The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-07-30
CHAPTER VIII.

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CHAPTER VIII.
NEWS PROM AUSTRALIA.
Time passed very quickly with me
In my uncle's house. Uncle Sam him.
self ! did not see very often. and
never for more than an hour at q time.
he was SO much engaged In the city;
and when he was at home be seemed
to live in a whirlwipd Of interviews
with gentlemen. varied only BY an
enormous correspondence. written and
telegraphic. Ny uncle's devotion to
his affairs did not much affect me-. At
least not otherwise than favorably.
Aunt Gertrude had brought with her
20 England introductions to nearly all
the best people. the adjective here en-
ployed being intended to convey the
meaning which London society usually
attaches to II, and she passed q great
part Of each day calling upon. or re-
ceiv!ng at her London home. q large
circle Of friends Of high social rank.
\
not irfrequently accompanied her. but
sometimes excused ourselves and ex.
plotted London on foot or went for q
drive In the park instead.
The favorable impression I had at
first conceived Of Miss Marsh deep
ened every day. She was cutie as
beautiful and intelligent as aunt Ger
trude, while she did not appear to be
subject to those melancholy moods I
had once or twice observed in her els
ter-a circumstance which at the time
I attributed to q happy union Of youth
and health.
One Of the first results Of my daily
companioIship with this charming
young lady was the opening Of train
Of serious thought as to my prospects
In. life. I reflected that I was now
nearly Of full age. that had been
trained for no trade or profession. and
that Ely fortunes were centred In and
bounded by IN impoverished estate Of
f700 q year. between that and myself
being the life Of my father-a man
little more than q couple Of decades
older than ], and who my natural az
lection induced me to hope might live
forever. The prospect dismayed me.
jet could not choose but consider It
whenever ] was alone. No definite
idea Of marriage had ever occurred to
me. but somehow. in way ] cannot
explain, there formed In my mind an
opinion that It was derogatory to any
man to marry woman whom he was
unable to keep In style at least as
good rs that to which she had been
accustomed In her maiden days. even
though that woman were herself rich.
And from such thoughts as these my
mind would wander to certain frag-
mentary sentences which had now and
again inadvertently fallen from the
lips Of Miss Marsh, and from which
had calculated that her income was
rather more than fifteen times as large
as my fathers.
Notwithstanding such disquiet!ng
considerations, was. think. happier
than ! had ever been before. and in
consequer' e my days slipped away
with a speed which seemed perfectly
marvellous.
1t was Monday morning had been
In London O week, and third part OF
my visit was spent. Ny lifelong habit
Of rising early had not deserted me in
London. and l was standing alone at
one Of the drawing.room windows ad-
miring the celebrity Of q postman who
was delivering letters at the houses
opposite. Soon the postman crossed
the road and left large budget Of let
ters at our house. ! had received but
one letter since I left Suffolk-a few
lines from my father expressive Of his
satisfaction at my safe arrival IN
town-and thought II was likely there
might be something for me by this
mornings post. Not choosing to wait
until breakfast time to satisfy my
mind on this point. descended to the
hall and discovered on the table there
q large letter addressed to me in my
fathers handwriting. which took up
stairs 10 my room and read as follows:
Holdenhurst Hall.
Bury st. Edmund's. April 10. 1S-.
My Dear Boy-I am truly sorry to
interfere. however slightly. with your
enjoyment In town. but. you know.
Ernest. you ere my only ccnfdant.
As your discretion has always ap-
pcared quite in advance Of your years
] have NO hesitation In laying before
you a matter which Is occasioning me
very great anxiety. and in doing SO
refrain from insisting upon the impor-
tance. at least for the present, Of ahso-
lutte secrecy. for you must, am sure.
ut once perceive the necessity for il.
The enclosed letter from your grand
father reached me the day before yes
terday. Read 1t carefully. and retain
Il In your possession until you see me.
OF course. ! am anxious to do any
thing In my power to Eelp your grand