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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1871-12-15, Page 2777,, 9 Cay.y. NY\ THE HURON EX POSITOR. •••• ,fx• DEC. 15 1871. v .4, • , , TUEDREADED CD.EST. BY MISS M E. BRADDON. ((TonclucZoct from la8t week.). It did happen that Martin Prestwitch possessed the sum of seven pounds ten, amassed by what supreme efforts of (sconce -ay he and his narrow honsehold. only could have told, and _ honestly set aside for the payment of the Christmas quarter's rent. To part with any of this would be like shedninglis heart's blood; bat he felt himself utterly unable to bop° with this dreadful creature, whom he had given back to the living world ; and. if the coiner had. asked him for his heart's blood instead of a five -pound note, it seemed to Martin Prestwitch that he must needs have given it. So, after a longish parley, and a des- perate endeavor to defend_ his treasure on the doctor's part, Martin PreStwitch. stole up stairs once more in the deed night-time,- and crept like a robber to his little hoard, from which lie took the five - pound note demanded by the torinenter. He looked at the little Dutch clock in the kitchen before he went back to the - dissecting room -watch he had none - and saw that it wanted still a quarter to three o'clock: The leng, dismal winter's night was not half gone yet, and Dr. Prestwitch did net know how_ lunch m -ore that ressiscitatsd felon might ask of him before it was done. Te think of - going to bed was worse than idle; sleep or rest was an. impossibility, with that baleful creature upon the premises. Dr. Prestwitch seated himself by the fire, opposite his visite., and prepared to wait for morning with 'what patience he might. Fed and clothed, the intruder was in- clined to be social, and expanded con- siderably as the night wore,on, favoring Dr. Prestwitch with numerous glimpses of his past history, exhibiting a career at once aderenthreas and felonious. Sense of right and wrong seemed altogether wanting to this creature, whose real name, he told the doctor. was Jonathan :Blinker, but who had been known to fame by eeveral aliases, the most familiar of which was Captain flashman. - Day dawned at length -a dull gray winter's morning, the atmosphere heavy with unfallen snow, the bright white ground looking even whiter than it was against the dense leaden sky. When the little Dutch chick in the kitchen struck sevens Martin Prestwitch turned the trey of the .dissecting -room door, and conjur- ed Mr. Blinker to keep silence; and. for one whole hour the two men sat without speaking, Mr. Blinker dozing by the ex- piring fire, the surgeon listenme to Barbara Snaffles' movements as she astl- ed, about, performing her morning duties. Then came the shrill srnall voices of the children, and then his wifes gentle tones inerairing for the doctor at the dis- sectino•room doer. You don't mind being locked in here for half an hour or so, While I go and. get those shoes and stockings, s do you ?" asked Marten of .Mr. Blinker, in - a whisper. The coiner looked athim doubtfully. "Yon ain't going to sell me., are you ?" he said.. " Yoe wouldidt- go and peach upon a poor devil that you've brought back to life? You wouldn't let me swing a second_ time for the sake of the reward? ' "Do you take me for a scoundrel?" exclaimed Martin, with suppressed in- dignation. " No, I don't, and_ I'll trast you," an- swered the other promptly. . So Dr. Prestwiteh went out, and lock- ed the door behind hies, to seeure his secret from. the exploring eyes of Bar- bara Snaffles. He had. to answer his wife's remon- strances and tender upbraidings. How could he sit up all night, to the peril of his precious health ? _He told Iser that his studies had. been especially interest- ing, and the nighth,ad .slipped away un- awares. What I didn't it seem long, Martin," she exclaimed, all those home down in that cohl, dreary room?" -" No, indeed, my love; T never- was more comfortable," answered the doctor, with audacious mendacity. " You ate a- good supper, anyhow, Sir," said the familiar Barbara, "Only - think, mum ; there islet a roossel of yes- terday's quartern, and. the Dutch ,cheese is clean gone !" - Martin Prestwitch shmk- off without attempting an answer to this accusation.. He muttered somethino about seeind patient, in the next street, put on his hat, and went out. It would not do_ to trifle with Mr. Blinker. The shops must be open- by this time, and the coiner might be shod. and dispatch:ed. The doetor cheapened a. pair of roomy second-hand shoes on a colibleids stall, and bought a pair of Oom- forta,bleworded doekings, of the size which bis anatomical eye taught him was likely to suit Mr. Blinker. The half hour had scarcely expired when he turned_ the 'key in the dissecting -room door. The coiner was asleep, with, his head reposing-corefortably upon the oper- ating table, The shoes and stockings were an ad- mirabe fit; and when Dr. Prestwitch had farther' pros ided an old hat, Mr. Blinker, presented a tolerably reepee table aopearence. There was still the quefd- fiat' f disgnise ; but the doctor, after seine little search in his surgery, found a pair of green spectacles, which made a eolisiderable alteration. in Jonathan _Blinker's phs-siognonly. When these had been assumed, the doctor looked emtdsaw that the ground_ was clear, that no inquisitive Barbara or imxious wife was lurking in the shadow of an ad- 1, jacent door -way, and then ushered Illinker intothe court, rejoieed beyond' I allineasure to be rid of him. evenat the ! cost of a five pound noteand_ teat cadent bottle -green coat. On the threshold .Mr. Blinker turned round. "1 shall give 3 -nu a look in soon, doe - tor, to tell you how I get on." Oh, - don't, if you -please," the sur- geon cried, piteously. It would never do for you to come here. You see, my semily look upon yetis in the light of a bods-, and I don't see how they are to Cirought to regard you from any other poii,it of view." "1 sha'n't come to see your family," replied Jonathan , Blinker; "I shall come to see you." • . With this awful • threat he stalked away, looking gigantic in the narrow alley. The doctor closed ihs door with a groan, and went to the .parlor, where the meagre breakfast was neatly leid on the round table near the small bright fire, 6 and where the anxious wife was- ready - to take alarm at Martin's haggard face. But Mary Prestwitch's anxious looks were not half so embarrassing as the searching glances o Barbitra Snaffles, who regarded the ' surgeon \Irith a merbid . curiosity, as a man who had just left a abnormal eimployment. She lingered in the room while be ate.' hie breakfast, handing him his toff e -cup till hovering over his solitary egg. "Is it there still?' she asked him in a stage wI;dyer, while Mrs. Prestwitch Lwas engased with the, three hungry children, the youngeet of which was till dependent on the maternal breast for the most prim tive kiud of nourishment. ' "What do you mean by -it ?" Dr. Prestwitch asked, impatiently. "‘ Him ! The bedy! ' . "No, .girl ; it'sigone." "Gone? What 1! you've done with it already ?" i, Yes." "And they've fetched. it away ?" "Yes, they've fete, ed it away." "Well, 1 never !" exclaithed. Barbara, with an injured. air ; "they mast have -been in a hurry. I thought I should have seen it this naming. I've seen a many in my time:- rewired and other- wise -and I never rissed , one before. I -ma,ke no doubt I s all dream of him." 4 ' Dream of him ! onsense, girl.e "Not having seeit hint I make no doubt -I shall dream of him," said Bar- bara, with an air of conviction. "I i never missed one .before -not if . it was three streets off, an 1 the family it be- longed to a'most stra igers to me ; and to have had one in thd same house, and right -down stupid. • ie !" cried the doe- erfect Vampire !" as brought him. as Miss Snaffles in - not seen him, seems like." . - " Good Gragiotis tor; " The girl is a " Was it them tw fetched him away ?" quired; curiously. - "Of course," aiDANI, ered the doctor. ' . "And are they go ig to bury him at .Newgate ?" , "1 suppose so. here, _Bab, go and. mind your seseek,lea d don't worry me any more about th man. He's gone ; that's eriough for youe . si Heartily did Mart n Prestwitch wish that his visitor of 1, st night had indeed been Carried away t be safely interred within the prison w lis. That farewell threat- of Jonathan Blinker's weighed heavy On his soul. ' For the firSt time Ince he had lived in Little Bell Street, Pr. .Prestwitch was behindhand with his Christmas rent, to the bewilderemet of 9, his faithful wife, who .had helped himsto save the seven pounde ten so carefully scraped. together against the landlord should claim his Le. S' It's - gone, Mary," the doctor said dismally, "or at least fivepounds ten of it. You see, my dear, 1 was obliged to to part with it.", . ," But what for, Martin? What could you want five pounds ten foe ? • Yon, who never spend money." " Surgical instrumentS,emy lo-ve; a man's first duty is to his profession." And again Martin Prestwitch hated himself for having lied to the wife ef,his bo The landlord was displeased, but not implacable- Dr. Prestwitch was a ease- ful tenant, and had shown himself a Iron - est mans.. so, after grumbling a little, the_landlord gave him a month's grace, and went his way. - Jonathan Blinker kept his promise. In thawintry gloaming a meat hulking man in a bettle-greeu coat with fur col- lar might have been often seen entering the doctor's surgery from the narrow : Side -alley, with a furtive, surreptitious air. Here Dr, Prestwitch held converse with him,- nd -Was fain to provide some small sum f money against his commg. - In time these donations took the form of a weekly allowance, and the ao mplish- ed Captain Flashman became • a l.guiai. peusiouer upon the doctor. B_e eh ays used. the same argument when claim ig his bounty: De. Prestwiteli had reviv (I him of his own volition, and was, thee - fore bound to alithent him -to keep hi n " goin °a, " as the captain called it. .- . Dr. Prestwitch. submitted to this t - position with much bitterness of ,spi -it, and many a groan breathed in the oli- tude of his surgery. He was a man of a gentle and somewhat timorous -aature„ and he felt himself quite unequal -to re- sist such a claimant ; ee week ley week the poor fellows brain was rackecl by the consideration of how he was to pro- vide for Jonathan Blinker: Nor was it money only that his tormentor demand- ed from hero. The ex-toiner was of a huogry temperament, and took it bad if there Was not some trifling snack pro- vided. for him when lie paid his weekly visit; whereby the surgeon was fain to have recoarse to divers small stratagems in order to set aside the remains of a _beefsteak pie or to Secure the bla.de-bone of a shoulder of mutton for the refectioa of his oppressor. The devoted Barbara did not fail to note the disappearance of these viands, and to remark upon the fitfulness of her master's appetite. For a longtime this' secret burden weighed Martin Prestwitch down -to the ( st. Life had been a hard struggle be- fore, butit was infinitely herder now, when the small weekly serapings , which he might have- saved were all absorbed by the omnivorous Blinker. lie woke sometimes in. the dead. of the night, startled from sleep by the memory of Ids tormentor, and lay broad. awake for hours, brooding over his difficulties. Mr. Blinker had taken care to impress upon him that the thing he had. done was agaiost the law, and that be was liable to some severe penalty for liaving assisted in the evasion of a. condemned felon. Being too benevolent a mall to betray his incubus, and not valorous enough to face the difficulties of the case, .Dre Prestwitch submitted to.be imposed upon, and received his pensiotier as meekly as if Joisatban Blinker had been a creditor armed \ sith a righteous laim agaiiistlint. Things -went on in this dismal manlier for some time, and then there came a change for the better in the doctor's cir- cumstances. Patients dropped in upon hirn, or seta for him, much oftener than of old. Now it was a eummons to at- tend. the birth of some denizen of a slum in St. Giles's, anon he was celled to the death -bed of sonic imeicut inhabitant of of the Mint ; semetimes he was sent for to repair the damaises caused by a fa,c- lion light in the the .purlieus of Fy(1. Lane, or to operate upon. the fraetured ribs of some inukulind enember of the dangerous dlaeses in Bedfordbury. On_ all these occasions he found that he had been reemni ended by Jonathan Blinker, who had d scribed him . as a perfect master of s rgery and physic; and on all these oe asioes Dr. Prestwitch had -reason to suspect that his new clients belonged td the criminal classes. But patients arc spatients, and these people paid. the doctor promptly .and liberally, when flush of money, and showed themid selves h, norable whenever he gave them credit. The juvenile population intlfese quarter: was perpetually being increas- ed ; an the ladies being uniformly pleased with gentle Martin Prestwitch, one ma ron recommended / him ! to an- other, Intl the_ goetleman who was usually described among Clem as "Blink r's doctor" found his practice was pie 'ng up, andelis financial position becoming easier. . There was still, however, thos dr-eade ed visits of Jonathan Blinker ; 1 and it seemed to Dr. Prestwitch as if he whole -life was preyaded by that bulky figure in. tho bottle -green coat, very . shiny about the cuffs and elbows and mangy .4. to the fur collar by this time. And yet he felt that on the whole he was bound to be grateful to his tormentor, for the ulti- mate re tilt of the business had been ad- vantage ms to himself, did'even trY to make Jonatha fectiona, some, show of gratitude ; while 1, on his part, was 'positively af- e to his benefactor, declaring himself 7eady to serve him in any man- ner, at the hazard of a second suspension per col. even. . . • "There's nothing I Wouldn't do for you, doctor," he said. " I'd -coin for you if I had. a - new sot of tools, or the money to buy 'em, There !" . The ( octor, of course, entreated him to dismi s all ideas of coining fioni h•is bey* a Id to set about leading an honest life ; ba on this Mi . Blinker would. only shake h s head dubiously., as net perceivs ins( the elevaacy of the proposition. - So t ings went on for nearly three years. The doctoes three small, child- ren had been :recruited -by tui infantile brother, and now numbered four; with the pos ibility of a fifth looming in the distanc . The doctor's practice was bet- ter, buitwas not a good. oile, and could na t by any means be called an aristoce tie or even a "genteel practice's 'nee had he doctor any prospect of being -able to -I emove to a More fashionable ti -an Little Bell Street. He could pay the - utelier and the baker, however, mid had no need to worry himself about his rent; and this to a man of such modest ( .esires, was enough for potent- ment. - Mr. Blinker had been his pensioner all this time, and Barbara Snaffles had be- come' quite familiar with the weekly visitor ih the bottle -green coat, dimly visible itt the- gloaming; for whatever the season of the year Mr. Blinker came only in the twilight. She believeditt him tirthly as a patient in the corns chandler litie-Dr. Prestwitch 'Mastoid her he ,as a corn -chandler -afflicted with soi e .chronic disease, and one of her nas er's most profitable customers. The t ird year was closing in when the ever ing and hour of Mr. Blinker's accuston ed visit came round without bringing that gentleman. to Tit le Bell Street.- It was the dist.time that he had failed to appear with Tnesday ev ning'S dusk sin 'e the foundation of this istitu bon, and Dr. Prestwitch passed he ref maieder of the evening in a statel of all - most. feverish restlessness, with •the ex coiner's allowance in his pecket. Could any thie g have happened to Jo• athan Blinker? Could it be that this in ictio.n come to t suddeo end.? A sec . Tuesday dame ronn again Mi. Blinker was missing; a third,i and -then a fourth, with the same result, Dr.. Pre twiteh felt a wild half -guilty hope th t he shouidnever see Jonathan Blinker again. Yet he was loinewhat sorry to Clink that evil had befallen the missing an, nevertheless ; fertile sugemi was of kiudly disposition,. andthe creature 1 ad loved. him. . - • Six •w seks wentby, and there were stili rio idings of Mr... Blinker. The surgeon .ead the police news, expecting to see so Ile record of calamity to his fel- onious cquaintance ; but the Scanty news she ,t of the day contained no in-' formation of the messing Jonathan.. If he had. ..affered, he had .stiffered Under some alic s unknown to the doctor. At the end f the six Weeks, and while Dr. Prestwit wonderment was yet at its height, t ere came -a Mystericeis brown_ paper p, reel,' addressed to the debtor in a queer, -ramped hand: that he had never seen befoe. It was a small oblong pack- age, ver, carefully- corded and Sealed, yet ina omewhat eldnisy mamma ; and it arrive( in the. evening, while Alartin Prestwit .h was enjoying a pleasant in- terval u repose in the bosom- of his 4triVer'st rgeon'of LittleBell Street was not the r edpieut of many parcels. Gifts and offedngs of friendship were • not showerea upon him, even at the.. most festive s 'assize Christmas brought .him no Mons. er •turkeys, the new year no costly fri -olities for his children in the way df. •ngar-plums ; and. his little Ones had gide ei out of mfaney without as much as a sponsorial fork and spoon among ti e four of them, • /he adycnt of a- parcel, therefore, was a sufficient!aause for exci•t ment in the small family 'circle. - The lovii g little wife's bright eyes: grew. ._ brighter., With pleasure, the twc elder c il dr en 111Stled.o.ch other at their fath- er's_ kne s -in :their eagerness to see the parcel o iened and. Barbara Snaffles stood op 'n -mouthed and. open-eyed at her mast The p rcel felt very .heavyas almost like plat , Dr. Prestwitch thouglit-and, oh ! wha an -acceptable gifb. a dozen or - so of siter forks and spoons would have been. iii • that humble household ! He bloke th seals and unfastened' the cord with Ilan 18 that were tremulous With ex-, eiteenent lnaidle the brovsn paper there weS a small deeel boX roughly made, ,and, the lid ai1ecl- down. •-. There was some Work in 'eeirie delayin raising the. lid • bat wheer it was Iiftcd _Mary Pred-Witch thought the Sight she :beheld an all-suf- ficiunt ward for a hundred time as ninth tro Conifin talily reposing - between: :two layers of eottonevool ispeciu•ed a -quanti- ty nf goli guinea.ssi • their yellow bright- :nese- plea.engly relieved by •a background of -crown pieces, flesh from the mint, "Oh, ilartin !" Cried the little woman, with :etas red. hands. " who eals Lave. sent us So mu sh money'? Thapks be to God, -whoever t is !" For a f w moments Dr. Prestwitch (lid indeedbeheve that some unknowui bene- factor h d taken compessioa upon,. his poverty, nd that the glisteuieg counters before h m were geeidne emu of 1 the realm, )illy moments ; and thee the • image of Jonathan _Blinker arose before. his dazz ed eyes, and he felt assured that th es , -bright reproductions of King George's image were the handiwork of the coine He pus .ed away his wife's hand as she stretched it out to take one of the guineas. "Don't excite yourself, Molly'," he said, gen ly. "It isn't real money, It's only only so e one playing off a practical joke upo me." eal money? Oh, Martin !"' ex- .• ; and the wife, With some hing like a sob. ( o, -my love. They look very- well, certa nly, but 'there's not a. genuine gain a among them ; and if you or I were to try to pass one of them, it would be at the hazard of our necks." wouldn't mind trying, though," said he reckless Barbara, "at Barna,by Fair. 14T AO, 1.)in LISAILMC(.1 of you !" cried. the d dor. • - -He took up one of the delusive coins betw en his finger and. thumb, and felt the c lges with the air of a man learned in ro" tallurgy. , " 'xamine the milling, my dear," he said, • handling the false guinea to his wife. "That's the test." : Mc ry Prestwitch burst out crying as she 1 eked. at the bright simulacrum. It was , bitter disappointment. Five min- utes_ ago she had fancied that a .shower of ric les had descended upon them ; and now- t seemed as if the thought of their pove ty was a ksener pang than it had ever been before. re they readies- false, Martin ?" she aelce( , piteously, s false as any that ever a man was hung for coining,' replieii the doctor. had just come upon a scrap Of pa- per that lurked at the bottom of the box a briefscrawl from Jonathan Bliner . onerd Sine" wrote thp felon, "I are sett sum tooles and begun work agen. I send a fu SpeSSImij1t1, which may )0 ynsefull. Thay wol4I parse in yr ea dnirede. Yrs to emend. J. B." Ma tin .Prestwitch tossed this missive into •he tire. . _ h, Martin; who is it. that hasplay- ed th s wicked trick ?" asked his wife ; an( what was there in that note?" ,• "i othiug that 1 could Make out, Moll). Don't fret, my _starling I don't. supp se the person meant. unkindly." C ot mean. ankiudly f?' And to - dis- appoi it ns like that? - Oh, Martin ?",. - Th Clilistmae snow lay in the isethed nook • and by -Ways of the great . city once noree'and •the doctor was fourteen years older than at the beginning of this story. ', But he -still lived in iLittle Bell- Stree , and still worked very hard to proyi e for his wife and children. The fact. vas, he had so many of them that his h usehold expenses for the last four- teen 3 ears had. been steadily ' on the in- cieas . He did not. grumble at this,, howe er, He could ill have .spared one of th, t merry band. . • ' ' - His circumstances have ',- improved -some\ =hat year by year, but .never So -much as to' justify•his remove' t� a more fashio table neighborhood. His )atieots •beloe ed tothe lower classes; and if he had 1 ft Little Bell Street, he nivathave left Ji s practice behind him. . So a 'Whole - , se nosegi y of Wool:nines {lowers had grown ' up in bat dingy old house'more. or less under the dominion of Barbara, Snaffles. "Old servants are such bard masters," fia,ys harks Reade ; and. certainly Bar- bara r ilea the. doctor's household.with a rod of hem • . .". .' s . . Th re was 'a great commotion in the famil this Christmas. The oldest girl.. her re ther's namesake, Molly„ was .go- ing t be marriedgoing to i be trans- planted. into a sphere of life much- loftier than t list in wheal her fathereand moth- er .ha( their being ; for she had . been lucky enough to win tue affe.etiona of a fashio iable young doetor, . Whose father was a ebytician with a large West End practi e ; a :very proud and poinpous gentle'n an, not a little disposed to con- sider that his only soli. was throwing himself away upon pretty Mo11y Prest- witchwe h; The were 're to be married up4n thelast • day of the -old year, and poor Molly had • had h rd. work to prepard her simple weddi ig outfit, With the aid. and counsel. of Baa. sa,ra Snaffles, ' (+entre little Mrs. Prest\ itch was something of a cipher in the ho isehold, -like :niost mild-temsilired womei whose lives are - taken' up' with the re ring of children. She. Was con- tent ti look on and see the indefatigable Barba] a manage , for herself i and. her family and it seemed to her that every thing ' istress Snaffles didevas wise. • - On !heistmas-day there waS :to be a great festival hi . Little .13e11 &rect. ' Youn Mr. Clemmory-Molly's intended was t dine with liss •future father -lila law ; ad_ the great Dr. Clemmory hint - self, 0. Saville Row, had condescended to accept Martin Prestwitelds . invitation to liar ake of his modest Christmas fare. The .f ro. was to be by -• no Means un - worth of the distinguished guest, hoar -- ever ; for .- Barbara had. been Op to ' her , eyes 1. preparatioes for the last week, and had cheapened one of the finest geese in Leadenhall Market for the. feast, which with a haunch of mutton, it boiled round of beef, and a veal pie,. the doctor 'and hili wife agreed would make a very pretty little 'dinneee 'They 'Were to. dine . at thette in the afternoon -quite a patri- cian h ursabot young Cleminui.y. had- in- former them that -his fatherndver dined, earlier ; and. as a8 the appointed imedeew I near,,1 arbara s nerveusness msreased to ' • . _ a fevetith ieteesity. , She felt. that het repute nes ae a cook and, a. nia ager was 1. 'staked ripen •this cast. . I A li tle befOkethree De. Clen mory and his scil . arrived, the 'West End, physieian, a pont emus. .man, with a fat voice, a pawde ed wig, a pair of handsome legs 'in Wasik silk stockings, and . a gold -head-. ed dad& The Sloan waineeoted parlor seemed. hardly capaeions euougs for euch was quite fluttered by the impertaiice of ' gotud company ; and ..Its. I restwiteh her guest. .1t was nearly dinner -time, and they wine all assembled in the peeler ; Melly , the yerniger radiant and :blooming in 0 . white annslin fleck, with a coral neck- lace round her '• slur' d er - thr rat ; two younger girls, . \vim looked. lil e smaller repetitions of :\Jolly ; three lif ys, more or les'in the hobbledehoy 81:6. re of ex; isteoco all in clean. shirt frills, nit show- i • ing a 1 ttle more bony l wrist .1) dow their coat etifs than was in accord nee with . the reigning fashion -poor pe ple's chil- dren grow -so fast. It ,was on he stroke of three a Mrs. PeestWitch was wonder- ing 'how the goose Would t irn out ; whether the haunch ol mutton would be roasted to that perfection of culinary art which such a man as Dr. Clemlnory had . 1 a right to expect in any joint Set before l him ; and whether Barbara would emerge triumph-antly from the plum -pudding or- ' ( deal, and walk u»scathed through the • mince -pie furnace. The house was sm.all, and the narrow entrance hall had. been odorous with. chimer for the last hour or more. • _., - Before the neighboring _ °leeks began to strike the home there came a loud double kriock,at Dr. Prestwitch's door. The surgeon and his wife started and stared at each other aghast.- . They had invited no other guest ; and theadveut of . a dropper -in - upon such an occasion Not. would be an unmixed calamity. Every fork and. spoon had been pressed into the service of the day, every inch of the din- ner -table was engaged. - - The 'West End physician was' laying down the law in his pompous voice, talkind about the King and my Lord North ° a,nd those contumacious Ameri cans • but every other tongue was eilent and 'Dr. and Mrs. Prestwitch were strainieg their ears to the utmost to hear the opening of the street -doer, and Bar- bara's parley with the expected visitor. There was a long pause : it was not an easy thing for Bab to leave her dinner at the supreme moment of " dishing -up," and it would have been ill -manners for a member of the family to leave the room in order to open the street -door. There was a prolonged. pause, therefore,- during which the church -clocks chimed. three With a solemn sound, and the individual who had. knocked gave a load, husky lem, a sound that sent a cold shiver through Martin Prestwitch, he • scarce knew why. At last the door Was opened, and a voice that turned the surgeon's Wood to ice was heard inquiring for Dr. Prest- witch. _ Then a pair of creaking, shoes walked down the passag,e, the parlor door was limes open, and Barbara an- noanced Mr. Jonathan Blinker! It was; the coiner dressed. in a brand ncsv bottle -green coat and breeches, and a scarlet waistcoat elaborately adorned. with gold -lace ; the coiner grown stout and red-faced and prosperous-lookinlr ; the coiner in a snow-white frilled shirt, and with a new three -cornered hat under kisTahlerirle. was a dead silence. Martin Prestwitch's countenance 'assumed. a !Sickly hue ; tilt great maa from Saville Row stopped suddenly in his lecture, and stared at the new -comer as if waiting for an introduction. Mrs. Prestwitch and the children stared also, but were inclin- ed to consider Mr. Blinker's jovial red face in a favorable aspect. He looked an eminently respectable gentleman of the agricultural class. "How (rye' do, doctor ?" he said, un- abashed by the assembly in which he found himself. "I've just collie back from America, and I thought I'd give you a look up before I went any where else, even though it was Christmas -day; and dont mind cutting my Christmas beef with you, if you've no objection a." What could Martin Prestwitch do -a weak soul at the best,. and especially feeble where Jonathan Blinker was con- cerned? He faltered out a half -audible intiduction: " Dr. Clemmery, Mr. Blinker ; Mr. Clemmory, Air. Blinker." The physician bowed with an urbane stateliness ; good-natured George Clem- mory shook liands with the stranger. • "Your arrival is somewhat of a co -in- cidence," _said Dr. Clemmory ; " we :were discussing the' aspeet of American affairs when you knecked." Barbara announced dinner before Mr. Blinker could reply.- By a rapid and jue (Helens manaivring of the knis-es and forks shies had contrived to prepare a cover for the uninvited guest and the coiner took his place among .the -rest of the company, to the horror of Martin Prestwitch, who' knew not wr-hat revela- tions might be made before the meal was finished, and who felt that his face was palpably bedewed with colelprespiration. The banquet was a success. Dr. Clemmory ate like an alderman, and praised the goose and the haunch until Barbara's countenance glowed with an honorable pride. Mr. Blinker made him. self eminently agreeable, talking jovially with the youngsters at his end of the table, and leading the laughter for all Dr. Clemmory's jokes with a stentorian peal. It is true that be put his knife in his mouth a good, deal, and supped up his gravy M a painfully audible manner ; but people were not so refined in those days, and a prosperous agriculturalist might do as much as this withoirdcreat- ing scandal. Altogether things' were much better than Martin Prestwitch had expected, and as the evening wore en he began to breathe freely. After dinner there was a dessert of nuts and oranges. How happy George, Clemmory and pretty- Molly Pres -twitch seemed roasting chestnuts at the fire in the dimly lighted parlor, with all those young brothers and sisters, while their parents conversed more gravely in the dining -room, where there was a steam- ing bowl of punch ! Under the influence of punch the West End physician be- came wonderfully expansive, and. pa- tronized Jonathan. Blinker in the most cienial manner. "1 like a man of that stamp," he said, afterward, in confideuce to Martin Prest- witch ; "an holiest, jovial fellow, cast in a good mould, Sir -east in a (rood. mould. There's see:mine . metal there, Dr, Prestwitch ; you can hear the ring of it. The man is sterling coin, Sir." Martin Prestwitch shivered, and could. only reply I -6th a sickly smile. RAILWAY TIME TABLE. Trains leave the Seaforth station as follows :- Express. 2.37 P. M. Express. 10-50 GOING WEST. Mixed. MAL 1,40 P. M. 8,40 p. GOING EAST. Mixed. 1,40 le M. Mad. 8.00 A. M. B R EA KFST-EPP'S 0OCOA-G:1z ATEFL'I* AND Comte) Rad Id By a thorough knowledge of the natural laws which_ govern the operations of digestion and trition, and by a careful application of well selected cocoa, Mr. Epps has pro- vided our breakfast -tables with a deli- cately flavored beverage winds may save us many doctors' bills."-Cia herric aazette. --Made simply with boiling wa- ter or milk. Each packet is labs:sled- " JA31 ES EPPS & Homosopathic Chemists, London." s Co.,:lse. makers of Epp's Milky Cocoa (Cocoa and Con- denzed JUST RECEIVED, A T THOMAS LEE'S, A CHOICE STOCK OF FRESH FAMILY GROCERIES, Compri:4/1'g TEAS, SUGARS, CO FFEES, ktel;3, CURRANTS, RAISINS, SOAP, TOBACCOS, Etc., Etc., AR of which he can afford to sell as cheap as any the town. TEAS FROM BO cents*TO $1, And warranted to give satisfaction to all. SHEARSON & CO.'S No 1 Flour and Feed Of every description constantly on hand. ABA PROVISIONS Of kilt& to be ha. at the lowest possible rates.. Simpson's Spice, the hest Condition Powder for Farm Stock in use. Farmers, try it. The highest price given for Farm Produce of all lauds. Remember the place, SHEARSON & CO.'S OLD STAND, West Side, Main -street, SEAFORTH, Out. THOMAS LEE. HOUSE & LOT FOR SALE IN SEAFOR1'11. Teon Sale, Cheap, a Frame Cottage and a 'Lot and a half. on the corner of Jarvis and Market streets, immediately facing the Market square,. The house contains two MOLDS 5na two bed -rooms, ,with hall and summer kitchen. There is also splendid well of water on the premises. For terxus L.ktiao,L.apply.... to the undersigned. JOHN DAITNCEY, Seaforth. NOTICE. ABOREP wanting -wort fOr feW I iweeks will find employment on the G OVERNMENT DRAINS, In -Grey. WAGES, $1,25 per day. Enquire of t5e foreman on this wbre or apply to the agent at the office, J as, T. Blain. " G. BLAIN, Contractor. Grey, May 12, 80-tf J. P. BRINE, LICENSED AUCTIONEER for the County of -A-4 Huron. Sales attended in all parts of the Country. MI orders left at TEE ExPesrron Mee , wit, be promptly attknded to: los STOVES, TINWARE AND COAL OIL. AVIS. INI7ITNEY has just received a huge stock 47-5" of .Cooking, Parlor and Box Stoves, -of the best manufacture, which she eau sell ,cheap as any in the trikde. TINWARE, of every description, kept constantly on hand and made to order. Also, Stove Pipes, Ea,ve Troughing, etc. Custom -work promptly attended to, and outside work will receive every attention. COAL Of E. Alarge stock of the very best Coal Oil kept con- stantly on hand, and will be sold wholesale and retiititi7n.ienther the place, Carmichaers Block, Main strie'lentliSestrill.L1;111)ied by note or book aeconnt are re- gulLisettiesd, brass, eolyper, etc. taken in exchange for goods. EGAIONDATILLE Before the night was out 1)r. Clemmory was obviously the worse or the better for GROCERY' STORE liquor, and. had become almost maudlin in his expressions of regard. for the ex - coiner. Mr. Blinker had drunk more, but the ong drink had no effect upon W11. 111 02\ /SON inin When th d physician's coach came to fetch hire away from Little Bell Street he volunteered to set Mr. Blinker 4_,As n fre,th suplav of choice Family Groceries, of every deseriplion, embracing very Mate of Seaforth,) down at his inn before arising home, an offer which Yale aecepted, to the horror.. of Martin Pi est -witch. • If Dr, Cleminory had taken a fancy to Mr. Blinker, that worthy, on his part, ! had taken fancy to the junior members of the l'restwitch family. He iesistei-1. ripen kissing the three girls meter the Mistletoe N.'"11011 he wieeed them good • night. and welled. by kissing Barbara Snaffles in the passage., He squeezed Martin Preetwiteh by the hand upon the threshold, and. said, in a' confidential voice. " 1 thirds you've been glad to see me, doctot, .and I take it kindly. I've not forgot. past favors. I've made a bit of money out yonder in the Shipping line, . and I've left every penny of it to you.'' 'it was the truth and the bit of money turned out to be a large fortune, which Prestwitch- inherited three years afterward from the grateful Blinker, \\-ho expired in the odor of sanctity at his own house at t Tipton, sincerely regretted 1 Fine -flavored Teas, )3. the young Prestwitches, to whom he lad been a kind of fairy god -father, showering benefits and gifts upon them luring those concluding years of his life. ! To the last day of his existence Dr. 1 Clemmory wae wont to speak of Mr. Blinker as a model of probity, and. the I very flower of successful traders and MONEY !, self-made men.. 000 TO LEND. TiIE man was never known that could I please everybody. but Frank Paltridge comes the nearest to it in his line of ; business. .$1 per dozen. Scott's block, I Seaforth. Of various varieties. Also, Sugars, Coffees, Spites, Fish; TO BACC0D4, Bismits ,,very othpr n rtiop OW Groet-r3' nll of v. hich he will sell Lit prices As ItiV: al.L Cali be had at SuLforth or in any in the County. I BUTTER AND EGGS taken. in exchange for goods a FLOUR AND FEED, (31 L.14.-ry (104eiiptioy. IL (lit etn,ct:',--11-: i.71 hand, eluding -hear-on & Co.'s No. 3. A ran it; respuctfully TH0:41140.N. RI:MEMBER THE BR'S "K STORE, isosooenVILl.1:, LO(AN'S 01,1) STAXD ; T HAVE the above sum on hand. for 1 investment on good Farm Security, at 8 and 9 per cent, -Private Funds. JOHN 5. PORTER. SEAFORTII, July 25, 1870, Dtc.: 15.. • 101110Effrracaaistrx4swmosv* ERIEr 3.1 Fanny Fern -writing a new1)91 - Anthony -whole inovel -way td, Austialia. — Si.even thous to the 'Belgian Int :.— The -Guinea, watches with thei! Just- -, Bricklayers manding per7J work. — at is calculi trait propeller wh 1T),G40 sleepers. —Since the pe much small -pox th wllntned -- Some of then house keepers on are W*0111-elL —The late. SIX 'Cations in Utah -8) than ieported. people are missing. The workingi iaill have OrgalliZIA promoting: the sepa and State. - — The English silver currency 'win ed with '(equal fao dollars and francs. 1WeahilhAnyAlr:lek:Iiia:lio14tili: xied inside a muff —Large gold di studded with dian precious stones, I fashion again for ,t1 — 1' e, ar n . 1 \Ir. at I) 'dar Newwil 1 - las been discovered- . in f----antThe Chicago .) -worn by the -cow 1 the lamp that set ,fil on exhibition in ail one different places; 7—Probably the , ,continuons service States is Mrs. Sia. God& a- Ladies' ,. touched eighty-four, sta.-May at the woil has beer. engaged P 377-7. * Mr. Robert . son of the late 'from Chicago to a. g .city that the lawye are entitely with° brary of the Law an.. large private law been consumed by] 1 Lincoln ,calls on his 1 bar of New -York te assistance. --- Dr. Willard 1).,1 foremost.,:bf our--pli the astoUnding -state third of all the deatl city are the result, reedy, of the use, that in the last th 190,000 persons in I died of its use, eithe or their parents, —Spielhagen, th mancist, -rill come Stares neXt spring, , Shakespedrd. — The largest sal Francisco school teac Inoutia-; the net is more poorly paid t tiora. Next to mini I:ahl lai-ias Els oiifss rat: e tohe:I:, e' 1 a sEi 11:1 - paying sellooleteaeleds GAIETI A gr: ef-stricken --widow tel _graphed ty her late husband : 11 ,dead. USS fully ,col ance." — " Charley,"said to her son., " you, ar4 again!: 4' . 7o,": 49.1 -1 44 you ai!re vrong, Ma to me." 1 — Boarding .,sw,,,, Charlie, 1 expect t/ next oifleetneitt ne What wil you grado in white title. ' —A stable ,keepe Mass., ±41 the Rev not a gra while ago noon service must be must buy more horse —This is how a -drunkard put on his -wind blew, it int/ knelt dowin slowl nuated camel, ant into it, pressed it. * • his head afrainst tip then aros/ li a so majesty, and thc 1 -4 - big succcss parting it -- A Down -Kist , that his fathei, i1 't' : would tell a lie: 411arter :cents, il the allegati.,n. bu admitted that lie 11, tth:11 f'or .i,l. -- " What make, /Toss ?” said an old 11101, the other 11102Ml ? *hesa r . . things in the worli .: milk is always sour,' plied, Aarp13 . — A gentlei •