordance with his fathers wishes, and
during the progress Of his studies, pro-
,ceeded to SOW his wild oats with such
unusua! vim that frequent Quarrels be-
tween himself and father became the
rule.
These terminated in enc more bitter
than all the rest. which resulted in
Brian's departing for Europe, and his
father catching to discontinue his al
lowance A very direful threat, that !
ended, as Brian expected, in nothing |
more than wo:ds.
Brian had been travelling several ,
months when Margaret father died and !
she took up her residence ut Elmwood. |
Once there, she soon won her way to |
hex unc!e5 heart, and the old gentleman
formed the project OF a marriage be-
tween her and his son. He died without |
realizing his hope, and for reasons
which he did not disclose. he left all his !
property to Margaret, and cut Brian off !
with an income of $4,000. Now, after
Ave years absence, the disinheritcd son !
was experiencing the novel sensation of
entering his Old home Il visitor.
The friendly, familiar air of every
thing about him, made his sense Of loss |
moro keen; and when Old st phcns, who !
had known him as hoy. met him at the |
door with eyes suspiciously moist, and
"a face full OF emotion, he found himself
so overcome that he could do nothing
more than grasp the toil-worn hand of |
the faithful old servant, and shake it !
with impulsive affection.
Poor Stephens he said to himself.
when left alone to his reflections. Il
firmly believe the faithful fellow had
Scars in his eyes. Never thought I'd
be so low in the scales that the feel
ing of an old servant would touch me
a.. 11.orIn,. 10 ko1nxnI