MR WHITEHEAD'S WILL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 2039, 19 September 1874, Page 3

MR W H IT EHEAD'S WILL.

(Chambers' Journal.) (Continued.) Some months snbsequent to this period, Mrs Scrope and her young. t sod sat sipping their breakfast coffee, and munching hot rolls, Sam's head being swaddled in flannel for the rheumatism; when the former, alter a pause, p -rsued the teaour of their conversation by s ying in a half-hesiiaiing tone, " After all, Sam, my dear, it's ts nice i. letter as'Jone could expect from Miaa Pamela Gordon. She has always been <. rmsidered a most extraordinary person, famous for doing out of-the-way things, ;; id not sticking at trifles. I confess ".' do not understand the calm sweet loQour of her polite epistle ; end I feel al- • lost as if I stood on the brink of some powder magazine v.ith a. lighted candle in my hand. But that .uust be all my extreme nervousness; because you see, Sam, i here is i'uthing to occasion misgiving, und all ii fair d above grouod. We have asked your cousin Llspeth here, as in duty bound — he 13 coming , as a matter of course ; and as a matter of course, you will receive her. Let I uig sec" — counting with her finger — 'OElspet ' Gordon is just twenty— a year .younger than you, Sam, my tear, and some ive months ; and Mary Scrope that wao has l^een dcrd about twelve years. Mary was a hn.dsome, spirited girl." "Old WHtebead must have been very "ond of her to make Mich a will," broke n Sam, with his mouih and his face very red. •• I'm sure, mother, I'd much ratLer regain single than be married ; that I would ; 1 know a wife will only bother me, and I shall be taking these internal colds dancing after her — girls are so tiresome." "How do you know girls are tiresome, J m ?" asked his mother sharply., "Why, mother," responded Sain, looking rather sheepish, '• I've heard you say bo scores of times.'-' ;,"■•■ • "Well, well, my dear, nevermind," responded Mrs Scrope soothingly ; " I dare say Elspeth Gordon is a discreet maiden, though Mr Whitehcad spoke of her as being a gay, laughing lass ; and, to do her justice, Mias Pamela is a clever woman, and hn brought up the young mfcs well, no doubt, and trained her to obedience and respect of her elders. IT. be bound she'll come here all blushes anc 1 . t?emours at her own rare good luck 1" and Mrs Scrope paused, r.s a kind of y< .lous pan^ shot through her maierual hrai j. «am remained silent ; his wb'.te flabby face und half cloec". eyes affording no index as to the nature of his ruminations. UnaenusCorned to ihe society of Bti&ngers, it may be supposed that Mrs Scrope and Sam felt a little nervous at the expected v^.ifc of a wellbr d young lady, piac i in such extremely cleliciie and p^alla;: circums* nco towards cuemselvc-, r.y E^psth Gordon \tri. Mr Whiten: :d hr 1 deps^ed to another world, afCer only a few toys' illnc 3, c ..on after his lest visit to M ?i rj Panae'a Gordon ; bequeathin j' tbe wbo'e of b'-3. large fortune, without eny d^_ luction wha J - ver, to Samuel Scrope, 02 Scrope Hall, on condition of the cud Samuel Lctoiz marking E'speih. Gordon, d r filter of "tbe la*', C,ote!n Gordon, and M :y hfs wife ; the esid marriage to tike r/r.ce within twelve months af^r the testa to^'s dec ".33. In the evemt of the ccid £'.VJuel Scrope re.usingr ti ratify the said c ndition, and rejecting the lcjy,he forXei'sd ■ it:«- fortune, which then I. ;K';me Elspeth Gordon's. But 1:1 the lady. rejeot:d tbe jcntlemtn, why thea of •■ aursa vicevxsa. Mor^ver, Mr Whitehead hrd provided for every contingency. If the couple, by mud il i] : a. 3nt, reir od > filfll tta stipulati eondijiors, the mpny scores of thor^inds went 03 enrich various cbailties, almost unhearC of even by the most philanthropic. As to Eis--.:th Gordon refusing that was a thing Mr Whitehcad never dr Aped of ; a penniless f/i-1 like tbe daugh er of bis lost Mary to " -,t a fortune away— r^y, two fortunes — was iiheard of in the annals of romantic folly. Go he secured her, as he considered, an excellent husband and luxurious home. Then the Ukz of S:.muel Scrop, prudent and moneyloving as he was known to be, refusing :-. pretty girl and a still prettier douceur, for any whim short of insanity, wr.s far too wi'd and improbable a conjecture f j gain footing :._i Mr Whitehead'a calculations. Sr.m, un'^paasioned and csld as he was, would hardly reject a fine, lively, good-lem^sred young creature, by marrying whom he would raßure () himself the possession of nearly 40,003. i Elspeth Gordon hr 1 received an im Itation ' : tScro :i Hall, for the purpose of being invioduced to her cousin ; and Mm Pamela, to Mrs Scrope's rtonishment, hr.l hercelf Ayiltten t j ai cept it in Ellie's name, at the ; dme time wishing good-spe: 1 to the wooing 1 r .?h@ eventful day arrived ; Sam far.} thrown .- if his flannel wrap?, and arrayed in a bright new coat, with well-oilrd bair, was savveyed hy his adasirjnjrmethor with looks of unnr.ti'.Mted admiration. . ... . ;" O mother," he said, " I am all in a fluster; :i don't know what to Bay t ) her." !'• I dare to say she is more in a fluster than vcu, Sam, my dear ; bo let that comfort you. . ;.e won's meet your eyct, depend upon it ; ; ' la are always shy on such trying occrsiors r.3 these." So endeavouring to rally her son's spirits, and to support . his drooping courage, Mrs crope remarked that she every momen t exp cf od to hear the sound of carriage wheels r.pproachiog, as it wes rather beyond the hour fiuci for the arrival of their guest. The cnick of a riding- whip was heard in tbe hall, the door of the apartment wan flung open, and a lady, attired in a riding costume, rapidly entered, exclaiming : " Down, Juno! down, Pete !" as two huge dogs leaped abont her, creating confusion and dismay in all the beholders, for if Mrs Scrope and Sam hated one thing more than another, it was a dog. Y/ith dismay and surprise painted on her countenance, Mrs Scrope, turning to the domestics, said in a hasty tone : - " " Turn them, out 1 turn oat these troublesome creatures immediately 1" But Miss Elspeth Gordon— -for it was Bhe — peremptorily exclaimed : " I should strongly advise nobody to meddle with my dogs ; they are savage, and will bite strangers, unless left alone, and never obey any one except me and Tom." 'Shrinking from contact with the unruly animals, and in the utmost consternation, Mrs .^crope surveyed her young visitor. A tall, finely-formed though slender figure, was set off by a tightly-fitting habit; while a Fair of green spectacles, of antiquated make,

aided by a slouching bat, concealed the upper portion of the strauger'B face. The mouth, however, displayed a set of dazzliug white teeth, although the voice proceeding from that mouth uttered wonderful thing 3 for a timid young lady, but with a remarkable soft and musical modulation. Turning suddenly round towards Fam, who had retreated to the further end of the room, the owner of the green specs, regarding him fixedly for a few moments, advanced with extended hand v saying : " We won't wait for a formal introduction, Cousin Samuel, will we ? Come, don't be shy ; shake ha-.ds and be frien is. Now Juno, now Pete — here let me introduce you to your new master." But poor Sim was desperately afraid of large dogs, and he looked so scared aud miserable, that the gay lady indulged in an. immoderate fit of laughter, which she vainly endeavonred to control. Recovering herself with difficulty, ehe said with much suavity and gentleness : " You'll get used to them in time, Cousin Sam : I cannot live without them I" '• And how did you come, my dear ?" said Mrs Scrope, willing to get away from the subject ; " tiam and I were listening for the sound 0. carriage wheels on the avenue, but heard none" " Carriage wheels, indeed I " cried Ellie Gordon contemptuously, and flourishing her whip ; as if I should come to see my intended in so stupid a fashion. Not I, indeed. I rode over on Vixen, my beautiful mare, with Tom at my heelß, and Juno and Peto foTf company !" With uplifted hands and eyes, Mrs Scrope repeated the words : " Rode over on Vixen ! Why, it is a good eighty mi!e from hence to Miss Pamela's, and you rode over on horseback !" "To be sure ! what of that ? Jforty miles a day ; and slept last night at the Elliatou's. Bob and James Elliston rode part of the way with me to day, but I didn't want them eveu through Hanging Wood ; for look here, ma'am. I never travel without these ; you and I will have a practice, Sam ; '.' and so saying, the young lady drew forth from a concealed pouket a pair of small elegantly finished pistols, pointing one in Yarn's face. He recoiled, saying in a scarcely audible voice : " I hope, miss, they're not loaded ? " "Why, Sam, what would be the use of pißtols if they were not loaded ?" replied she smiling ; and adding in an undertone, "Except to frigh'en fools wiih." "I think, my dear," said Mrs Scrope, coming between the pair, and gently turning aside the hand which grapped the offensive weapons, "that you had batter lay them aßide now, with your travelling-dress ; there are no robbers or ruffians here to molest you." " Thank you, ma'am —thank you," quickly replied Ellie, " I prefer wearing . my habit ; and if yon have no objection I will return these pretty dears to my pocket"—replacing the pistols—" it's all use, you know, all use." Mrs Scrope, roused to something like selfpossession, now replied with dignity ; "It is unusual for a yoang lady to carry arms and wear a riding-dress in a drawing-room. Has Miss Pamela Gordon countenanced such proceedings — " "La, my de?.r old soul!" interrupted Ellie, laughing good humouredly, "Miss Pamela and I think alike in all respects. You don't think I'd disobey her, do, you ? She tad me to come here, and here I am. She told me to ride over on Vixen, and so I did. She told me to take the dogs for company, and they followed me. She told me to put (he pistols in my pooket for protection, and here they are. She told me to that I mustn't refuse to marry Cousin Sam, and I don't meau to. And so, if Cousin Sam will t ke me * for better for worse,' here I am— all meekness and obedience I La 1 Mrs Scrope, you don't, know what a girl I am, and how I've been brought up. I mean to turn Scrope Hall out of windows when we are married. Did yon ever follow the hounds, Sam ? it's such fun !" Sam faintly said " No," retreating further and further, pursued by the young lady, her dogs having quietly Btretched themselves on the rag. (To be continued.) Little Tommy Tender, who received a flogging the week before bis holidays, says his feelings were, the contrary of those felt by the poet when be penned the touching line— "My grief lies en ward, and joy behind." . Sir George Rose, once turning a corner came suddenly apon some young barristers who were apeing his walk and gestures. "You mistake, gentlemen," said the goodnatured wit, accosting them ; "That is not the air of the rose— it is only the stalk."