THE STORY-TELLER TOM BLINKER'S SECRET. (From London Truth.) (Concluded.)

Te Aroha News, Volume I, Issue 23, 10 November 1883, Page 4

THE STORY- TELLER TOM BLINKER'S SECRET. (From London Truth.) (Concluded.)

* Here we are,' said Tom, pointing hi? whip, ' Th? entrance lodge is down the road to tl.o right.' 'Pray don't lot mo take you a yard out of yonr way, mi*,' sail the lawyer, preparing to alight ; ' I can- easily walk the lost of the distance/ * Don't mention it. As I'm am near. I may as well l.>ok in and pay my lespects to his lordship,' said 1 om, in an ofjpnand manner. * Tho mare will be glad of a rest ; she has brought us along in grand style.' A remark of a mildly sarcastic nature came to the lawyer's lips, but lie did not utter it, for fear of giving offence to a friend of so good a client as his lordship. A few minutes later Tom drove? up to the grand entrance of the ca^!** with an imposing clatter. Tlie lawyer was evidently expected, for they were immediately ushed alont; a corridor to liis lordship's study. On the threshold Tom's modesty seemed suddenly to assert itself, for he luin^ back a little, so that his companion led the way into the room. Lord Montarlington advanced to receive his visitors with outstretched hand. He is a handsome, grey haired, elderly man, with frank, genial manner?. In appearance he looked like a sailor, and in- fact yachting was his favourite occupation. He was a widower and childless, and since the death of his "wife he had resided very little on his estates. He greeted tae lawyer with a friendly grasp, and also shook hands with Tom. ' Now I'm safe on terra-finun, my lord, I don't mind confessing that Mr Blinker has made me pass a maurais quart d'heure, 1 said Mr Pennington, with a humorous smile. 'Pooh! There was no danger, my lord. The little mare it as safe us niueJ)pnce, only, like the rest of her sex. she likes to take the bit in her ieit!i/ interposed Tom, with his jovial laugh 'Ha! ha ! Pray be sealed, gentlemen/ langhed his lordship, glancing with good-humoured suprise at Tom. ' So long as no bones are broken, there's no harm done. Mr Penuington, it was very good of you to come down from town. I ought to have called on you, but to-morrow I'm going Keith and > * And goodness knows where besides !' interposed Mr Pennington, producing a ' bundle of papers from his side pocket, ; like a conjuror. ' I have something important to say, so I thought I would ■"take this opportunity, my lord.' (i I don't wish to intrude/ said Tom, 'rising discreetly. "'•My dear sir, pray Oon't move/ reittttl^Hiis'lordship. ''Mr Pennington and I are not -fcoing to 'talk secrets. Besides, I hope you will loth stay to lunch.' 1 Delighted, Tin suiv/ said To.n. readily. ' That is, if your lords.. ip will .allow me to send a messenger with a note or two to Bilchester. I had so-iu appointments which I can easily put off.' -' By all means. There are writing materials by your side/ said his loidsbip. Lord Montarlington and hi 3 lawyer soon l)2came immersed in business, while Tom wrote half a dozen shot t notes on paper bearing the earl.* coionet and crest, with th rt address of tho Cattle. The tenor of each of these epistles was ,precit>ely the samo, so that a single specimen will .suffice to satisfy the reader's curiosity :—: — Dear MeVittie,— -I quite intended to .call and see you about those two ponies J owe you, but his lordship won't hoar of my leaving. Plea-e l^t the m;itt-M over a bit, and «paro yourself the trouule of issuing a writ— Yours ever,T. Blinker. While engaged on these important compositions, Tom could not resist giving an ear to the conversation which was going on on the other side of tue fireplace. He gathered that the principal object of the lawyer's vwt was to consult his lordship about appointing a new steward. The post was at present /vacant, the late occupant, having resigned in ahuff, and Mr Pennington w.is in favour of giving it to a practical ' business-like man, who would not be .above his work. His lordship tonliully acquiesced in this view, aivl left the matter in the lawyer's hands, and, baring affixed his signature to a few documents, the conference en<]eil. / Now, gentlemen, let us come an 1 ) -b.ave a look round/ s.ijd his Wisliip, .with an air of relief. lMr Blipker, the •butler will hand your letters to a groom, who is now goin^ into Bilchester, and who will deliver t o n Immediately;' sCorn Blinker was trembling with suppressed excitement, for ifc ha I suddenly occurred to him fo apply to his lordship for the vacant stewardship He was almost startled by his own 'boldness, and though not wanting in cool assurance, he could not at the moment summon up courage to apply for the post. He resolved to wait until, after luncheon, by which time he hoped* to hsve created a favourable impression. Meanwhile he pulled himself together and assumed a more sedate and businesslike nir. 'jFom wae a shrewd fellow, and w^vs very well posted up as to the state of the markers and as to agricultural topics generally. He had a lmack of repeating information gained at second-hand as tbouglj it were .entirely original, &uri be never confessed ignorance on, any subject whatever, JRojtunaHy for bin), noiiJii-r L'^d Mod-

tarlington nor Mr Pennington knew an\ thing of conntiy lift} except in its frivolous aspects, so that during their ramble through the grounds and over the stables Tom contriver! to impress them both considerably without committing 1 himself. At luncheon lie was still more successful, for there was no den) ing- that lie was capital company on festive occasions, 110 made his lordship roar with laughter at his jokes nnd witticisms, and even the lawyer became quite hiLuious and cheerful. The result wa>? that wnen my P.nniut'fon rose to depa t — for 'tis loris-ip's canine was t< ta\e him (o t!:e ueij.i boming' sf \tion to c.itcu flic Lon hn train — Y<ms no longer felt any liesitition about [Hvlerriug his request. ' Mv loi«l, there is a little matter I should like to mention before Air Pennm \\nn goes," he said, ninlv. ' I wis i to offer iitvsi IF as a tv.udid.ite for the post of steward to your lordship. As I'm on tlio spot I can get. into names* at (Mice, w'ii h will be an alvanhve also. And I Hatter mj -elf yon \m ul In't fin ! n better business mm, nor one that won) 1 mtvo yon <trai>jh f ji% if you wore to fill f c Tinifs for six montns with .1 i\ ci i<-vin 'it!-.' To u's< tone .in 1 m.inn'M' were lur d\ those of a per-on aAi'ig \ favour. He seemed huiusi'y (ou>eiou* nt .i:.s own worth, and Lord Montarlin^ton, t ion»h somewhat taken nbaek, was evidently struck by fie suggestion. He looked across at the lawyer and said. — 'En, Mr Pennington? What do you say to that ?' * Well, really, my lorl, such a thinyf had never occurred to me/ said t..e lawyer, looking undecided. 'Of course, it would be an advantage to fill the post with as little delay as possible. If your lordship thinks Mr B'inker would be likely to suit ' ' A month's trial, eh V interpose I Tom, with alacrity. * Very well. Th mi that's settled.' And so it was. His lordsuip glanced at t;ie lawyer an 1 the. lawyer glanced at him, but neit.ier raised any objection, an 1 t ic result was that Tom rv i ive I permission to co nmeuce his duties on tliJ morrow He was a prou I man w ten he drove into Bilchcster t'lat evening and announced hU good foitune. II? found, however, that the neighbours were less surprised t lan might have been expected, for every one hi I hear I of the I tters wli ci he Ind written fro u the Castle on papu* bearing in*' lordship's crest. If he ha i come back and fcitid that Lord Mi)utai % lington was ids long-lost blotter, fie credulity oi his frien Is woul I have borne the s inok. T<jm [irovel lumself tjult? competent to difchurge the duties which lie try ! so rashly un lertnken. When a m:in has plenty of assurance, backed by natural iihility, -shrewdness, an! i* firm deter:ninatlon to succeed, he cannot very well turn out a failure. Those w\o n^evd ominous predi''tio:<- ba-e < »ij- .', <• -> uno'jece^sfnl ciir^T'in B'lchester, overlo >ke I fie fact hi.tt w.uit of capital w is alone t!ie cause of T.»uu^ .•ni-foi'tUMe- ; and if l.mui'd <Mit t uit eK 1 1 a ])o'\erf<d nie^ntive to m ike him d>> h.s i e«t in -ds i.c^ position, tor shortiy att^iWiii I.^ he I, oca ne engage Ito be uuin ie I <te tie piettv dmgiitcr of mine \'j»t ,of -^',c l;!n»* Bo.tr. Lord ont-u-liiv-to*' 1 »ft f«M* t'.rJiJortlj on «he day Tom ontiM'e 1 upon :is new duties, an 1 thiee months ;d'terw;jr )>, on passing through Lon lon, he had an interview with j\lr Pen.iington ' By-tue-by,' he said, at tli close of their conversation, * I suppose the n^v ;.t -ward is a sncce>s, as I haven't heaid to the contrary V 1 lie is t'<e best agent your l^r' 1 ' . ; j) hns e\er had ; i p'Oinpf, bu^ir,t'x>i.!i' ,«, em tvtic, nn I tniM'.M) t y 'jUii,' s>i I Mr Pennington, warmly ' M.iy I ..sk how \rtn came to know him V ' Why, you intio luced him, of cours°,' returned his lordship, staring. ' I never saw him before that day.' ' Nor did I !' returned the lawyer, opening his eyes ; 'he offered to drive me over, and I was certainly un ler tae impression your lordship wos acquainted With him.' Lord Montarlington and the lawyer stared at one another for a nioniMif in open-mouthed astonishment, and during t'l.ut brief period Tom's pro«p°ct< wore in imminent peiil. Then his 'ords ip suddenly burst out lauirhin. 1 , and Mr Pcnningti/H followc! h ; s example. 'I never heard of such bare-face I i»npn lenc 1 in my life !' oKc!nim n I Lord Monlurlington as soon ns ho could speak ' 'Pon my word he deserves his good luck ! As he appears to suit, we had better say nothing about the matter, only keep your cy 1 on him, and don't jet h s impii lence carry hin too far.' ' I will pull him up sharply on the snvdlest p-ovoc-ition,' returned Mr Pennington, gravely. But tiie provoc-'ition never aros", for Tom contnueil to le an exemp'-iry agent. ll is substantial s<r 'rv &oon enabled him to ,p,iy off ;us Bilclie&ler debts, for which we uiav be sure he was not pressed, and wir.hin n year ho married. He is now a nine!. -respected and very influential ,p?rsonage in the ncigh!>ourhood, an i to this day people in X>ilehfcsfcer continue, to speculate ,on the mature of his mysterious influence with -Lord Mont.tr] ing ton.

A farmer named Leslie was accidentally shot through the foot ajt ( tha Wyeheproof (Victoria) sports, held ia connection with the openinij oi the railway on Sc>pt. 28. The starter of the foot-races used a revolver which hud been loaded with ball cartridge unknown to the starter, and in starting a race he held the pistol behind his back and fired on to the ground, and L%lie who was ftunding near, received U;i» tail in hjs foot.