only child, and that every evening they started by swindling scoundrels,--the unwa passed through the Horse Guards to the Park, ry were victimized, and among the many and there sat or strolled beside the Serpentine Colonel Harley was a sufferer; for the whole for hours. The description given of the "old earnings of a hard and honorable life were man's daughter" was most interesting; she incautiously invested in some South Ameriwas beautiful,-scarcely twenty, and her can speculation. It was altogether a most attachment and attention to her father were infamous imposture, and the deluded old devoted her first care, her last thought was man lost every sixpence which twenty-five centred in him-she was indeed years of active service had enabled him to accumulate. He had not only been robbed afterwards by harpy lawyers for alleged resof his honest earnings, but been persecuted ponsibilities. These he had successfully resisted, and, said Mrs. Honeywood, as she wound up her narrative, "the poor old gentleman said to me yesterday, as he paid his "A parent's stay." In the holy affections of a child every feeling of hers seemed to be entirely engrossed,-and one whom nature had prodigally gifted with those personal advantages which command worldly admiration, appeared indifferent to all considerations, save a ceaseless anxiety to smooth the declining years of him in whom her heart-her soul-seemned centred. If ever picture was drawn of lovely woman tinted more sweetly than another, it was that of the fair girl whom I listened to tuning an instrument over-head. 66 Why had I never heard the harp before?" was a question I put to the spider-brusher. "It was only within the last hour that the instrument was brought home," was the reply. The masterly hand, after "She touch'd and tuned them all," rent, liberated from all future trouble; but, Mrs. Here I am, at sixty-eight, thank God, Honeywood, and the recollection of my folly kills me,-I am not able to bequeath a cheered the last hours of a speculative dofarthing to the most attached child that ever face but conscience whispers that I have tard. Ah! I never look poor Julia in the down his cheek. Oh! sir, what deep curses plundered her.' Poor old man! a tear stole should light upon the heads of villains who seduce the unsuspicious into ruin!" To the remark I uttered a fervent "amen." Again the chords of the harp were struck, and a sweet Scotch air regularly fascinated me. which ran the chords over, told that the lady was a splendid musician; and when she sat down to play I was enchanted, for her per"That is his favorite music," said the hosformance was indeed magnificent. I sent for tess. "He is a Highlander by birth,—and, the proprietrix of the house--she came. If Lord! how dearly does he dote upon his naever you want to obtain the secret history of tive hills, as he calls them! Before some a fellow-lodger from a fat landlady over forty, specious swindler persuaded him to embark take her comfortably over a bottle of port, his fortune in that bubble speculation in or, in the absence of "black-strap," as the which he lost it, the colonel was in treaty for Irish call it, brandy-and-water will generally the purchase of an estate in what he terms prove successful. I assailed Mrs. Honey-the land of the Gael.' Poor, dear, deluded wood with a claret-glass of the "regal pur- gentleman! he fell a victim to a pack of ple stream." On we went,-protest on her scoundrels, worse far than highwaymen and part, whenever I grasped the neck of the de- housebreakers." canter; but as villanous man" frequently deranges the best feminine intentions, I overcame the stout widow's scruples. It is true, that at every fresh bumper she made a most respectable stand. I pressed her hardluctantly, poor soul! she by degrees gave in, -re "And vowing she would ne'er consent, con sented," until, by the Lord! between us we finished the bottle. I agreed with her from the bottom of my soul. We had now, by the descending scale, reached the last glass the decanter held; and Mrs. Honeywood, after requiring from me the strictest confidence, and lowering her voice considerably, thus continued, "The colonel was plunged, before he had even a suspicion of it, into difficulties and annoyances. He strove to keep the truth from Miss Julia; but she quickly penetrated the mystery her father would have involved his Mrs. Honeywood had known Colonel Har-affairs in. She saw that money was not ley for years. He came home wealthy from the East Indies, kept his carriage, and occupied every season her first and second floor. He entertained company, went into company himself,—and, as his daughter was then too young to be introduced to society, her London visits were filled up in receiving instructions from the first masters in the metropolis. Unhappily the colonel was not only unsuspisious, but obstinate. Bubble schemes were forthcoming, and every Saturday evening she sent some trinket to the pawnbroker's, to obtain money to meet the Monday bills, without making any application to the colonel. 666 Is your purse not exhausted yet?' I overheard the old man say. Surely the notes I gave you, Julia, a month ago, cannot but be long since expended. I think 'twas fifty pounds.' "Oh, what a bad cashier you are!' and she kissed the old gentleman's cheek. You the hymeneal temple, from which she was gave me a hundred, father dear. But will excluded. It was all envy, hatred, and unyou be very-very-angry?' charitableness. I flung suspicion to the winds, and crossed the street to receive my evening lesson at ecarte. "At you, Julia ?' and the poor colonel caught her to his arms. "I accidentally-nay, carelessly-overturned my harp; and you must do without your music, dearest father, until it comes from the maker in a week or two.' "Is it much injured?' asked the old man. Alas! at present I could not conveniently replace it.' Oh !-no-no. It needs but a trifling 'repair.' "What was the truth, sir? That evening, through me, she had consigned the instrument she loved so enthusiastically to the pawn-shop!" "Good God!" I exclaimed. "May curses wither the base wretches who, through the weakness of a credulous old man, would entail misery on such a daughter!" "I have reason to think that, though the money he had intended for his daughter is gone beyond a hope of recovery, still his legal persecutions are fortunately ended, and his Indian retirement is perfectly unencumbered. Indeed, the very circumstance of the release of the harp shows that the old gentleman's funds are improving. But I must leave you, sir. Report says that a widow over the way will not be left much longer in single blessedness. Is this the case ?" Bah!-bah!-mere nonsense, Mrs. Ho neywood.' "It may be so. Would to God it were her whom we have been talking of on whom your fancy had fallen. Ah! my dear sir, one that through sunshine and storm has stood the test that Miss Harley has-such a woman in the lottery of matrimony will rarely indeed be obtained." "And so you are determined to marry me to the pretty widow opposite ?" "Not I, by my faith! On the contrary, had I the right, I should assuredly forbid the banns." "And why ?" I asked, rather in a hurry. "If you coax me, I'll give you my reasons to-morrow," said the buxom landlady."Love's blind, they say; but widows are sharp-sighted, and I belong, as you know, to that lynx-eyed community. But I must leave you, to go to Miss Julia. She gave me money to pay some bills, and I have to render an account of my stewardship." If I carried a doubt into the shrine of her I worshipped, one glance at the presiding divinity would have dispelled it for ever. She never before appeared so handsome, and never had exhibited the tender until that evening. I presume in courtship, generally, and whether the lady wooed be maid or widow, as Jonathan says, 66 a tarnation deal" of osculation must go on. In the kissing department the active part of the operation devolved hitherto on me, and Mrs. Bouverie submitted to the same with a Christian composure that was most commendable. But, when woman loves, there are moments when the ice of frigid propriety will melt. Listening to Julia's harp, and Mrs. Honeywood's long revelations, the evening had flown insensibly, and I was an hour behind my customary time. She chid me first, then called me her adored Francis,-threw her arms around my neck, and sealed my pardon with a kiss! I suppose she blushed like a peony; but, as the candles had not been brought up, it was too dark to ascertain the fact. To allow another week to pass without securing the object of my adoration, would have been impossible, and I was urging her on my knees to name an early day to make me the happiest of Borderers, and let the Chancery suit go to the warm locality, whither all appertaining to that court must eventually find their way, when a double knock interrupted an appeal to the heart that would have done honor to a briefless barrister, and the d-d man of hair and law entered the drawing-room. "Ah!--have I interrupted a flirtation?" said Moustache, with a smile. “Twilight grey' is the hour to whisper love, and darkness hides the fair one's blushes. Shall I be welcomed as a visitor, or considered an intruder ?” "Mr. Elliott was but a few minutes in the house before you; and should any pardon be necessary for what you erroneously imagine an interrupted tete-a-tete, the penalty may be paid by your ringing the bell for lights. How very provoking!" she said in a whisper to me. "Well, dearest, the time is not distant when we shall enjoy each other's society without being subject to remarks." She gently pressed my hand--I made her So saying, Mrs. Honeywood left the room. an honest return. Up came the candles, the I felt an uneasy twinge at the parting ob- usual challenge to play ecarte was given and servations of the stout gentlewoman. What accepted, and down sat the combatants,-, . did she mean?—for a meaning undoubtedly as a matter of course, backing the widow. she had-and her remarks had more behind Mr. Thornton had dined out, and, if he had than met the ear. Pshaw! women are pro- not drank himself, in Irish parlance," he had verbially jealous of each other; and Mrs. been looking at somebody drinking;" for he Honeywood, despondent of matrimony her- was "rather fresh." He generally preserved self, was secretly mortified that another of towards Mrs. Bouverie a studied deference; the sisterhood should make a second visit to but her manner this evening to her and me was forward and familiar, while frequent al- | lusions to our tete-a-tete were made with a freedom that bordered upon coarseness. I could observe that Mrs. Bouverie was seriously annoyed, and I felt inclined to get irate; but the lady saw and checked it. It really was too bad to listen to a Chancery solicitor delivering himself of what he was pleased to fancy wit, at the joint expense of a gentleman like myself, whose great-grandfather had been hanged for treason, and the lovely relict of a departed Companion of the Bath. "I sent for you, dear Francis, to speak on the subject you were urging, when we were so disagreeably interrupted last evening. For the first time, I had reason to consider Mr. Thornton's visit an intrusion,—and his subsequent conduct did not by any means abate my displeasure. I assure you that, after you left, I lectured him on the familiarity he used, and which was equally offensive to us both." "You read him a long jobation, sweet one; for it occupied an hour and a quarter, if there be faith in St. Martin's clock," I replied. The widow colored like a peony-sweet sensitiveness!--she blushed, suppose, at the bare idea of being alone with a lawyer after midnight! Altogether the evening went off heavily. I lost as usual, and at eleven rose to take my departure. The man of law remained behind to apprise his client of the day's proceedings; while I, disinclined to go to bed, strolled into Fleet street, to patronize the I need not be too minute in details of this oyster establishment of Mr. Lynn. As I read important interview. Divers pleadings on the evening papers, and walked slowly there her part" for a long day," before she should and home; more than an hour must have be conducted a second time to execution, elapsed since I left the charming widow. were fortunately overruled; and the upshot Honored by the confidence of my fat landlady was, that the next Monday was named for -who reposed so much faith in my prudence the performance of a ceremony which would and sobriety as to entrust me with a latch- make Mrs. Bouverie change her name to key-I had just let myself in, when I heard Elliott. I apprised her that a young friend, the widow's hall-door open, and, by St. An- who was to attend me to the altar, was exdrew! who should issue from the abiding-pected that morning in town, and obtained place of the future Mrs. Elliott but the whis- her gracious permission to bring him with kered lawyer, muffled in a cloak! "In the me in the evening, and present the bridesman name of everything litigious," I asked my- to the bride. self the simple question, "what should keep him in my lady's chamber until the chimes had gone at midnight?" I felt something very like a jealous twinge. But no-after the unusual proofs of personal affection which Mrs. Bouverie had lavished on me that very evening, I dared not harbor a doubt. It was law, after all. Curse law!-everybody knew that Chancery proceedings extend to eternity, -and, doubtless, the whiskered solicitor was merely explaining to his pretty widow some legal difficulties which might have arisen.Such, indubitably, had been the cause of the gentleman's protracted visit; and I went to bed, and dreamed that the Chancellor in person, with the Lord Mayor and Common Council in full state, had called at the widow's lodgings to announce officially, that judgment would be pronounced in her favor on the first day of Hilary Term, 1899. At the unusually early hour of eleven I received a summons to wait on Mrs. Bouverie, and I need scarcely add that the command was obeyed with a lover's alacrity. I found her in a morning undress. Last night I fancied her prettier than usual; but she never had looked actually murderous until now. The blandest smile that ever disparted a pair of coral lips to expose the row of ivory they covered, would have slaughtered a parish priest,—and I, who was past praying for already, could only worship the idol with my eyes, and marvel at the luck of the Elliotts. On the termination of the interview, and when I had returned to my own lodgings, I found Brian anxiously expecting me. We rapidly communicated what had occurred during the week on which we had been separated, and on both sides congratulations were interchanged. With my friend the course of love ran smooth; and when the nasal announcement of the burly parson notified that Brian O'Linn and Susan Neville were about to enter into the holy estate, none dared to negative the intention. With me, however, matters were very different; and the chances were considerable, that the little gentleman who had assumed an absolute control over me, and which, through some unaccountable cause or impulse, I passively permitted him to exercise, would, when I informed him of my engagement, possibly put a veto on the same. Another, and rather an unpleasant ordeal, awaited me. It would be expected that an account of my stewardship should be handed in. I referred to my pocket-book. Within the week, a goodly three hundred pounds had melted down to two hundred and thirty! Brian was guiltless of blame beyond a five pound note; but the Star and Garter, a diamond-ring, instructions in ecarte, and Swan and Edgar, had done the trick ainong them. 66 Hang it!" said Brian, as he witnessed my annoyance, "don't let that bother you. Put half of the outlay down to me at once--or stay-make good the balance from my own three hundred--now do." And he pressed his wish upon me as a matter of deep obligation. "No, no, dear Brian. I am assured that your last sixpence, with Milesian generosity, would, were it but required, be just as freely offered. But come along-we'll meet that thing of legs and arms, and, if he row me, I'll fling his note-case in his face, marry the widow,—and, when you have gone through the same ceremony with Susan, d-n it, we'll be off to the Border, and there obtain shelter and a hearty welcome beneath the old rooftree with a brace of brides." The cab came, we jumped in, and in half an hour were set down at the little gentleman's abiding-place. Profiting by past experience, had we been bearers of a beggingletter, a more subdued application could not have been made upon the knocker. Cupid answered the appeal, and from ear to ear he grinned a salutation. "How is your master, Cupid?" "Dam well in health, but unkimmon bad in temper." "Pleasant look-out for us," I muttered to Brian as we mounted the stairs. "What a comfort it would be," returned the young Irishman, "if one were going to be shot at by a man, instead of bedeviled by this warlock, who will pitch into us right and left before we are five minutes in his company." Ushered as usual to the presence by Dan Cupid, we found the little gentleman in the well-remembered cap, slippers, and morninggown. Pointing one lean finger at the clock and graciously extending the other hand over his shoulder as a signal to take chairs, he pleasantly opened the conversation. "I told you to be here at two-two, precisely. It is thirteen minutes and a half beyond the time.” We both muttered an apology. "Will regret bring back lost time? I never found it did," said yellow-slippers. The baboon grinned spitefully, and chattered,--the parrot uttered some infernal sounds, compared with which a pig's lamentations when seized for trespass were har mony. Peace, darlings!" said the dwarf to his favorites. "And now, young gentlemen, how have you both sped ?" If ever you are in a desperate fix, don't beat about the bush, but jump "in medias res" head-foremost,--aud, egad! I had the courage to try it on this occasion." "In one word, sir, Brian, who has long been engaged to a most charming and deserving girl, will make her a happy bride within a week; and I, in imitation of a virtuous example, have wooed successfully, and plied. Kissing a canary in the window," I re "Quite enough. Ladies who kiss dogs and birds in windows, intimate to the passerby that it is merely a kiss by proxy, which, if he take the trouble of ringing the bell, he may repeat himself if he please." I could have strangled him! Was there ever such a foul-mouthed toad?-and I answered in high dudgeon, "You mistake widely, sir. Light females, and ladies who have survived field-officers of distinction, are not, I fancy, to be classified--" The little gentleman puckered his cheeks together, and executed a low whistle. "What service was he in?" inquired the dwarf. "On the Madras Establishment, I believe." "You are certain it was not the Horse Marines ?" said the little gentleman with a smile. "If you have required me to visit you only for the purpose of offering insult, the sooner I return the remainder of the sum you presented to us I think the better." And pulling out the pocket-book, I flung it indignantly upon the table. "Humph! We'll drop matrimony for a while, and see how you manage money matters." He coolly removed the bank-notes, reckoned them twice, replaced them, and thus proceeded, "You kept a memorandum, as I desired, of your outlay. I find the week's expenditure amounts to seventy pounds." "You will find particulars entered on the fly-leaf of that pocket-book,” I replied in mortal alarm. The little man read, "To Brian, 5l.' Was that all you can charge to his account?" I bowed an affirmative. |