Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1906-03-01
CHAPTER VIII.
NEWS FROM AUSTRALIA.

Time passed very quickly with me
in my uncle's house. Uncle Sam him
self I did not see very often. and
never for more than an hour at time,
he was so much engaged in the city;
and when he was at home he seemed
to live in a whirlwind of interviews
with gentlemen, varied only by an
enormous correspondence, written and
telegraphic. My uncle's devotion to
his affairs did not much affect me, at
least not otherwise than favorably.
Aunt Gertrude had brought with her
to 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 it, and she passed great
part Of each day calling upon. or re-
ceiving at her London home, n large
circle Of friends Of high social rank.
On such occasions her sister and l
not infrequently accompanied her, but
sometimes excused ourselves and ex-
plotted London on foot or went for
drive In the park instead.
The favorable impression I had at
first conceived Of Miss Marsh deep
en--1 every day. She was quite as
beautiful and intelligent as aunt Ger
trude, while she did not appear to be
subject to those melancholy moods l
had once or twice observed in her sis
ter-a circumstance which at the time
I attributed to happy union of youth
and health.
One Of the first results of my daily
companionship with this charming
young lady was the opening of n train
of serious thought as to my prospects
In life. l reflected that l was now
nearly Of full age, that 1 had been
trained for no trade or profession, and
that my fortunes were centred in and
bounded by an impoverished estate of
f700 year, between that and myself
being the life Of my father-a man a
little more than a couple of decades
older than l, and who my natural af.
fection induced me to hope might live
forever. The prospect dismayed me,
yet I could not choose but consider 1t
whenever 1 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 1t was derogatory to any
man to marry woman whom he was
unable to keep in style at least as
good as 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-
mentaly sentences which had now and
again inadvertently fallen from the
lips of Miss Marsh, and from which I
had calculated that her income was
rather more than fifteen times as large
as my fathers.
Notwithstanding such disquieting
considerations, was, think, happier
than 1 had ever been before, and in
consequence my days slipped away
with a speed which seemed perfectly
marvellous.
1t was Monday morning. had been
in London week, and third part of
my visit was spent. My lifelong habit
of rising early had not deserted me in
London, and I was standing alone at
one of the drawing-room' windows ad.
miring the celebrity of a 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 1t 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
a large letter addressed to me in my
fathers handwriting, which I took up.
stairs to my room and read as follows:
Holdenhurst Hall,
Bury st. Edmunds, April 10, 49,.
My Dear Boy-I am truly sorry to
interfere, however slightly, with your
enjoyment in town, but. you know.