THE SHALLOWELL MY STERY.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 6, Issue 330, 1 November 1862, Page 4

THE SHALLOWELL MY STERY.

(From the CornMll Magazine for June.)

OHAPTEE I,

A LONG, late, lounging breakfast.' Arthur Kingston sits with the relics of the repast still before him ; as he leans back in:his:easy chair it is evident that some entrancing subject occupies all his thoughts. . • '....- . .

Now of all occupations thinking is one to which he is least addicted. He disapproves of it. It is in direct opposition to his system of living.

Yet this morning when Georgy Davis, who has the next chambers in the Albany, looks him up,' he scarcely notices him, but only receives Tn'rn with a nod. . .

Georgy, who is accustomed to make himself at home everywhere, helps himself to some Maraschino, before he takes in the phenomenon ; when he does it renders him voluble immediately.

" Why, Kingston, what's the matter with you ? Here I have been a minute and a half in* this place and you have not said a word. Why, lam hanged if you don't look as if you were actually thinking about something."

To the question Kingston returned no answer j on the observation he made no remark.

Davis flung himself at full length on the sofa and took a book, determined to wait the result.

In about five minutes Kingston found his tongue.

" First of all, Georgy," he said, "let me apologize for my silence, for I knew you were here, though I did not speak to you. But if I had it would have put me to great inconvenience ; for not being used to thinking, if I had not finished while I was about it, it would have taken an hour or more to get back to where I was when you came in, supposing I ever arrived there at all."

''Sir," said Davis, "your explanation is most satisfactory, but for your own sake I would not advise you to do it again,, for it does not appear to agree with you. Is it permitted to ask at what conclusion you have arrived ? "

" I am still in doubt," replied Kingston, " whether you should congratulate or condole with me. My cousin has just left me three thousand pounds."

"Well, I will congratulate you first, and, if you can show good cause, will try to condole with you afterwards."

" Why, you see, it is an awkward sum. It is too much to spend in a week, and it is not enough to be of any particular use."

" Of course you would not think of ' muddling it away ' in paying your debts ; but it might be some good in staving off those that press." " No, Davis, no ! I am convinced that paying your creditors money on account is a. mistake. It is every bit the same as letting dogs get a taste for blood. They'd always be wanting more. And as for paying one man, if you did not cash up to the lot, — why, it would be — what is it they call it in the newspapers — showing undue preference ;is it not ? 1 believe it is felony. No, no, Georgy ; whatever I do I will never be unjust." *' Well, come and have a game of pyramids, and let's talk the thing over."

" No, George Davis : not if I know it. It's my firm belief that in your theory life is one pyramid, and other people's money the bricks that compose it, by winning which you are to rise to the apex."

"Well, I have not got even 'three bricks higher' by you."

" For the simple reason, my George, that it is many years since I have had any money to lose." " But what are you going to do with the money 1 You might get 'The Ruffler' for fifteen hundred, and he is well in for the Cassarewitch."

" ' The Euffler ' will not suit my little book. I arrived at a decision after you came in. This is what I am going to do. I shall go down to a nicish watering-place within easy distance of a decent pack — enjoy myself quietly, and make the money go as far as I can for a twelvemonth ; and then "

" Well, what then 1 " " I shall kill myself."

" Oh, of course, to the sound of slow music in in the distance ; hurdygurdies and bagpipes playing under your windows, &c."

"No ; I mean what I say. Another year will be just enough of it."

" Provided you do not flush an heiress in the meantime. What you have described would be a useful country for that kind of game ; and if you make your three thousand pounds three thousand a-year, you might have a chance."

" No ; that would be a sacrifice for which I could not screw up my corn-age ; I would sooner go to Boulogne and vegetate on the interest of the three thousand. I don't know why it is, but to me they always seem to take their complexion from their bank-notes, and the shade of their hair from the colour of their guineas." " Why, golden tresses are the correct thing." " Yes ; but lam thinking of the 'red, red gold.' Besides they've too accurate an idea of their own money value impressed upon them from infancy. No ; I shall keep to my original plan ; and twelve months from the day on which I arrive in my new home, I shall depart this life. My mode of death will form an interesting subject of reflection during my leisure hours; for now I have begun to think I may as well go on." " Do you really expect me to believe this ? " " If you say you don't ; — well, I won't call you out, because thajb might disarrange my plans ; but I should prefer your dropping the subject." " And you won't play one pool 1 " " Not this morning. I must see about carrying my new arrangements into effect. Ta-ta."

George Davis soon spread the news of Kingston's legacy, and his theory for its disposal far and wide ; and consequently that gentleman was favoured with a great many visits in the course of the morning. When he had quite a levee, he went over the whole affair for the public benefit. Amongst the men who were present, some had come expecting to find him a little mad ; others had made up their minds that he had been amusing himself at George's expense. But Kingston stated his intentions and his reasons for them in such a quiet and business-like way, that many were shaken in their opinion. Some of the younger men, indeed, at last felt perfectly confident that he would carry out whpt he had said

■^^the^lrtfeß^-ilt should' "be -mentioned that he - pref acedfhia explanation -by. stating that Davis happened to come in just as he had decided upon the course he was about to pursue, and that he • had spoken to him about : it on" the spur of the v moment ; but, considering it in the light of a -confidential communication, he never imagined it would have gone any farther. One man, indeed, ventured to say that he thought the joke had. gone far enough; but he «oon repented his temerity. *' I am not in jest, sir," said Kingston, in a voice which startled the room ; " and as this is a Bubject which I shall not discuss again, if any one wilfully forces upon me a statement of their disbelief in my intentions, I shall consider that they wish to give me the lie."

As Kingston had once thrown a man out of a first-floor window, and there was still a latent possibility that he might be mad, this produced rather a hiatus in the conversation.

The difficulty was cleverly got over by a young gentleman who said, —

" You have not told us yet, Kingston, what is to be the scene of your operations." "Well, I have not made up my mind, and shall be glad of any advice on the subject." "What do you say now to Shallowell ; Maverley's regiment is stationed there, and it is within easy reach of Glencroft's pack, and the South Clodshire as well ? "

" By Jove 1 you don't say so ; I have not seen Maverley since he returned to England, and it is * nice country too. Shallowell it shall he. I will write to Maverley to-night. By-the-by, if any of you know anybody who could take the rooms off my hands, with furniture and everything as it stands, I should be glad."

As the party gradually dispersed, young Racington, who was just starting upon town, lingered on till the last, and as soon as they were alone •commenced a negotiation. In ten minutes Kingston had disposed of all his goods and chattels, including some tolerable pictures, for two hundred and fifty pounds, and a hunter which had proved rather too much for Mr. Racington, as, on previous occasions, when there had been a difference of opinion between them with regard to the road which they should go, the horse had generally had the best of the argument.