Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-10-10

were"
81 think you must have been astonished."
"a little surprised, perhaps"
"But, y Dick, such Presencsl" such ten
der manner! such way Of whispering in ones
ear"
UAs-,
"And his mustsche; remember"
ut is not like yours, rolled up tight like two
black eocoons; but it has an Eastern sweep, a
drOOp, a thick. silken-"
Curtis grows restless.
ooh, you are jealous! Poor bowl But his
eyes! Ah. Dick, no woman could have resisted
his eyes. They change from grave 70 CAV in a
breath. Now they laugh, ami now they sigh;
now they are sad and now-don't Won know
they say that Guido has four hundred ways of
turning up his eyes?"
ellis own eyes, or those In his pictures?"
"l-don't know about that; I have read 1t
somewhere In some book or other: but nv hus-
band has at least eight hundred ways of turning
''IpdeedlD
"And each way is so charming! Had he been
monster with claws and horns, should have
"Oh, mad, mad!"
"Ob, envy, hatred, malice, and all uncharita-
bleness! Pm laughing az you"
But are you sure that you are thoroughly
devoted to youT-tO Randidge?"
"PassiOnstelyI"
THAT Is, 70 lis eyes and mus
"I.et us see" Slowly. "You will probably
be his wife when you come TO be p years of age
and also when you come to be 50, aud 10, and
- -, anu ": anu 80. Ohe appearance un
The young lady's head rises at these hints.
and her lips part. Her eyes dilate little and
ste taps the end Of her whip in the palm of her
hand.
There is an instant of silence. It is succeeded
by the sound OF footsteps. Randidge appears in
the doorway. Both involuntarily scrutinize
Curtis admits to himself that he is handsome
The wife, conscious that he must be thus i'm
pressed, and feeling herself fresh emotion of
70 hAr hrr1r. ~,
outstretched hands, and, with burst OF jollity
they disappear together.
"Bqt your uncie!'' cries Curtis, with some
thing like desperation.
He receives no answer. He is left alone.
''1t appears" he SAYS to himself, refiectiTe!y
"thst have been the king pin in this matter
No one seems TO hare felt the strain OF 1t thus
far but myself. / wonder if shall have suffi.
cient courage to place the burden where il be-
longs?' He looks at the letter in his hand
and then shakes his head. "I doubt it. He rs
wonderfully original old gentleman, and he
might fancy that j, in place of Randidge was
the man TO be throttled. One must avoid pre-
eipitating error. I'll hold my tongue. Poor
Curtis enters the parlor OF Mr.. Tyrwitt The
eyes OF the host rest with pleasure upon the fine
face aud erect figure of the young man. He
greets him with great cOrdiality.
But, upon seeing the letters which are
fairs OF his ward.
He signs deeply. He examines the mall mat
ter.
"Ah, ahl Here is evidence against our foe.
SIT down, boy, and we will condemn him To-
gether. Have you seen Miss Mad this morning?"
eyes, sir, but for moment only"
"And the-the knaye-hsve yon seen the
knave?"
'In passing merely"
al suppose be announced his triumph to YOU?
suppose lie told you of his engagement?''
Enlargement yves, sir. He at least
al understand. The rascal!p
ffThe scamp!"
Mr.. Tyrw1tt tears the envelopes from the let
tiers, and he places three of them aside. He
knitted brow, carefully peruses the others.
Curtis watches him with attention.
Great delight begins TO take possession of him.
He smiles, and his eyes grow Hmpid. Now and
then he strikes the arm of his chair blow. He
Is overjoyed. He waves the first letter aIoft
"This is glorious! This proves him to be a
mscreant of the first water. II is from a club
man. He says-Iet me see-where is 1t? An
yes: 'Randidse is universally detested for the
spirit or uDfaiTness which enters into all his
contracts and obligations. He jockeys ali the
races that he can control; creeps ont Of his lost
wagers If he can; presumes on every rule of the
house; carries an evil tongue; never sticks at a
postobit when hard pushed: and. to indicate tine
character of his instincts in a single phrase,
Will merely say that, in winter, he stands with
his legs apart before the fire. What do Won
think Of that? We have him on the hin, INV
dear Curtis. Miss Mad, with all her madness
Is a gentlemanly girl: Shed resent each and
all OF those faults, eh?"
Curtis looks distressed.
Perhaps all that, sir, is only an enemy's
method Of saying that Rsndidge Is an independ-
ent and self asserting man"
'CuTtis! Do nv ears deceive me? Is it DOS
siole thst-that-are you in the scheme to foist
a yillain on an honorable family!''
81 am sure, sir, you can answer that question
as well as l."
There is a pause, in which the anger OF the
old gentleman cools by degrees.
True, true, Curtis. i beg your pardon. But
listen TO this. Here is letter that will con-
vince you. 1t is frem my nephew, who is in the
same regiment OF militia with this miscreant
he says: 'Randidge is fined fer absence imDu-
dence, and neglect Of duty, more than any man
10 the corps he once came near marrying a
little dancer at one OF the theatres but her IA
ther, fortunately, stepped in time and prevented
the disgrace. He is constantly being sued NV
somebody, and his habits are worse than bfs
credit lie is pretty black jackdaw and a yery
little shake will make his extra feathers dron
out Take my word for IL, a young mans opin-
ION OF another young man is worth considering
Well, sir, what do you think Of that? Is that
the language OF an enemy, eh?''
perhaps not, sir; but, pardon me, is not YOUR
nephew in Company C?'
81 believe so. Yes, he is. But what of that.
pray?"
''And is not Rsndidge in Company D?n
$50 this letter states in another place"
t "Ahn, lrefectively).
at is often the case that the hate of Companv
c for Company ID, and of Company A for Com
pany b, and 20 on, is past human comprehen.
sIOn' 1ne struggles OF the M0ntagues aud the
Capulets were nothing to the regimental s1uab-
bles of our militia. Therefore"
"Pl not listen to a word of 1t. 1t is prepos-
ferrous, Curtis just hear this other letter
You aggravate me with your objections to the
bad reputation Of this man. / think YOU should
enter more heartily into his destruction; do,
indeed, sir" (He rattles the letter for some
seconds, and appears to be very indign ant but
he finally begins to speak once more.) "This
letter is from private inquiry-ofice. 1t saws:
Know the party well; was locked up last New
Years Eve for overturning ash barrels on
Fourteenth street: visits gambling houses in
Fifteenth street; carries a card In his vest
pocket which comes in use when the policemen
find him In the street drunk and disorderIy. II
says: Carry me to the Coachman's house in
rear OF NO. avenue; ring the bell, and
when the man comes he will give you So; don't
report the case at the station house; has been
horse-whipped three times, and is now sought
for, etc, etc. "
Curtis, overwhelmed with the violence Of his
emotions, says nothing.
"This Is the man, my friend, that nv niece
has fallen in love with-a wretch without a
peer; cheat, clown, heartless relation, a
shirker OF duty, swindler a brawler, a gamb-
Ter, drunkard, as Is distinctly proved, point by
point, by these true sffidavits. Besides all this
there js an entire set of bad qualities that he
possesses, that have not been described"
(Ihe &C gentleman rises from his chair and
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