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_Johnny! Johnny! where are your per-
Qs THE HAUNTED HOMESTEAD.
came in, were introduced, seated, and
conversation became general and free.
‘his afforded me the coveted oppor-
tunity of having a moment’s talk aside
with my brother.
“Johnny, tell me now, and telf me
quickly and truly—was there any de-
sign on you or your friend’s part to
get him invited here?”
é
‘Design! bless you, no!” replied my
brother, opening wide his great: gray
cyes.
* «y thought not; for, if the truth
must be told, honest Johnny was any-
thing but a diplomat.”
“Well, there was no conscious man-
cuvering on your part, but was there
not on his?”
“Why, bless you, no! Why should
there have been?”
“Why should there have been? Oh,
ceptive faculties? You will never be
wide awake enough for a soldier!”
vi don’t know what you would be
at.”
“I suppose not. -But did you ob-
serve nothing interesting in the meet-
ing between Mr. Howard and Miss Le-
gare?”
“Oh, oh, oh, oh! Whew ew-ew-ew!
Ts that it?”
“Yes.” .
“That’s what you meant when you
pinched my arm black and blue?”
“Ves,” . .
“A sorry dog. , He neve
word ahout this to me.” ~
“Te had no right to do so, nor must
you speak of it.”
“Eh! why?” -
“Because—but I had better tell you
all about it. They met about three
years ago for the first time. It was at
Saratoga, where he was making quite
a figure. 'The acquaintance had
ripened to friendship, and something
more, when ‘papa’ hethought himself
r hinted one
peepee
looking gentleman might be at home
among his own people, and was ty
formed that he was—a machinist y
trade! Recall to mind the passion ©
Desdemona’s proud patrician “pa en
discovering that he had a black-a-
moor for a son-in-law, and you may
be able remotely to conceive the con,
sternation of Mr. Legare. He hurries
his family away from Saratoga, an"
forbid the name of Howard to be men
tioned in his presence. ‘The lover
never corresponded, and never ace
until this evening! You may JU er
how much cause for speculation ther
is in this meeting:” °
“Yes—but within these three a0Ir
great changes have taken place. -_
Howard is a distinguished man—
man of fortune and of acknowledg’
talent—one of the law-givers of the
nation. And Mr. Legare and his fae
ily are reduced from wealth to a mo
‘Jerate competency.” -
“Yes, I know; but that does not
change the old aristocrat’s NN nat
regarding the affair. He contends vie
a gentleman born is always a gent
Tan, and a peasant always a peasan f
fotwithstanding the vicissitudes . 0
fortune that may enrich the one a0
impoverish the other.” tit
“Or, rather, he contended a
belongs to the past tense. Look 4
him now—sce what deference he pays
to Mr. Howard’s opinions.” at
“The mere politeness of the hos %
‘Take nothing for granted from that.
“Nay, but Frank Howard is a ee
tleman of whom any father might be
proud as.a son-in-law.” :
“Very likely. But Mr. Legare i8
hot ‘any’ father. However, wha
wish to know is, whether Frank How-
ard did not use you to procure the
‘bid’ that brought him hither?”
“No, indeed!”
“How came it, then, you artful boy,
‘to inquire who this very distinguished-| that you took just the course and the |
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