The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1911-04-18

L Ills II AoVV Il liz ANo ~
seen him for seven years. Sooner than
give up $500 of the money
Aigernon would have seen his father
hanging at Newgate and his sisters
conNicts at botany Bay.
Algcrnon went on to Paris in state
and presented his letter TO Lord Bob
tail. which at once launched him in the
best Partisan society. He played his
part we'll; he. would not gamble, he
would not drink. except in the most
temperate manner. He attended church
regularly at the chapel OF the .Ambas-
sador-he lived like a moral. elegant,
refined young man. All Of the old
dOWagerS were OF him. and,
as he was reported rich and as he be-
longet1 to the a~ristocracy, designing
maTnas tried to hook him for their
daughters. The Hon. AlgernOn flew
high. The precariOuSneSS of his for
naer mode of life had begun to make
itself apparent to the Hon. Algernon.
and now, through the Fleeing Of Mr..
Dawkins, having got, as it We're, q
start on the road to fortune, he had
made up his mind to continue in this
rOad by marrying q rich Wife and Set
ting down. In London he was rather
too we'll known. but in Paris he might
make 4 success.
It was in Paris, therefore, that he
took an especial interest in two ONE
ASla &- <11a AA&l 1 l.
Matilda. Lieutenant General Sir George
Griffin was about IS years old when he
left this life and the service OF the
Honorable East India Company. He
left no male heir to his name and for
tune, but he did leave a young widow
2! and q daughter by his first wife
about five years
Miss Matilda Griffin was squint-
eyed, humpbacked n sentimental;
her mOtber-in-laW was handsome,
~coid-hearted and ambitious for q so
cial position. The great fortune Of
the deceased Sir George had been left
to his widow and his daughter. The
question which occupied the inteIlec-
tual faculties Of the Hon. A1gernon
Percy Deuceace was, how had it been
left? What were the conditions Of the
viii of the East Indian warrior? Who
was the real heircss-Matilda or the
mother-in-laW? Both aides seemed
willing, nay, even anxious, to marry
the Hon. Algernon. but until he had
settled the financial side Of the matter
he could not see his way clear to drop
his handkerchief With an English
family his quest would AVE been
easy-only Q trip to Doctors Commons
and a look at the will. But this ma
bob's will was in Calcutta. and Cal
cutta, as A1gernon thought, was a
deuce OF a way off" Meantime, Deuce
ace paid assiduous court to both la
dies, who, from detesting each other
before now, came cordially to hate
each other. A Frenchman, the Chev-
alier de L'OrGe, who was really in love
with Lady Griffin and who had had
hopes before the advent OF Deuceace,
was III despair though he still hung
about his adOred one, ran her brands,
bought ner opera boxes and borc the
half civil contempt Of the British arts
%tocrat with exemplary meekness.
While matters were in this state the
Hon. Algernon, returnino late one
night from having escorted Lady Crit
fin and Matilda to the opera and
treating them to supper afterward.
opened the door Of his room in the
Hotel Marlbeau to find, to his aston
ishment. the room already lighted. an
empty champagne bottle rolling about
the floor, a h~alf-emptied one on the
table. the air filled with tobacco smoke
tobacco always made Algernon ILL
and, reclining on a sofa drawn up
within easy reach Of the table. his at
fectionate father, the Right Honorable
the Earn of Crabs. Why Algy. my
boy" cried the Earl with a roar Of
laughter. don't you know me? Don't
YOU know your poor old father?'
The Earl of Crabs was a stout. red
faced man Of sixty, bald-headed and
burly, whose nose seemed blushing at
what his mouth was so continually
s~wallo wing. He was a most respecta-
BILE, f~ine-locking old nobleman oug
1t must be confessed, more than half
drunk when he made his
appearance in his sons apartments
but not than real noblemen
ought to be-" declared Charles James
Yeliowplush, who was an authority on
such matters. Deuceace was SO dis
turbed and astonished that he could
scarcely utter a few breken sentences
expressive of the unexpected pleas
ure." The servant Mr.. YeIlowplush.
was sent away On an errand-father
fand son sat looking at each other. the
father smiling. seif-possessed and con
fid ent-ths son anxious, sour and III at
ease.
Help yourself and pass the bottle.
lAigE.V- said the Earl. tthaue a-o;no. ;,