The Democratic advocate., 1877-08-25

extrlcable talsity and cruel absurdity OF
his position, He had little time to think
it over and determine his best course.
John stepped forward, aud with the
point Of his cane-sword motioned him into
a corner, thus leaving the way clear to the
ladies' who at once hurried into the dining
room, throwing glances of fear and aver
sion upon Bob as they passed. Angie
paused at the doorway and asked;
What are you going to do with the
dreadful man ?"
Bob even then was able to notice that
he had never seen her so ravishingly
beautiful as now, with her golden hair
falling over her charming deshdbiile, while
her eyes scintilated with excitement. She
would have blushed to have been seen by
him in such an undress toilet, but, with
au odd feeling of being double, he perceived
that she nov regarded him as she would
have an animal.
George, and | will attend to him.
You had better go to bed, replied John
to her question; and then he sent George
after some cord, meanwhile standing in
front of Bob with cooked revolver. Had
he scaned his prisoner closely, he might
have detected something familiar in his
lineaments, but in careless contempt he
took him in with sweeping glance as an
average burglar, whose identity was
question for the police.
Bob had not uttered word In the
complex falsity of his position he could
not indeed muster presence of mind to
resolve on any course, but regarded with u
kind Of fatuity the extraordinary direction
events were taking. But when Geroge
returned with the rope, and ordered him to
put his hands behind him, he said, in
tone so quiet that it surprised himself:
Hold on, Mr.. McI4aue this joke has
gone far enough. lam Robert Withers,
at your service, and respectfully decline
to be considered in the light Of burglar
any further"
Georges jaw dropped with astOnish-
ment, and John was scarcely less taken
aback.
I'D il he isn't" calculated the for
mer after moment, in tone of incred-
ulous conviction, as he recognized at once
the voice and now the features of Bob ;
"but where's your hair p
Bob blushed painfully.
81 wear wig" he replied, "and to-
night, coming downstairs after you were
all abed to get my ring which had left
on the table here, did not fully dress.
Going back, it was my luck to stumble
over that cursed stand in the other room!''
But what did you hide for? asked
John sharply.
Bob just touched his bald head and re-
piled:
IL heard the ladies up"
John pitched the revolver on the sofa
and stood pensive. Finally he said, with
sardonic smile:
Mr.. Withers, how do you propose to
get out of this2 Shall | call in the ladies
and let you explain? They will present
ly be wanting to know what we have done
with the burglar"
Bob made no reply. Already bitterly
humiliated, he saw no way of avoiding
indefinite and yet bitterer humiliations.
John thought few minutes longer,
and then he said:
"Take a seat, Mr.. Withers; | have a
proposition to make
They sat down.
"You are aware continued John, in
the calmest, most imperturable tone, ''that
| don't like your match with my sister and
have done my best to break it off, But
she is an obstinate girl, and had pretty
much given up hope. These peculiar
circumstances have most Unexpectedly put
you in my power, and propose to make
the most of my advantage. If | were to
call in Angie now aud introduce you, |
feel tolerably well assured that it would be
the end your matrimonial expectations in
that quarter Still, you shall have chance
for your life. | will call her if you say
sof And John rose.
For Gods sake don't let her come in
here !" groaned Bob, in abject panic.
John grinned, stepped toward the door,
and turned back irresolutely, muttering
Wonder if it wouldn't be the shortest
way out of it to call her down." Then,
with saving reflection upon the uncer.
tainty Of n woman's course under any
given set of circumstances, he came back,
and, re-seating himself opposite Bob, said,
with sardonic smile: /" So YOU don't
like my little suggestion of giving you one
more chance with Angie Z On the whole, !
| think you are wise. The other alterna.
tive is to leave the house at once, relin-
quish your engagement, and never see her
again. Make your choice, and us quickly
as convenient, for I'm getting sleepy"
and he yawned lazily.
Bob sat in an attitude Of utter detection
staring at the ashes of the fire, which an
hour ago had blazed as brightly as his own
love-lit fancies. He was completely de-
moralized and almost incapable of thought
or resolution. There was something so
pitiable in Bob's odd-looking, dismantled |
figure, halfdressed, with that queer, white, |
dubious head, dimmed, black eyes, and |
expression of crushing shame and defeat,
that it would have moved almost any one |
to compassion. 1t did stir compunctions
in George, but there was no mercy in
Johns still, blue eyes. Two or three
minutes in silence so complete that even |
the almost noiseless movement of the
French clock on the mantel was directly |
audible.
" You are taking altogether too long to |
make up your mind, Mr.. Withers. 1t |
will make shorter work to call Angie |
finally said John, sharply, his patience |
cute at an end, He rose and stepped to