Year: 1869

|
fashion plates he scolds me. And then he
takes me over to S0uthend whenever he
hears that a packet is coming in, and walks
me up and down that long pier. And he
/ is always on the lookout for concerts or
entertainments of any kind we can go to
Can you explain it ?"


al think l can give guess" said Miss
Plumptree; in fact, expect that my in
fluence may have something to do with it.
The plain truth is, my dear, that he wants
to get you married"


"No" cried Annie, with jump. "But
he told me distinctly, when | first came
here, that, though / might expect to be
provided for in his will, | must not look
for any dowry, or even much of trOus-
seau, in case | were to marry; and that
did not look much like great anxiety on
the subject"


"No, dear; but his views have under
gone change. The fact is that he does
your humble servant the honor to wish"


40, and you will take him, won't you?
It will be so nice to call you aunt, and
have you living in the house, cried Annie,
enthusiastically.


"Well, DEAR" continued Miss. Plump
tree, lit seemed to me that the Opportuni-
ty was a good one for advancing your in
terests, so | refused to give him definite
answer while you were unsettled; not but
what | would sooner have you for COM
panion, of course, but it does not do to be
selfish; and as your uncle is inclined to
| he what we may call careful in his money
matters, which is often the case with those
who have been somewhat extravagant in
youth, l thought a little stimulant to his
generosity would be beneficial. Hush
| here he comes. Can anything be the mat
| tcr?"


This possibility was suggested by Mr.
Johnstone's face and manner, the former
being bewildered, the latter horrid and eX
cited, as he came towards them from his
JOSS House with an open letter in his
hand


Something the matter? Indeed there
was; nothing less than threat of losing
his late wife's property, and being reduced
once more to the straits which had driven
him into permanent matrimCny thirty
years before. One of those Doctors
Commons grubbers, who live by holding
out that they have discovered something
! to somebody's advantage,-which general
ly turns out to be fraudulent mares nest.
but every now and then just often
enough to tempt fresh flOcks of gulls-
proves to be discovery of real impor-
tance-had fisheG up evidence that the late
Mrs. Johnstone had by rights only life
interest in her first husbands property;
and having thereupOn discovered the per-
son who, under such circumstances, would
be the claimant, he had put himself into
communication with him. Said claimant
proved indeed To be in the legal profession,
which was a disappointment for the grub
Der; but as there was really something in
the evidence he had lit upon, his time was
not entirely thrown away.


This was the startling information which
was conveyed to Mr. Johnstone in the
hard, sharp words of lawyers letter, and
which he now communicated in his dis
trcss to Miss Plumptree and Annie. They
cheered him with sanguine speeches and
when he had gathered his wits together
he started for London to seek an inter
view with his solicitor.


The acute gentleman informed him that
there really seemed to be something in
the claim which was set up, but that il
would take a deal of legislation to prove
it, and SO far as he could see, it was odds
on the man in possession eventually win
ming the day. But still, if an advantage
ous compromise were to be suggested, it
might be as well to take it into cOnsidera-
ton.



hours about the garden of Joss House
Villa with his eyes bent on his toes, and
his hands closed behind his back, lost in
thought, and muttering at interval, "Ad
vantageOus compromise"


He was accustomed 10 spread silk
pocket handkerchief over his head after
dinner, and take forty winks-at the rate
of one wink to two minutes; but his
slumberS now were strangely disturbed.
He would turn and mutter, and his muter
ings, to the excitement of Annie's curiOs-
ity, invariably formed some part of the
words Advantageous compromised


III. THE ADVANTAGEOUS COMPROMISE.


Miss Plumptree and ANNE JohnstOne
sat In the same queer summer house over
looking the dragon in the chickweed, EN-
ployed in the same description of needle
work, the advance of the year being
shown by a basket of apricots which stood
in the place of the strawberries. Mr.
.Johnstone sat near them i'm silent abstrac-
ton. AT intervals, indeed, he would tilt
his chair forward to bring his hand in
range of the mellow fruit, of which he
was devourng choleraic quantity; but
he seemed to do so mechanically, as if he
did not quite know what he was about
and, indeed, while his palate was engaged
with the apricots, his mind was absorbed
in contemplation of his position.


That fine, that remarkably fine wo-
man" he said to himself, as his eyes rest
ed admiringly on Miss Plumptree, "will
not marry me until that girl is off nv
hands, which is less likely to happen than
ever, now that it is doubtful if | can give
her, or even leave her a penny And yet,
if these fellows really manage to take
away my money-and there is no know
ing what lawyers may not do in that way
it will be an extra reason why should
marry woman with nice competence to
make up. | wonder how George the
Fourth would have acted under similar
circumstances? But bah how could he
possibly have been placed in them? When
king has his property taken from him,
he does not go to law he fights, or rather,
other people fight, which is better still,
and settle the matter that way"
Ills meditations were interrupted by
servant bearing card, who told him that
a gentleman wished to see him.
Where have you shown him?"
"Into the grand music hail." replied the
girl


Too much flurried to say a word to
either of the ladies, Mr.. Johnstone
FASTENED to the grand music hail. an apart
ment fifteen feet by thirteen, where he
found a young man.


The--ah the claimant l believer"
said Mr.. Johnstone, glancing from his
visitor to the card he held i'm his hand.


Yes" replied the other "The course
which have taken in calling upon you
personally, may seem somewhat strange, es-
pccially for lawyer; but there has
been some mention of the possibil-
ity of n compromise; and TO tell
the simple truth, you have been
in possession so long, and the information
which enables me to contest your rights
has come from SO disreputable quarter,
| that am rather ashamed of my position,
| and would prefer settling the matter
amicably 10 commencing long course of