LITERATURE.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 995, 3 September 1877, Page 3

LITERATURE.

MY LEGACY.

( Concluded .)

Mr lloscoe’s conversational and complimentary talents were evidently of a high order. I had no need to say a word. ‘'' here is one young lady in the town I should much like to see, continued this selfpossessed individual, ‘and this is a Miss Warner, or Verner, or some such name. Do you know her?’ ‘ I know a Miss Warner,’ said I, ‘if that is the name.’

‘ 1 had some suspicions of what was coining, but I wasn’t going to announce myself. ‘Yes, I think is the name,’ said he. ‘ Has she had a legacy left her lately ? ’ ‘ Yes,’ I replied. * And is she here to-night ? ’ ‘Yes,’ I replied again. ‘ Pray point her out to mo, if you see her,’ said he.

‘ I don’t see her just now,’ I replied, which was strictly true, looking round, and striving to look nonchalant. ‘ Now, Miss Lilly,’ said he (he had evi dontly caught up my name wrong, and oh, how grateful I was !), ‘do tell me what you would have done had you received a legacy with the same stigma attached as Miss Warner’s ? for I suppose you know the circumstances. Of course, in the remotest bounds of possibility such a thingcould never happen to you’ (I made a bow), ‘ but let us suppose an impossible thing, and what would } ou do? Would you not have indignantly refused the mony ? ’ ‘No,’ I replied, ‘I think I should have taken it, and been very grateful.’ ‘ Even if you had been left it as you were too ugly to get a husband ? I thought no lady could ever forgive an assertion like that. And is Miss Warner, then, really so plain ? ’ he enquired. * Hideous,’ said I. ‘ I should very much like to see her,’ said he ; ‘ she must have red hair and a squint, surely ? ’ I was saved replying to this question, as a gentlemen came up and asked me to dance. I rose quite delighted to get away from the troublesome cross-questioning of Mr Ho’coe ; I resolved, if possible, to keep out of his sight for the remainder of the evening, as there was no doubt he would soon hnd out to whom he had been talking. ‘ I have the best of it, however,’ thought I, somewhat triumphantly; it will put even his coolness out to find that he had been talking of me to myself.’ The evening passed quickly. I had glimpses occasionally of the tall figure and bright eyes, but when I saw them in my vicinity I contrived to evade them by passing always into another room. Next morning at breakfast I narrated my advanture, amid shouts of merriment from all.

A day or two after this I drove mamma in our little phieton, to call on Mrs Reynolds, with whom we found Mr Roscoe seated. Mrs Reynolds was delighted at seeing my mother, whom she had not seen, save on her sofa, for a long time. After due introductions, and when the matrons had commenced a seemingly interminable conversation, Mr Roscoe came up to me. ‘Oh, Miss Warner,’ said he, ‘can you ever forgive my rudeness the other night ? I do not know what apology to make. I have wondered here and there and everywhere for the last two days, hoping I might meet you, and crave your pardon.’ * There is no apology needed,’ said I, in as careless a tone as I could assume, and striving to lookjdiguitied ; but it was of no use. The recollection of our conversation, and Mr Eoscoe’s perplexed face, were too much for me, and i burst into a hearty fit of laughter, in which, after a little polite hesi tation, Mr Roscoe could not but join.

After this we were the best of friends immediately, and had a delightful chat, whilst the elders discussed everything and everybody. At last Mrs Reynolds said, ‘You young people are very merry. Come here, Nelly dear, and tell us what it is all about. I could not resist the temptation of being mischievous, so I related to Mrs Reynolds how anxious Mr Roscoe had been the other evening that I should point out the plain Miss Warner to him ; at which the kind old lady laughed till the tears ran down her cheeks. There is nothing like laughter for removing the stiffness of a morning call, or for making people friends in the shortestgspace of time. I think that was the pleasantest morning call I ever remember to have made. As Mr Koscoe assisted us into our little carriage, he said to mamma, ‘ I hope, Mrs Warner, you will allow me to call and make my apologies in proper form to which she of course replied in the usual formula, that we should be glad to see him, &c. Mr Roscoe was for the next few months the lions of our town. Having not only his Sown handsome fortune to recommend him, he was a general favourite, and was c ourted and fetched on all sides. Mothers and daughters welcomed him as an eligible person, while the members of the family recognised in him the wealthiest inhabitant incur town, probably at some future period to represent it in Congress and have great influence.

The young heir took all this attention as coolly as possible, and made himself at home everywhere. He was not long in availing himself of the permission to visit us, and indeed I must say a considerable part of his time was spent in our house, (fur mutual passion for music was a great bond of union though to be sure he might have had music anywhere, for just at this time music was most assiduously cultivated by all our young ladies —but I think our first introduction went a great way in strengthening ouv friendship. At last came the denouement, and the last and most wonderful effect of my legacy, for to it, in the first instance, I attribute my happiness. Mr Roscoe proposed, and was accepted, for he would not be refused, though I in vain told him he ought tc marry a beauty, and that people would call us Beauty and the Beast. ‘lf they do, Nelly,’ said he, ‘ I shall be quite agreeable ; for I always thought you a beauty ; and?if they call me the beast, why, it can’t be helped.’ And so this self-willed individual had all his own way. Gossip at first refused to believe this stai-t----ling supplement to the altogether exciting story of Jacob Braidwood’s will. ‘ What! plain Nellie Warner induce the richest and handsomest man in the connty to marry her ! —the idea was incredible,’ and as I told Hugh, he was very much felt for on the occasion. My only regret on the subject,’ caid he, ‘ is that I have more than three thousand a year, and that you may keep your legacy, for I even grudge you that, Nelly darling. I should like my wife to have nothing to give me but herself.’ His wish was gratified, for with his consent, and with the sanction of my dear feather and mother, the wonderful 25,000 dollars were settled on Letty. But Letty won’t need need the money to get a husband, for instead of being ugly she bids fair to be a beauty ; and I can wish her no better fate than that she may be ss happy as her plain sister.