HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times, 1880-8-12, Page 2MH: SMLTK
stairs- atil]'afferded firm' and secure
footings• The flames, however, were
r linking with ominous greed at the light
wooden baluster and its stlpportH. He
i3y the help of some music, and Miss' gained the door srhicli he supposed
'Warburton's ootiverutttion, the evening' •ruttst be that of Miee Warburton's room
flew by, anti J'trfl+ery Smith -vas Bret res tree our n hasty knack, tamed the
called to a sense of time by Lettioe beetne. The door yielded, He coupd
rigging fur &iamb' candles, and bide make out the white bed, could alinoet
ding himself fuid her t'athertgood night,
The slight stir had awakened the
latter, and he now took the oflioe of
eatert•aruer.
'Po yen smoke ?' naked the old gen-
tletnen, b{inking his serest and pushing
iu,s Augers through the snow-white
W¢0t that covered his head, as he sat
very erect and' looked at Smith.
THE MMES' A17MT .�"2; 7.50'
the firs was extinguished by the time
day dawued. Not, however, before the
etairoase was wholly oontunted, and
Aliss Warburtten'e rooms partly des-
troyed and wholly spoiled by the double
action of the tivaoke and the hose front
the garat,n, which had been brought to
play upou the aoufiragratiou.
The world of nature had been some
catch the skimmer• of the golden hair time astir, and the sun was seine height
upon the pillow even in that diva light. in the heavens when Jeffery rotten to
';41iss•Warbnrton ! walceu 1' he cried. bed for the secoud time, but ho now
And then thinking that the true cause slept soundly until nine o'olook, Hast -
of the disturbance would be less•alarm- ening then, he found awaiting hint in
ing to the girl thauthe strange preet)000 t reakfast room Mr. Warburton.
iu her room, he added 'Don't be wit g up and down in a state of great
frightened ; but the house is on fire.' agitation. Seated before the urn was
Lettioe herself, looking an fresh as
though elle had pawed the night in
tranquil slumber upon a bed of roses,
and had stolon some of their bloom and
sweetness for herself.
Mr. Wnrburtou hailed Jeffery as his
daughter's deliverer, tasking mituy at-
tempts to thank him for the great ser -
viae he had rendered them; but as reg•
ulerly broke down ;, and as upon 09011
fire in the house. T do ltottlbiuk it is t6eeasiou he wrung Smith's baud almost
muoli,.bnt the stairs are burnin; . Will Ito the point of dielouating his shoulder,
you come at Duce ?' 1 the latter was not sorry when. he aban•
' 'Yes, but—'
'Don't wait ! Just wrap yourself in
something•woolen,' said he, walking to
the door and•opeuing it in readiness,
but the next tnoment he shut it again.
The flames had already gained the very
lintels.
'Quick. Aries Warburton 1 There
is not a moment to lose,' he plied
sharply.
The next tnoment Lettice had glided
ttp.te hie side where be stood waiting
for her. A6 took her band to lead her
forward ; she was very rea.iy and coin-
hosed, but Jeffery could tell that she
trembled nervunsly. Holding her fiogere
now in a firmer grop to reassure her,.
he opened the door and stepped out Bennett, .the house -keeper, a homily
un r,he leu:ding old woman,, but a privileged person,
who had evidently been on thorns for
ten minutes past to get a word, an-
swered with great fluency and energy :
'Nes, sir ; I dint do it ; but I know
who did. 'Twits that bad, wicked girl,
Hed.'
Wyhat ! ynnr niece, Hetty 1' cried
Mr. Warburton, astonished.
'Yds, sir,' asseuted the Spartan re-
lative ; 'twas she as set fire to the
house, and tried to burn us all in our
beds.'
'Come here, Hetty.'
'Not re,gnlarhy; but when I am Jeffery guessed she was not the kind
showna bad'example,l'eometimee tale of a woman to•go into• hysterics, or do
anything else absurd ;:he badereokoned
upon her showing courage and presence
of mind, and Ile fonnd Liineelf right in
his estimate.
•Yes ; who is it ? What is the mat-
ter ?" she said; bewildered, but sittiug
erect,. and ,peaking calmly.
'It is.I. Mtss Warburton ; there is a
a cigar."
'Very well, I'll set yon that bad ex-
ample ; we will just have one whiff be-
fore going to beds. But we muss go to
my sanctum; Do you notice what a
queer hoose this is ?' asked AIr War-
burton, as, followed by his guest, he
ehuffi'ed along au eetensivotoorridor•to
a fat -off ruon;.
'It covers a great dear of ground',
surely.'
'Yes, for it ls- built entirely on the
ground floor, but for the stnallitower
that I added;. my dirrtgltter eonentere
the remit in it hers, the windows- look
over the woods and ane pleasa+ut•;: nt
any rate, they are her choice.. The
man who lived here bet?+re rte, and for
whom the house was, 1200110, ens blind.
You recollect your bedroom, I suppose;
it lies over there,' the eld' matt conclud-
ed, painting over his elatulder.
'Yes, I mardced its position, at the
end of the preseage,- past the cower
staircase.'
'Rietrt It now I think I can give you
a eigar tllttt ydii will eujoy.' •
II.
By eleven o'clock that night Mr.
Smith was• in bed ; but twelve, sound-
ing from some clock in the neiglibor-
hood fonud' him swathe ; and wheu the
shnttle stroke of one in due time- canto
trembling through the still summer
Lair, his restlessness hed only increased.
This wakefulness was-beentnitig cppres-
sive, and he at last net to courting the
ilreverse stud fickle godidess in sober
earnest, and strove to remember all
the methods that he lied heard recom-
mended for obtaining sleep. He had
been told that counting was an infat-
liable c berm ; welt !' Jeffery reckoned
up the national debt,. and was as wide
awake as though he had been Chancel.
lor of the Exohegne•r. Then he remeuu
bered that the true method of compos-
ing one's self was to fix the mind upon
a single idea, such: as sbeep successive-
ly jumping a hedge. Accordingiy, he
sa1e the flfocke of Abraham jumping
over the gap he' had °ordered up in
his itnaginetiion, with the result that'
he was rather more lively than before.
Then he repeated poetry, and went
hunting for a missing line through
halt the L,nglisb poets. At last he es
sayed the reiteratioo of a word agent
and again, until, at length it had no
mord' meaning or sense to it than the
ohangee run upon a bell. Stop 1 at
this rate be felt he shouldland in•hnpe.
less imbecility. He would rise,. walk
about, read, occupy himself iu some
. manner ; and springing up be sought a
light. The matches were not to be
fouud, bet there might be a match of
two iu hie own bag. This he recollect-
ed to heave left in the dressing -room
which adjoined his bedchamber. The
window here was not screened by thick
Clark blinds, as those of the sleeping.
apartments were, and he soon found
his bag ; when, as he, was feeling
reunite its fixings for his match-box,he
became conscious of a peculiar smote
and sound in the room. Ile door had
been left over night . accidentally ajar,
and through this opening the strange
lnfluettoes stole. The next mctneut he
was convinced of the cause.
tTht place (vas on fire.
:tJeffery ventured out and looked
:jfdu'th, and there, at the end of the uas-
toifie, rolling ouward to meet him, was
- a•dnlnmet of white smoke. Without a
;,inoilient's loss of time be turned back
'liuto his r wen, and, hastily essuniitig
some of,hie clothes, harried out again.
Perfectly ignorant which rootns wore
.teenanted and which went nnt,he knock-
ed at each door,silouting 'Fire 1' 'fico 1' 'It is en much that I call say nothing,'
.He hitnself pressed 0n to 111e ilnnediete said the girl, inokittg up at him, ]ter
scene of the conflagration. The origin eyes full of tears, her tones brat:en by
of the fire he could not discover ; but j etnoiionr.
Need turning the corner of the o •rrider 'There was no one else sleeping in
it was apparout that the tower stuirs that part ot the house but you, wits
were baruing. The column of nni',ke there ?' asked Jeffery,startieg up,etruok
was now very dense, but the flames by a sudden thought.
sue o�i c be issuing from beneath this 'No 1 no 1' cried I,tettice, laying her
. t+t,ai ee, Good heavens ! Was it, not hand detlLinicigly on his awn, fearful
hurts bat he lied been told that Mies that be was going to explore afresh.
Weirburton slept ? How far had the 'I woe riot thinking al starting upon
fire reeehe•d ? Red it already done its a Petted expedition,' said ha, srnillug,
t3terk f uestttintion 1 BeforeJetfery's and tektug her Laud, be hold it in his
sight swept to vi'ian of the girl as heI warm clasp,
Bath NPen hor last tsi,.rht., bright, entitle', The next n)utnen1, they were inter.
beautiful, at'd stow pi»u.ibl,y a hemp or rtzpted by the awakeuod household as•
riis'rtd third 1 tneliened retie. It s►,nr- tentbling, One by ono the ietnittes of
led hi01 to in NIonly, niuus effort. He the house cadre t.ruopilig tip in every
made rt0 ettetupt to atee ul ; the smoke form of nnfi•eishad and pr'caiiar attire.
watt 'atwitter, the }nit air swept his face but, all worked with such a will, and
With eourelliug lietceuese; but the the supply of water »as eo good, that
doned the endeavor to expreee-his grpt-
itude, and .proposed that breakfast.
abound be proceeded with.
No sooner was the meal over. than
Jeffery and Lettice, were inviter' to be
present at the inquiry ifr. Warburton
was about to institute into the pause of
the fire. lie was not going to have his
house burned down about his ears and
not know the reason why. So the en-
tire staff of servants was sutnrnouod,
and the inquiry.opeued with great form-
ality. .
Each of the tnen-servants sepatately
denied all knowledge of the matter
but when it earns to the women -serv-
ants' three -to be interrogated, Mrs.
.Not there ! not through there 1 she
cried,drawing back with a violent shud•
der at the sight of the smoke and
flames.
Seeing her dismay and reluctnnoe,
Air. Smieh spoke to het hurriedly. 'jar
only aiterttltive is the window ; is
there a veranda or anything of that
sort below it ?'
•No, nothing'
No projection of any kind to climb
upon?'
'None,' she annwered,tryieg to steady
her voice ; 'the wall falls sheer down to Iu answer to the summons there
the ground.' calve forward a plump -faced country
'Come, then ;. you shall not hurt if I lass, shaking and crying, but not look -
can help it. Esoape ie easy euongh if ing altogether the murderer and i.neen•
only the stairs be stone ; at all events, diary she had been represented to be.
they are but a shurt fligi.tt,' said he en- 'Now, then, what have you got to,
oouregingly ; rut at the same tune be sav ?' asked her master, with the air
stole a glance of much anxiety at the ot it jndgo to a prisoner at the bar.
girl. The only reply of the culprit was a
She was only protected by some thin fresh burst of tears.
wrapper, her naked thin white feet Wise Warburton carne to the rescue.
were simply thrust into a pair of slip 'Look at me, Hetty,' site said, in a
pers, her fair hair hung In a fleecy kind, gentle voice, 'and tell us how it
cloud ever tier shoulders. Plenty lor happened.'
those hungry flames to feed upset; little 'The girl turned her moist oyes upon
to resist their voracity. the ;teethe lady with some appearance
Darting, back into the ronin, Smith of relief. 'Well, Mise, Jenny Rowlatad's
seized a blanket and rolling it round little girl had a sore throat--'
her, lifted her, speechless with as. 'Tut, tut, tut,' broke in the old
tontsl'meut into his arms and dashed Squire, with Itis familiar sxpre$siou of
right on. Burdened as Le was and impatience. 'Tut, tot, tut i We it n't
blinded by the stnolte, he stumbled on want to hear about the .health of the
never hesitating until he reached the
base, where what seemed to be a solid
well of fit e withstood his progress. But
it was too late for hesitation,too late to'
go back ; and with a more fervent
prayer for help than ever he had u -
tered in bis life before, be plungad on.
A. tnnnleut later they stood safe beyond
the reach of the Ilames. Safe upon
the solid ground, safe as by miracle ;
safe,theuglt with hearts that yet throb-
bed quickly from the late sense of
danger. And deeply Mirthful ; one at
least had never tasted the full sweet-
ness of existeuce until that moment of
blessed relief.
Setting hie precious burden down,
Jeffery Smith staggered back against
the wall, more exhausted by his exer-
tions, and more butt by the scorching
breath of the flames, than he cared to
own. He was aroused by the sound of
a soft voice speaking to him.
'1 know what you have clone, Mr.
Smith ; I know you have bayed my life
tit the risk of your own.
'Not et all ; it is nothing,' answered
the young man, quickly. •
have• let tne.;,speak.a word. We shall be
having the house in flames every other
night ellen they dee how easily we
tape this.'
'Nonsense 1 Hetty has a warning for
life. Besides, papa, you would only
have made us laugh. Dhow then, what
shall we do ?• Shall we take Air. Smith
to see the gardeus, 80013 aH they are?
'Ile shall sec my pigs, Tuey are
worth looking; at, 1 oan assure you.
Come aloes.
But noitherflowers nor pigs were des-
tined to receive Smith's etdmiretlou
that day ; for just as the three were
passing out, a carriage drove up to the
door with Jteffery•s lawful pctessors,
full of apologies and explauaticius for
having been so tate in arriving at the
station the previous day.
Mr. Warburton entered a vehement
prutest against his departure. No, net;
we've got yon nod mean to keep you.
Miud you came of your own 01'0100,'
added the little gentleman, uhuekliug.
Ike seemed to Think there wee au ea•
oelleut joke it this latter fact
To Jeffery the feu of it was not eo
patent. Even with the latter events
he colored somewhat at the recollection
ot the method of his arrival. 'Yes, 1
have to thank you for your kindness
and hospitality to a mere iutrnder.'
'N'o, no, no ; dear me. How little
we know what a dey may bring forth—
tht/neht your coming su odd ; it was
the huger of Providence that let] you
here.'
Jeffery did not exactly see the reason
ing, but he lcept the sentiment within
his own breast ; only maintaining that
he must fulfill his engagement with
the Lorimers, and spend the next week
nt their Louse.
So he departed, carrying with him
the open, londly expressed regrets of
his late hast; and n fttlut glknoe of
wistful disappointment from !hies War-
burton, that, was instantly chiapged for
a smile and jest when she .perceived
his gage bent upon bet. Bat' the se-
quel proved that he might quite as well
have remained at Redbrook, for next,
day and every day found hint calling
there.
• Somehow I feel an interest in those
people. Lettice Warburton is such a
cine girl,' he allowed, and: deoeived
ltitnselt by the candor of the aclmissi1en.
'Not the sort of woman to. fall stupid •
ly, hopelessly, head -over -ears iu love
with ; no dazzling, beauty hti' rave
abort; but just a good, honest Ct nalish
girl, taking kindly thought for an old
woman, rescuing a poor servant from
trouble. carrying life and sunshine
everywhere; who could help likiug
her ?'
It was the final morning of his stay
in- the ueigbborhnod, and hefted rid-
den over to Redbrook early to snake
his adieus. The room. ihto which he
was shown was empty when he enter-
ed, but the next moment Lettice glided
in, her eyes and cheeks brightened oy
the fresh morning air, her halide full of
flowers, with, which to replenish the
vases, a task site d'lily performed her•
self.
' I did not know ye n were bore,' she
cried, upon seeing Jeffrey. 'I cannot
give you a hand, because both ore full.
Httvn you been waiting long r
' No, I have hardly been here a mo•
parish. 1 want to kuow why my house i meet.. I called to say good-bye, as I
is to be bunted down, and Mise Let- am leaving tomorrowd
lice killed betweeu the fire and the
fright.'
'Mr. Smith and 'Miss L'tttice' )inked
up at thie ghastly picture ; and, their
glances meeting, the majesty of the
court was nearly being broken by a
peal of laughter.
As 8001► as she could regain a fitting
gravity of countenance, Miss Warbur-
ton resumed her prompting. Pot
down your apron and go ou,Hutty,' she
said to the girl, who was plaiting rip
the bent of her apron nervously, when
she wee not using it as a mop to wipe
her stained end heated cheeks.
'I was telling you, Miss, Jenuy Raw -
lands came up for some black-ourreut
jam, aunt aunt sent tie to . the store-
room behind the stairs for it.'
'Now pat the blame upon me 1' tried
A1re. Bennett, throwing up her hands
with a gesture that spoke volumes for
the.iteinntice aod iniquity of the world.
'No, aunt, I'Im not ; I'm only telling
how 'twee. And I was obliged, Miss,
t0 fetch a 11„130 to road the labels on
the pots, and 1 ;eft the candle on the
window. I suppose I forgot it 'cause
it wfL5 en light outside.'
'Very well; Now, 1-ttetty, you tenet
proinlee to be very careful fur the fut-
ure.'
'I mid, Miss, I will,' cried the peri•
tent Hetty, applying the apron more
'vigorously than ever to,her eyes.
'Yes ; recollect that a great deal of
damage has been done, and it might
have been melt more serious, costing did not think it was your habit to talk
some of oar livue, but for the goodness uoneense.'
of God. You must take a warning'It is not nonsense,' ne , said Joffrey.•
from this.'
'Indeed, I'll never look at a candle
again.'
'.1t, undertal:inp ynn'll find it difli- havo loved you from the moment 1 saw
cult to keep,' swirl ltfiss Warburton, yon '
laughing. 'Yee can all go.' No reply from Miss Warburton, save
'My dear,' said her tether as soon as' that her head dr peed a little lower
the selvau(s had dispersed, 'you eboutd over the flowers.
tit..,
' Give we a word of hop • tit'8155t,
Don't let lee go away 1111A1 speak
to me—Lettice.'
' What can T tray ? And yen are so
lin pat lent --•-Jeffrey.'
It WW1 enouf;li tor the whiting, ttpx-
lot s boor,
' Let?ice« may I go and speak to•:
your father uuw ?' Asked 3•ftt..,y pros.
hvi,en his raptures lute srmeWLat
sub ids d.
• You would rlat be ttoxieius for it,'
anseer..d site, between srltiies al:d:
tearer, ' if you knew the treatment other
suitors hare suet with in his beasts),.'
Inwardly quaking, hitustlf, ort the
ordeal, Jeffrey sought oat 1fr. Warbur-
ton and told ltti story plaieely.
Never !third of auytllior No ridiuu-
lone in my life 1' burst out the little
old gentle 0a n. you sa;•al her life,..
and, now, forsooth, feel obliged tit
marry her. Off with you, autl leans
the 10 peace, and never mention any-
thing se absurd again 1 But Smith 1'
lee called out later to the yonng mat,
W}111 W88 turning away, baffled and die-
pirited. 'Recollect that any time yon
fool disposed to pity uss a visit, you'll
find a beat ty welcome there.. Ateliper-
Iiaps, perhaps---tnie,d I tnaie no rattle
proutises—but perhaps., if you like to
come and taut to. ewe about Lettice in
twenty. yearn' time, when you have
both grown a little older and wiser, I.
may listen to you.'
The wedains took place, however, ii
sogood deal tees than twenty years. It -
was celebrated with fitttug magnifi-
cence ; the bride was lovely, the bride.
groom Larid+-owe„ and there was a
crowd of wedding: guests rlvaliug a
•dock of trontoal birds iti spleetior of
plumage. But Alester Thomas o,nisid-
ered that he, its a new suit of livery
and a favor nearly as large as hitnself,
was the cetiteal point el elegatece and
the crowning-pinunele of glory.
ALWAYS ON kiAND
IN THEIR SEASON,
the beat of
Seed 'rw ariese
Azad Oats
ALSO
Quicklime &' Water/lime
LAND SALT, LAND PLASTER tt
Blacksmiths' Opel.
AT SWENEBTON'S WAREHOUSE,
Exeter Station,
whore my warehousemen will ., iwa;en be ionl.el
-from 7 a 2 to 6 p m to welt, 011 oustiulero.
B. SWILNERTON.
' Ali 1'—,Miss Warburton's haws
were disengaged now, for the flowers
had dropped from thetas, and were rot:
ling iu a glittering cataract down her
white robe to the floor.. The brief irigii
and exclamation might have been giv-
en to the catastrophe, or to the uewe
just in:Tartt d by Mr. Smith.
The next moment, she was speaking
lightly. ,
'How stupid of me ! Did you say
you were leaving ? I thought yon
were going to etay some :time longer ;
my father is under the firm impression
that you would pay us a visit before
deserting the neighborhood altooetlier.'
Jeffrey made no answer ; he was sit
witty gatheting up the scattered blos-
soms and replacing them in her lap.
Something in 'the last few minutes hall
shown hirn his heart. What a fool he
had bean to talk about lilting this girl
It burst upon hirn, with the sodden -
tress of a startling revelation, what a
blank life would be without her.
Will you give tele one of those .flow.
era ?' he asked, as, his work ended, lie
stood nailing beside her.
Lettice bad is her fingers two or
three purple pansies ; she etrerched
out her band and offered thein to him
without a mord.
'Heartsease ! I shall need that
when I am gone.'
A slight frown contracted Mies War -
bit none smooth white brow ; then she
looked up with a gentle reproaoh. ' I
eagerly. 'Aliss Warburton 1 you are
dearer to me than hie. 1 have beet)
ton etupi l to know it, but I think I
a1%i;AT CASK RALE. Having disposed of h N
1
store, and baying to 'vacs to the same,' will die•
pose of my (whole stock at and under cost. Suri*
to commence Wednesday, Juno Ath. Aly e..ete
come,ritros the 11 est goods in the trade, and tl.,s
lea rare opportunity to procure berg" {DP 116v.!r
be Fore offered. can early. Goods booked will t e
charae,1 regular (vices. A11 outstanding Poconnts
must bo settiod {u ,lune, W. 1), 11°"O.0Lt)2•',
196 Luudaa 61..I.ouSoh.
..E N SAL le
PORK PAOKINO •/OU8&
at)
43
is
set t`\''V'`ltl'uj,tt
a, -3?
,t
Having commenced busiueesfor tee
Fall andWimerTrade
We aro prepared to purchase any quantity of
Pork, subject to the following regulations
we will take off two ponpds per hundred ;f
dry. and three pound if soft. Shoulder stack,
twenty-five emits. If any of the bung I)01 is
left in, 'ii coots extra will be deduete,i.
No pork will be bought at an pr';ce if
wa, in.
Wo want all 'Hogs Cutting aright thr.tigh
breast w head, and .clams opened (Attu tai,,
G r35 J.P'TTY;,.