ISHMAEL OR IN THE DEPTHS.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 477, 4 June 1890, Page 6

ISHMAEL OR IN THE DEPTHS.

BY MRS EMMA D. E. N. SOUTHWORTH, Author of "Sclf-Baised." "Fair Piny," “Th« Missing i ride,” “A Noble Lord,” "How Ho Won Hor,” "The Prince of Derkneas,” *' Tried for Her Life.” Ktc.. Etc.

CHAPTER LVII. THE YOUNG CHAMPION. Then uprose Gismond : and she knew That she was saved. Some never met His face before: but at first view They felt quite sure that God liad set Himself to Satan ; who could spend A minute's mistrust on the end? This pleased her most, that she enjoyed The heart, of her joy, with her content In watching Gismond, unahoyed By any doubt of the event; God took that cn Him—she was bid Watch Gismond for her part! She did. Browning.

In a few minutes, the judges entered and took their seats ; the crier opened the court, the crowd poured in, the plaintiff with his counsel made his appearance, and the business of the day commenced.

I shall not give all the details of this trial; I shall only glance at a few of them. The court-room was full, but nob crowded ; nothing short of a murder or a divorce case ever draws a crowd to such a place. The counsel for the plaintiff was composed of three of the oldest, ablest and most experienced members of the Washington bar. The first of these, Mr Wiseman, was distinguished for his profound knowledge of the law, his skill in logic, and his closeness in reasoning ; the second, Mr Berners, was celebrated for his fire and eloquence ; and the third, Mr Vivian, was famous for his wit and sarcasm. Engaged on one side, they were considered invincible. To these threo giants, with the law on their side, was opposed young Ishmael, with nothing but justice on bis side. Bad look-out for justice ! Well, so it was in that great encounter already alluded to betweon Brian and Ivanhoe,

Mr Wiseman, for the plaintiff, opened the case. He was a great, big, bald-headed man, who laid down the law as a blacksmith hammers an anvil, in a clear, forcible, resounding manner, leaving the defence — as everybody declared —not a leg to stand upon ! * Oh, Mr Worth ! it is all over with me, and I shall die !’ whispered Mrs Walsh, in deadly terror. ‘ Have patience ! his speech does nob impress the court as it does you—they are ufeed to him.’

Witnesses were called, to prove as well as they could from a bad set of facts what an excellent husband and father the plaintiff had been ; how affectionate, how anxious, how zealous he was for the happiness of his wife and children ! leaving it to be inferred that nothing on earth but hor own evil tendencies instigated the wife to withdraw herself and children from his protection ! ‘ Heaven and earth, Mr Worth ’ did you ever hear anything like that? They manage to tell the literal truth, but so pervert it that it is worse than the worst falsehood !’ exclaimed Mrs \Yalsh, in a low indignant tone.

‘Ay,’ answered Ishmael, who sab, pencil and tablets in hand, taking notes—‘ay! “ a lie that is half a truth is over the blackest of lies.” But the court is accustomed to such witnesses ; they do not receive so much credit as you or they think.’ Ishmael did not cross-examine these witnesses ; the great mass of rebutting testimony that he could bring forward, he knew must overwhelm them. So whenthe last witness for the plaintiff' had been examined, he whispered a few cheering words to the trembling woman by his side, and rose for the defendant. Now, whenever a new barrister takes the floor for the first time, there is always more or less curiosity and commotion among the old fegies of the forum.

Whftt will lie turn out to be ? that is the question. All eyes were turned toward him.

They saw a tall, broad-shouldered, fullchested young man, who stood, with a certain dignity, looking upon the notes that he held in his hand ; and when-he lifted his stately head to address the court, they saw that his face was not only beautiful in the noble mould of the features, but almost divine from the inspiring soul within.

Among the eyes that gazed upon him were those of the three giants of the law whom he had now to oppose. They stared at him mercilessly —no doubt with the intention of staring him down. But thoy did not even confuse him ; for the simple reason that he did not look towards them. They might stare themselves stone blind, but they would have no magnetic influence upon that strong, concentrated, earnest soul!

Ishmael was not in the least embarrassed in standing up to address the court for the first time, simply because he was not thinking of himself or his audience, but of his client, and her case as he wished to set it forth ; and he was not looking at the spectators but alternately at the court and at the notes in his hand. Be did not make a long opening like the Giant Wiseman had done ; for he wished to reserve himself for the closing speech, in final reply to the others. Ho just made a plain statement of his client’s case as it is in part known to the reader. Ho told the court how, at the age of fifteen, she had been decoyed from her mother’s house and married by the plaintiff, a man more than twice her age ; how when she had come into her property he had squandered it all by a method that he, the plaintiff, called speculation, but that others called gambling ; how ho had then left her in poverty and embarrassment and with one child to support; how he remained away two years, during which time her friends had set his wife up in business in a little fancy store. She was prospering when he came back, took up his abode with her, gob into debt which he could not pay, and when all her stock and furniture was seized to satisfy his creditors, he took himself off, once more, leaving her with two children. She was worse off than before ; her friends grumbled, bub once more came to her assistance, set up a little book and news agency, the stock of which was nearly all purchased on credit, and told her plainly that if she permitted her husband to come and break up her business again, they would abandon and leave her to her fate. Notwithstanding this warning when at the end of seven or eight months he came back again she received him again. He stayed with her thirteen months; and suddenly disappeared without bidding her good-bye, leaving her within a few weeks of becoming the mother, pf a third child. A few days after hie die*

appearance another execution Was put into I the house to satisfy a debt contracted by him, and everything was sold under the j hammer. She was reduced to the last degree of poverty; her friends held themselves aloof, disgusted at svhat they termed her culpable weakness ; she and her children suffered from cold and hunger; and during her subsequent illness, she and they must have starved or frozen but for the public charities,that would not let anyone in our midst perish from want of necessary food and fuel. When she recovered from her illness, one relative, a widow now present in court, had from her own narrow means supplied tho money to rent and furnish a small school-room, and this most hapless of women was once more put in a way to earn daily bread for herself and children. Nine years passed, during which she enjoyed a respite from the persecutions of tho plaintiff'. In these nine years, by strict attention to business, untiring industry, she not only paid off the debt owed to her aged relative; she bought a little cottage and garden in a cheap suburb, and furnished the house and stocked the garden. She was now living a laborious but contented life and rearing her children in comfort. Bub now at the end of nine years comes back the plaintiff. Her husband? No, her enemy ! for he comes, not as ha prebends, to cherish and protect; but as ho ever came before, to lay waste and destroy ! How long could it be supposed that the mother would be able to keep the roof over the heads of her children, if the plaintiff were permitted to enter beneath it? If the court did not protect her home against his invasion, he would again bring ruin and desolation within its walls ! They would prove, by competent witnesses, every point in this statement of the defendant’s case; and then he would demand for his clienb, not only that she should be secured in the undisturbed possession of her children, her property and earnings; bub that plaintiff should be required to contribute an annual sum of money to the support, of the defendant and her children and to give security for it# payment. _ * That’s “ carrying the war into Africa ” with a vengeance,’ whispered Walsh to his counsel as Ishmael concluded his address. He then called the witnesses for tho defendant. They were numerous and of the highest respectability. Among them was the pastor of her parish, her family physician and many of the patrons of her school. They testified to the facts stated by her attorney. The three giants did their duty in the cross-examining line of business. Wiseman cross-examined in a stern manner; Berners in an insinuating way ; and Vivian in a sarcastic stylo ; but the only effect of their forensic skill was to bring out the truth from the witnesses more clearly, strongly and impressively. When the last witness for the defendant had been permitted to leave the stand Wiseman arose to address the court on behalf of the plaintiff. Ho spoke in his own peculiar sledge-hammer style, sonorously striking the anvil and ringing all the changes upon law, custom, precedent and so forth that always gave the children into the custody of the father. And he ended by demanding that the children be at once delivered over to his client. He was followed by Berners, who had charge of the eloquence ‘ business ’ of that stage, and dealt in pathos, tears, white pocket handkerchiefs and poetical quotations. He drew a most heart-rend-ing picture of the broken-spirited husband and father, rejected by an unforgiving wife and ill-conditioned children, becoming a friendless and houseless wanderer over the wide world ; in danger of being driven, by despair, to madness and suicide 1 lie compared the plaintiff to Byron, whose poetry ho liberally 'quoted. And he concluded by imploring the court, with tears in his eyes, to intervene and save his unhappy client from the gulf of perdition to which his implacable wife would drive him. And he sank down in his seat utterly overwhelmed by his feelings and holding a drift of white cambric to hip face. 4 Am I such an out and out monster, Mr Worth ?’ whispered Mrs Walsh, in dismay. Ishmael smiled.

‘Everybody knows Berners ; —his “madness ” and “suicide,” his “gulf of perdition ” and his white cambric pocket handkerchief are recognised institutions. See ! the judge is actually smiling over it.’ Mr Vivian arose to follow—he did up the genteel comedy : he kept on hand a supply of‘little jokes’ gleaned from Joe Miller’s current comic literature, dinner tables, clubs, etc.—* little jokes ’ of which every point in his discourse continually reminded him, though his hearers could not always perceive the association of ideas. This gentleman was very facetious over family jars, which reminded him of a ‘ little joke,’ which he told ; he was also very witty upon the subject of matrimonial disputes in particular, which reminded him of another ‘ little joke,’ which he also told ; but most of all, he was amused at the caprice of womankind, who very often rather liked to bo compelled to do as they pleased, which reminded him of a third 4 little joke.’ And if the court should allow the defen. dnnt the exclusive possession of. her children and a separate maintenance, it was highly probable that she would not thank them for their trouble, bub would take the first opportunity of voluntarily reconciling herself to her husband and giving him back herself, her home and her children, which would be equal to any * little joke ’ he had ever heard in his life, etc., etc., etfc. The audience were all in a broad grin. Even Mrs Walsh, with her lips of ‘lifelong sadness,’ smiled. ‘You may smile at him,’ said Ishmael, * and so will I, since I do nob at all doubt the issue of this trial; bub for all that, joker as he is, he is the most serious opponent that we have. I would rather encounter half a dozen each of Wisemans and Berners than one Vivian. Take human nature in general, it can be more easily laughed than reasoned or persuaded in or out of any measure. People would rather laugh than weep or reflect. Wiseman tries to make them reflect, which they won’t do; Berners tries to make them weep, which they can’t do; but Vivian, with his jokes makes them laugh, which they like to do. And so he has joked himself into a very large practice at the Washington bar.’

But the facetious barrister was bringing his speech to a close, with a brilliant little joke that eclipsed all the preceding ones and set the audience in a roar. And when the laughter had subsided, he finally ended by expressing a hope that the court would nob so seriously disappoint and so cruelly wrong the defendant as by giving a decision in her favour.

Ishmael waited a few minutes for the excitement produced by the last address to subside—the last address, that in its qualities and eflects had resembled champagne —sparkling but transient, effervescent but evanescent. And when order had been restored Ishmael arose amid a profound silence to make his maiden speech, for the few opening remarks he had made in initiating the defence could scarcely be. called a speech. Once more,, then, all eyes were fixed upon him in expectancy. And, as before, he was undisturbed by these regards because he was unconscious of them ; and he was calm because he was not thinking of himself or of the figure ho was waking, but of bio

client and her cause. He did nob care to impress the crowd, he only wished to affect the court. So little did he think of the spectators in the room, that he did not observe that Judge Merlin, Claudia and Beatrice wore among them, seated in a distant corner—Judge Merlin and Claudia were watching him with curiosity, and Bee with the most affectionate anxiety. His attention was confined to the judges, the counsel, his client and the memoranda in his hand. He had a strong confidence in the justice of his cause; perfect faith in the providence of God ; and sanguine hopes of success.

True, he had arrayed against him an almost overpowering force: the husband of his client, and the three great guns of the bar—Wiseman, Berners, and Vivian, with law, custom, and precedent. Bub with , him stood the angels of Justice and Mercy, invisible, but mighty; and, over all, the omnipotent God, unseen, but all-seeing ! Ishmael possessed the minor advantages of youth, manly beauty, a commanding presence, a gracious smile, and a sweet, deep, sonorous voice. He was, besides, a new orator among them, with a fresh, original style. He was no paid attorney ; it was not his pocket that) was interested, but his sympathies ; hill whole heart and soul were in the cause that he had embraced, and he brought to bear upon it all tho genius of his powerful mind. I would like to give you the whole of this great speech that woke up the Washington court from its state of semi-somno-leucy and roused it to the sense of the unjust and cruel things it sometimes did when talking in its sleep. But I have only time and space to glance at some of its points; and if an}one wishes to see more of it, it may be found in the published works of the great jurist and orator. Ho began to speak with modest confidence and in clear, concise and earnest terms. He said that the court had heard from the learned counsel that had preceded him a great deal of law, sentiment and wit. From him they should now hear of justice, mercy and truth ! He reverted to the story of the woman’s wrongs, sufferings and struggles, continued through many years ; he spoke of her love, patience and forbearance under the severest trials ; he dwelt upon the prolonged absence of her husband, prolonged through so many weary years, and the false position of the forsaken wife, a position so much worse than widowhood, inasmuch as it exposed her not only to all the evils of poverty, but to suspicion, calumny and insult. But he bade them note how the woman had passed through the fire, unharmed ; how she had fought the battle of life bravely and come outvictoriously ; how she had laboured on in honourable industry for years until she had secured a home for herself and little girls ; bespoke plainly of the arrival of the fugitive husband as the coming of the destroyer who had three times before laid waste her home; he described the terror and distress his very presence in tho city had brought to that little home; the flight of the mother with her children, and her agony of anxiety to conceal them ; he dwelt upon the cruel position of the woman whose natural protector has become her natural enemy; he reminded the court that it had required the mother to take her trembling little ones from their place of safety and concealment and to bring them forward ; and now that they were here he felt a perfect confidence that the court would extend the a?gis of its authority over these helpless ones, since that would be the only shield they could have under heaven. He spoke noble words in behalf not only of his client, but of woman —woman, loving, feeble and oppressed from the beginning of time—woman, hardly dealt with by nature in the first place, and by the la WB, made by her naturallover and protector, man, in the second place. Perhaps it was because he knew himself to be the son of a woman only, even as his Master had been before him, that he poured so much of awakening, convicting and condemning fire, force and weight into this part of his discourse. He uttered thoughts and feelings upon this subject original and startling at that time, but which have since been quoted, both in the Old and New World, and have had power to modify those cruel laws which at that period made woman, despite her understanding intellect, an idiot, and despite her loving heart, a chattel —in the law.

It had been the time-honoured prerogative and the invariable custom of the learned judges of this court, to go to sleep during the pleadings of the lawyers; but upon this occasion they did not indulge in an afternoon nap, I assure you He next reviewed the testimony of the witnesses of the plaintiff; complimented them on the ingenuity they had displayed in making ‘ the worst appear the better cause,’ by telling half the truth and ignoring the other half; but warned the court at the same time

“That a lie which is half a truth, is ever the blackest of lies. That a lie which is all a lie may he met and fought with outright; But a lie which is part a truth, is a harder matter to fight.” Then he reviewed in turn the speeches of the counsel for the plaintiff ;—first that of Wiseman, the ponderous law-expounder, which he answered with quite as much law and a great deal more equity ; secondly, that of Berners, the tear pumper, the false sentiment of which he exposed and criticised ; and thirdly, that of Vivian, the laugh-provoker, with which he dealt the most severely of all, saying that one who could turn into jest the most sacred affections and most serious troubles of domestic life, the heart’s tragedy, the household wreck before them, could be capable of telling funny stories at his father’s funeral, uttering good jokesover his mother’s coffin. He spoke for two hours, warming, glowing, rising with his subject, until his very form seemed to dilate iri grandeur, and his face grew radiant as the face of an archr angel; and those who heard seemed to think that his lips like those of the prophet of old had been touched with fire from Heaven 1 Under the inspiration of the hour, he spoke truths new and startling then, but which have since resounded through the senate chambers of the world, changing the laws of the nations in regard to woman. Nora, do you see your son ? Oh ! was it nob well worth while to have loved, suffered, and died, only to have giver) him to the world ?

It was a complete success! All his long, patient, painful years of struggle were re* warded now. It was one splendid leap from obscurity to fame ! The giants attempted to answer him, bub it was of no use. After the freshness, the fire, the force, the heart, soul and life in Ishmael’s utterances, their old, familiar, well-worn styles, in which the same arguments, pathos, wit that had done duty in so many other cases was paraded again, only bored their hearers. In vain Wiseman appealed to reason ; Berners to feeling ; and Vivian.to humour; they would not do ! the court had often heard all that before and grown heartily tired of it. Wiseman’s wisdom was foolishness; Berners’ pathos laughable; and Vivian’s humour grievoup. The triumvirate of the Washington bar were dethroned and Prince Ishmael reigned in their stead! A few hours later the decision of the court was made known, It bad granted

all that the young advocate had asked for his client—the exclusive possession of her children, her property and her earnings, and also alimony from her husband. As Ishmael passed out of the court amid the tearful thanks of the mother and her children, and the proud congratulations of honest Reuben and Hannah, ho neared the group composed of Judge Merlin, Claudia, and Beatrice.

Judge Merlin looked smiling and congratulatory ; he shook hands with the young barrister, saying: ‘ Well, Ishmael ! you have rather waked up the world to-day, haven’t you ?’ Bee looked perfectly radiant with joy 1 Her fingers closed spasmodically on the hand that Ishmael offered her, and she exclaimed, a little incoherently : ‘ Oh, Ishmael, I always knew you could 1 I am so happy !’ ‘ Thank you, dearest Bee 1 Under Divine Providence I owe a great deal of my success to-day to your sympathy.’ Claudia did not speak ; she was deadly pale and cold ; her face was like marble and her hand like ice as she gave it to Ishmael. She had always appreciated and loved him against her will; bub now, in this hour of his triumph, when he had discovered tr the world his real power and worth, her love rose to an anguish of longing that she knew her pride must forever deny ; and so when Ishmael took her hand and looked in her face for the words of sympathy that his heart was hungering to receive from her of all the world, she could not speak. Ishmael passed out’-'with his friends. When he had gone, a stranger who had been watching him with the deepest interest, during the whole course of the trial, now came forward and with an agitation impossible to conceal, hastily inquired : ‘Judge Merlin ! for Heaven’s sake ! who is that young man ?’ ‘Eh ! what ’ Brudenell ! you here ! When did you arrive ?’ ‘This morning! Bub for the love of Heaven who is that young man ?’ ‘Who? why the most talented young barrister of the day—a future chief justice, attorney-general, President of the United States, for aught I know ! It looks like it ! for whatever may be the aspirations of the boy, his intellect and will are sure to realise them !’

* Yes, but who is he ? what is his name ? who were his parents ? where was he born ?’ demanded Herman Brudenell, excitedly.

‘Why, the Lord bless my soul alive, man ! He is a self-made barrister ; his name is Ishmael Worth ; his mother was a poor weaver girl named Nora Worth ; his father was an unknown scoundrel ; he was born at a little hut near Why, Brudenell, you ought to know all about it—near Brudenell Hall !’ * Heaven and earth !’ ‘ What is the matter ?’

‘The close room-the crowd—and this oppression of the chest that I have had so many years !' gasped Herman Brudenell. ‘ Get into my cartiage and come home with us. Come—l wid bake no denial ! The hotels are overcrowded. We can eend for your luggage. Come !’ ‘Thank you ; I think I will.’ * Claudia ! Beatrice ! come forward, my dears. Here is Mr Brudenell.’

Curtsies were exchanged, and they all went out and entered the carriage.

‘ I will introduce you to this young man, who has so much interested you, and all the world, in fact, I suppose. He is living with us ; and he will be a lion from to-day, I assure you,’ said the judge, as soon as they were all seated.

* Thank you ! I was interested in—in those two poor sisters. One died —what has become of the other ?’

‘ She married my overseer, Gray ; they are doing well. They are in the city on a visitatpresent, sfcoppingatthe “ Farmer’s,” opposite the Centre Market.’

‘ Who educated this voung man?’ ‘ Himself!’ ‘ Did his unknown father make no provision for him ?’

‘ None—the rascal! The boy was as poor as poverty could make him ; but he worked for his own living from the time he was seven years old,’ Herman had feared as much, tor be doubted whether the cheque he had written and left for Hannah had over been presented and cashed, for in the balancing of his bankbook he never saw it among the others. Meanwhile Ishmael had parted with his friends and gone homo bo the Washington House. He knew that he had had a glorious success; but he took no vain credit to himself ; he was only happy that his service had been a free offering to a good cause ; and very thankful that it had been crowned with victory. And when he reached home, he went up into his little chamber, knelt down in humble gratitude, and rendered all the glory to God ! CHAPTE It LVIII. HERMAN BRUDENEIX. My son ! I seem to breathe that word, Id utterance more clear Than other words,—more slowly round I move my lips, to keep the sound Still lingering in my ear. For were my lonely life allowed To claim that gifted son, I should be met by straining eyes. Welcoming tears and grateful sighs To hallow my return. But between me and that dear son. There lies a bar. I feel. More hard to pass, more girt with awe, Than any power of injured law, Or front of bristling steel. MILNKS. When the carriage containing Judge Merlin, Claudia, Beatrice and Mr Brudenell reached the Washington House the party separated in the hall; the ladies went each to her own chamber to dress for dinner, and Judge Merlin called a servant to show Brudenell to a spare room, and then went to his own apartment. When Herman Brudenell had dismissed his attendant and found himself alone he sat down in deep thgught. Since the death of Nora he had been a vyanderer over the face of the sarbh. Th 6 revenues of his estate had been mostly paid over to his mother for the benefit of herself and her daughters, yet had scarcely been sufficient for the pride, vanity and extravagrance of those foolish women who, living in Paris and introduced, into court circles by the American Minister, aped the style of the wealthiest among the French aristocracy, and indulged in the moat expensive establishments, equipage, retinue, dress, jewellery, balls, et cetera, in the hope of securing alliances ainong the old nobility of France. They might as well have gambled for throne 3. The princes, dukes, marquises and counts drank their wines, ate their dinners, danced at their balls, kissed their hands and— laughed at them ! The reason was this : the Misses Brudenall, though well-born, pretty, and accomplished, were nob wealthy, and were even suspected of being heavily in debt because of all this show 1

And I would here inform my ambitious American readers, who go abroad in search of titled husbands whom they cannot find at home, that what was going on in Paris there is going on in all the Old World capitals now ; and thabvimw, when foreign noblemen marry American girls, it is because the former leant money and the latter have it. If there is any exception to this rule, I, for one, never heard of it. And so tbo Misses Brudenell, failing to

marry into the nobility, were nob married at all.

The expenditures of the mother and daughters in this speculation were enormous, so much so that at length Herman Brudenell, reckless as he was, became alarmed at finding himself on the verge of insolvency ! He had signed so many blank cheques, which his mother and sisters had filled up with figures so much higher than he had reckoned upon, that at last his Paris bankers had written to him informing him that his account had been so long and so much overdrawn that they had been obliged to decline cashing his last cheques. It was this that had startled Herman Brudenell out of his lethargy and goaded him to look iDto his affairs. After examining his account with his Paris banker with very unsatisfactory results he determined to retrench his orn personal expenses, to arrange his estates upon the most productive plan, and to let out Brudenell Hall. He wrote to the Countess of Hurstmonceux requesting her bo vacate the promises, and to his land agent instructing him to let the estate. In due course of time he received answers to both his letters. That of the countess we have already seen ; that of the land assent informed him of the vast improvement of the estate during the residence of the Countess of Hurstmonceux upon it, and of the accumulation of its revenues, and finally of the huge sum placed to his credit in the local bank by her ladyship. This sum, of course, every sentiment of honour forbade Herman Brudenell from appropriating. He therefore caused it to be withdrawn and deposited with Lady Hursbmonceux’s London bankers. Soon after this he received notice that Brudenell Hall, stocked and furnished as it was, had been let to Mr Middleton. The accumulated revenues of the estate he devoted to paying his mother’s debts, and the current revenues to her support, warning her at the same time of impending embarrassments unless her expenses were retrenched.

But his warning was unheeded, and the folly and extravagance of his mother and sisters were unabated. Like all other desperate gamblers, the heavier their losses the greater became their stakes ; they went on, living in the best hotels, keeping the most expensive servants, driving the purest, blooded horses, wearing the richest dresses and the rarest jewels, giving the grandest balls, and—bo U3e a common but strong phrase—‘going it with a rush !’ All in the desperate hope of securing for the young ladies wealthy husbands from among the titled aiistocracy.

At length came another crisis ; and once more Herman Brudenell was compelled to intervene between them and ruin. This he did at a vast sacrifice of property. He wrote and gave Mr Middleton warning to leave Brudenell Hall at the end of the year, because, he said, that he himself wished to return thither.

He did return thither ; but it was only to sell off, gradually and privately, all the stock on the hotne-farm, all the plate, rich furniture, rare pictures, statues, vases and articles of virtu in the house, and all the old plantation negroes—ancient servants of the family, who had lived for generations on the premises.

While he was at this work he instituted cautious inquiries about ‘ one of the tenants Hannah Worth, the weaver, who lived at Hill Hut, with her nephew and he learned that Hannah was prosperously married to Reuben Grey and had left the neighbourhood with her nephew ;’ who had received a good education from Mr Middleton’s family school. Brudenell subsequently received a letter from Mr Middleton himself, recommending to his favourable notice 1 a young man, named Ishmael Worth, living on the Brudenell estates.’

But as the youth had left the neighbourhood with his relatives, and as Mr Brude: nell really hoped that he was well provided for by the large sum of money for which ho had given Hannah a cheque on the day of his departure, and as he was overwhelmed with business cares, and lastly, as he dreaded rather than desired a meeting with his unknown son, he deferred seeking him out.

When Brudenell Hall was entirely dismantled, and all the furniture of the house, the stock of the farm and the negroes of the plantation, and all the land except the few acres immediately around the house, had been sold, and the purchase money realised, he returned to Paris, settled his mother’s debts, and warning her that they had now barely sufficient to support them in moderate comfort, entreated her to return and live quietly at Brudenell Hall.

But no ! ‘lf they were poor, so much the more reason why the girls should marry rich,’ arerued Mrs Brudenell, and instead of retrenching her expenses, she merely changed the scene of her operations from Paris to London, forgetting the fact everyone else remembered, that her ‘girls,’ though still handsome, because well preserved, were now maturo women of thirty-two and thirty-five. Herman promised to give them the whole proceeds of his property, reserving to himself baroly enough to live on in the most econo? mical manner. And he let Brudenell Hall once more, and took up his abode at a cheap watering-place on the Continent, where he remained for years, passing his time in reading, fishing, boating, and other idle sea-side pastimes, until he was startled from hi 3 repose by a letter, from his mother—a letter full of anguish, telling him that her younger daughter, Eleanor, had fled from home in company with a certain Captain Dugald, and that she had traced them to Liverpool, whence they had sailed for New York, and entreating him to follow and if possible save his sister.

Upon this miserable errand he had visited his native country. He had found no such name as Dugald in any of the lists of passengers arrived within the specified time by any of the steamers from Liverpool to New York, and no such name on any of the hotel books ; so he left the matter in the hands of a skilful detective, and came down to Washington, in the hope of finding the fugitives here. On his first walk out he had been attracted by the crowd around the City Hall; had learned that an interesting trial was going on ; and that some strange, new lawyer was making a great speech. He had gone in ; and on turning his eyes towards the young barrister had been thunderstruck on being confronted by what seemed to him the living face of Norah Worth, elevated to masculine grandeur. Those were Nora’s lips, so beautiful in form, colour and expression; Norah’s splendid eyes, that blazed with indignation, or melted with pity, or smiled with humour; Nora’s magnificent breadth of brow, spanningfrom temple totemple. Hesaw in these remarkable features so much of the likeness of Nora, that he failed to see in the height of the forehead, the outline of the profile, and the occasional expression of the countenance, the striking likeness to himself.

He had been spell-bound by this, and by the eloquence of the young barrister until the end of the speech, when he had hastened to Judge Merlin and demanded the name and history of the debutante. And the answer had confirmed the prophetic instincts of his heart—This rising

star of the forum was Nora’s son ! Nora’s son, born in the depths of poverly and shame ; panting from the hour of his birth for the very breath of life ; working from the days of his infancy for daily bread : striving from the years of his boyhood for knowledge; struggling by the most marvellous seriesof persevering efforts out of the slough of infamy into which he had been cast, to his present height of honour! Scarcely twenty-one years old and already recognised nob only as the most gifted and promising young member of the bar, but as a rising power among the people. How proud he, th 6 childless man, would be bo own his share in Nora’s gifted son, if in doing so he could avoid digging up the old, cruel reproach, the old, forgotten scandal! How proud to hail Ishmael Worth as Ishmael Brudenell ! But this he knew could never, never be. Every principle of honour, delicacy and prudenco forbade him nOw to interfere in the destiny of Nora’s long-ignored and neglected, bub gifted and rising son ! With what face could he, the decayed, impoverished, almost forgotten master of Brudenell Hall, go to this brilliant young brrister who had just made a splendid debut and achieved a dazzling success and say to him, ‘ I am your father !' And how should be explain such a relation to the astonished young man ? At making the dreadful confession he felt that ho should be likely to drop at the feet of his own son ! No ! Ishmael Worth must remain Ishmael Worth ! If he fulfilled the promise of his youth, It would nob be his father’s name, but his young mother’s maiden name which would become illustrious, in his person ! And yet, from the first moment of his seeing Ishmael and identifying him as Nora’s son, he felt an irresistible desire to meet him face to face, to shake hands with him, to talk with him, to become acquainted with him, to be friends with him.

It was this longing that urged Mr Brudenell to accept Judge Merlin’s invitation and accompany the latter home. And now in ]a few moments this longing would be gratified. In the midst of all other troubled thoughts one question perplexed him. It was this : What had become of the cheque he had given Hannah in the hour of his departure, years ago ? That it had never been presented and cashed two circumstances led him to fear. The first was that he had never seen it among those returned to him when his bank book had been made up; and the second was that Hannah herself had shared the bitter poverty of her nbpbevv, and therefore could not have received and appropriated the money to her own use. As he had learned from the judge that Hannah was in Washington he resolved to seek a private interview with her and ascertain what had become of the cheque, and why, with the large sum of money it represented, she had neglected to use it and permitted herself and her nephew to suffer all the evils of the most abject poverty. CHAPTER LIX. FIRST MEETING OF FATHER AND SON. Oh, Chri3t! that thus a son should stand Before a father’s face.— Byron. While Mr Brudenell still ruminated over these affairs the second dinner-bell rang and almost at the same moment Judge Merlin rapped and entered the chamber, with oldfashioned hospitality, to show his guest the way to the drawing-room. * You feel better, I hope, Brudenell ?’ he inquired. 4 Yes, thank you, judge.’ 4 Come then. We will go down. 'Ye are a little behind time at best this evening, upon account of our young friend’s longwinded address. It was a splendid affair though ! Worth waiting to hear, was it not ?’proudly inquired the judge, as they descended the stairs. They entered the drawing-room. It was a family party that was assembled there, w'ith the sole exception of the Viscount Vincent, who indeed had become a daily visitor, a recognised suitor of Miss Merlin, and almost one of their set. As soon as Mr Brudenell had paid his respects to each member of the family, Lord Vincent advanced frankly and cordially to greet him as an old acquaintance, saying : 4 1 had just learned from Miss Merlin your arrival ! You must have left London very soon after I did ?’

Before Mr Brudenell could reply Judge Merlin came up with Ishmael and said ; 4 Lord Vincent, excuse me ! —Mr Brudenell, permit me—Mr Worth of the Washington Bar.’ Herman Brudenell turned and confronted Ishmael Worth. And father and son stood face to face!

Herman’s face was quivering with irrepressible, yet unspeakable, emotion ; Ishmael’s countenance was serene and smiling !

No faintest instinct warned Nora’s son that he stood in the presence of his father ! He saw before him a tall, thin, fair-com-plexioned, gentlemanly person, whose light hair was slightly silvered and whose dark brown eyes, in strange contrast to the blonde hair, were bent with interest upon him.

*1 am glad to make your acquaintance, young gentleman ! Permit me to offer you my congratulations upon your very decided success,’ said Mr Brudenell, giving his hand. Ishmael bowed.

‘ Brudenell ! will you take my daughter in to dinner?’ said Judge Merlin, seeing that Lord Vincent had already given his arm to Mrs Middleton.

Herman, glad to be relieved from a position that was beginning to overcome his selfpossession, bowed to Miss Merlin, who smilingly accepted his escort. Judge Merlin drew Bee’s arm within his own and followed. And Mr Middleton, with a comic smile, crooked his elbow to Ishmael, who laughed instead of accepting it, and those two walking side by side brought up the rear. That dinner passed very much as other dinners of the same class. Judge Merlin was cordial, Mr Middleton facetious, Lord Vincent gracious, Mr Brudenell silent and apparently abstracted, and Ishmael was attentive—a listener rather than a speaker. The ladies, as usual at (dinner-parties where the conversation turns upon politics, vvere rather in the background, and took an early opportunity of withdrawing from the table, leaving the gentlemen to finish their political discussion over their wine.

The latter, however, did not linger long ; but soon followed the ladies to the drawingroom, where cqffee was served. And soon after the party separated for the evening. Herman Brudenell withdrew to his chamber with one idea occupying him—his son ! Since the death of Nora had paralysed his affections, Herman Brudenell had loved no creature on earth, until he met her son upon this evening. Now the frozen love of years melted and flowed into one strong, impetuous stream towards him—her son—his son ! Oh ! that he might dare to claim him !

It was late when Mr Brudenell fell asleep —so late that he overslept himself in the morning. And when at last he awoke and rung for his hot water, he was surprised to And that it was ten o'clock.

But Judge Merlin’s house was ‘Liberty Hall.’ His guests breakfasted when they got up, and got up when they awoke. It was one of his crotchets never bo have anyone awakened. He said that when people had had sleep enough, they would awaken of themselves, and bo awaken them before that was an injurious interference with nature. And his standing order in regard to himself was, that no one should ever rouse him from sleep unless the house was on fire, or some one at the point of death ! And woe betide anyone who should disregard this order ! So Mr Brudenell had teen allowed to sleep until he woke up at ten o’clock, and when he went downstairs at eleven he found a warm breakfast awaiting him, and the little housewife, Bee, presiding over the coffee, muffins, and broiled chickens.

As Bee poured out his coffee she informed him, in answer to his remarks, that all the members of the family had breakfasted and gone about their several affairs. The judge and Ishmael had gone tocourb.and Mrs Middleton and Claudia on a shopping expedition ; but that they would all be back at the luncheon hour, which was two o’clock.

(To be continued .)