LITERATURE.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2681, 10 November 1882, Page 4

LITERATURE.

MR WALKER'S LUGGAGE. (Continued.) Hooker J. Walker had not been a week in Bray when he could claim to be one of the most popular tourists that had ever visited the town, popular at least amongst all those who have any pecuniary transactions with tourists. The jarveys admired him, the guides adored him, the boatmen worshipped him, the beggars literally knelt down and kissed the ground he trod upon. He spent most of the day visiting the places of interest in the neighborhood—Powerseourt Falls, which he declared to a . sympathetic guide " licked Niagara to fits ;" Loch Bray, which he said reminded him of Lake Ontario, "only your loch is more sublime and beautiful, my friend -," the seven churches (" nothing like this in the States, sir ") ; the Vale of Avoca ("where's our ternation valley of the Mississippi after this? that's what I want to know"), tho Dargle (" we'd give you ten thousand dollars a square foot for such scenery as this in the States, sir. I'd like to transport it holus bolus and sell it to Barnum ; that's so, my sonny"). Every fine evening he hired a small boat and spent an hour or two on the bay. He invariably asked jarveys, boatmen, and guides, ' How much am I in your debt, stranger ?' And he invariably handed them double the sum they named. The quantity of blessings poured upon his devoted head from every quarter in Bray would be sufficient to carry seven generations with respectability to the grave. Mr Walkor seldom spoke of money. He seemed rather to avoid all allusions to the state of his funds. After he had been in Dublin Bay Hotel he demanded his bill, and Mrs O'Leary said that she would " prefer the gentleman would allow matters to stand over until ho was quitting tho premises.' But Mr Walker would have none of this.' He went to the bar window and said—- ' Mrs O'Leary, it has been my custom through life to square accounts every week. Short reckonings, you know, make long friends. I'm a stranger to you, and though, perhaps, I have been lucky enough to make my pile, still I can't expect a stranger to give me any credit out of the ordinary course. For all you know, Mrs O'Leary, I may be a swindler.' * The heavens forbid!' interrupted the landlady; ' I know a raal gentleman when I see one, and I'm not mistaken in you, Mr Walker.' Mr Walker bowed, took a crisp fivepound note from his pocket-book, and insisted upon his receipt for his week's board. During the .second week of his visit to Bray Mr Walker arrived in the hotel rather late one evening, and, feeling tired, he went into the smoking-room, and fell asleep on a lounge. He was awakened by the head waiter, who informed him the usual retiring hour had come round. ' Thank you very much, Mr Connolly. I am extremely grateful for your attention, and, above all, I am pleased to see that you have a sincere interest in tho welfare of that charming lady, Mrs O'Leary.' ' Maybe,' said Matty ; * but I'm not so attentive for nothing.* And here the head-waiter indulged in a wink. ' Well, I should say you are right. Of course, you are fairly compensated ; and I think you have settled down in a comfortable place, with beautiful fresh air and charming scenery, and good liquor all at your command. I envy you, Mr Connolly. I envy you.' ' Oh, thin, there's more than the fresh air, and all that soort of thing in it, I can tell you. Maybe you'd keep a saycret, if I might be so bould as to tbrouble you with me saycrets, Mr Walker ? ' ' Most decidedly, my dear sir. I can keep a secret like a stone wall. Mum's the word, sir.' ' Well, Mr Walker—but as you're such a raal gintleman, I don't mind laying me heart bare to you ; and faith it's I that am nonplussed mesolf to know what I ought to do in the matther. Perhaps you'd help a poor chap, or give him a piece of advice, at any rate ?' ' Certainly, Mr Connolly. Proceed.' * The truth is, sir, nayther more nor less, I have designs of my own on the widdy.' Here MattSiew jerked his thumb over his shoulder, and winked again. * I want to make her Mrs Connolly, and sure 'twill be the lucky day for her that she'll give her consint. But to tell you the truth, I haven't the pluck to ax Mrs O'Leary, for, like yourself, Mr Walker, if you'll pardon the liberty, I'm not over forward with the ladies.' ' Well, Mr Connolly, I'm sure I admire the honorable and tender nature of your intentions ; but how in. the name of St. Patrick am I to help or advise you ?' 'Aisy enoug, me jewel. If you'll only play the ' go-between' for me, you'd put me undher a mighty load of obligations to you, and, indeed, you mustn's be thinkin' me too bould and presumin' ; but you've such a tindher heart, and such an ilegant manner, that you could settle the matther for me in less than no time. Begor, sir, but it took four large bottles of porther and a quart of sperits before I could muster up the courage to-night to ax you to help a poor boy.' Mr Walker reclined on his elbow for a moment, his hand supporting one of his lank jaws ; and then, suddenly rising from tho lounge, and striking the waiter on the back, said—'All right, Mr C, I'm your man ; I'll make it square, as sure as my name is Walker.' ' More power to you, my decent fellow ; I'll give you the biggest spree, and the—' ' No, no! I want no bribes, Mr Connolly; I think you'd better see to the locking up of the house while you are able to stand on your legs ; good-night.' The next day Mr Walker, for the first time, was observed having a long and animated conversation with Mrs O'Leary. He appeared to have overcome his natural reserve and bashfulness, and Matty Connolly could scarcely refrain from giving vent to the exuberance of his feelings when he saw how rapidly the widow was being won. ' Begor, he's a wonderful man entirely,' reflected Matty; ' there's nothing like a gintleman afther all for softening the hearts of the women, the poor craythurs.* ' Good evening, Mrs O'Leary, ma'am,' said the head -waiter, the same night as he waa about to look after the loeking-up of tho premises ; ' that's the decentest Yankee that ever drank a glass of Irish whisky, that Mr Walker—a fine handsome fellow, with a heart as big as a side of bacon ! I hope you'll give heed to all he says, ma'am, and maybe it won't be lopg until they'll all be danchv* at the wedding, ma'am.' Mrs O'Leary blushed and giggled, and, walking quickly away, said —' Perhaps not,' Matthew.' The head waiter was almost struck dumb. For three minutes ho couldn't find his tongue, and then he rushed into the billiard-room, and to the astonishment of the- marker, who afterwards declared he thought that " ould sinner, Connolly, was I mad drunk,' shouted— . • ' Hurroo ! Be hcrrin's he's done it t* The next day Mrs O'Leary did not make her appearance down stairs until the dinner gong had|sounded ; and it was late in the evening before Matty Connolly could find an opportunity of addressing his mistress. About nine o'clock he asked at the bar if Mrs O'Leary would give him a few words with him on important business. The widow granted him the interview in her private parlor.

', Good gracious, Matthew ! * she cried, ' what is the matter you ? Why, you're as white aa a ghost.* ' Oh, begor, ma'am, sure it's no wonder. The divil such a thing, ma'am—savin' your presence—as I seed in this house to-day. It tuk mo breath clane away.' ' Come, don't be making mysteries, "What has happened ?' To be continued.