Claiborne guardian. [volume] (Homer, La.) 1877-188?, 1879-02-26

to rest arrived, and as | was pro.
ceeding along the passage to my
room Reginald touched me Oh the
shoulder, saying:
"Come along, old man; this is my
room, aud we shall be alone now
Following him, | found myself in
what | recognized at once as my |
friends private SURGERY.
Paintings and photographs of
different ships covered the walls,
while racks full of we'll covered
pipes Ornameuted the mantle. piece.
"Sit down, Tom, and have n
pipe,- said Thornton; and, obeying
him, took my seat III an arm
chair just behind the door, and was
soon in the enjoyment of my
"bacca.'
Something seemed wrong, how
ever, with Reginald. First OF all,
his pipe was stopped mp. and then
/ he put in too much of the weed;
and then he could not get it To
light; and, when it was ignited,
he could not keep it so.
At length, when it had gone out
and been relighted about hall
dozen times, said:
III expect your 'bacca's damp,
Regy. Try some of mine.'
Wits not the 'bacca, Tom" replied
Reginald. putting the pipe on one
side: "it's what have asked you in
here to talk about that worries me,
tor | don't know how to begin"
knew not what TO say, 80 held
my tongue. -.
After IA short silence he contin.
ued, talking quickly, rs il he had
something TO say that he ana not
like, aud wanted to get rid OF 1t rs
soon as possible:
"The truth OF it is. Tom, old man,
that fellow Wyndham is engaged
| to marry Bessie; and, besides her
hating him like steam, he isn't
right"
The first announcement knocked
me over completely, but l managed
| 10 gasp ont: .,
Not right What do you meani
"Why, he's mad, Tom-mad AS
: March hare! Most Of his relations
e are mad, or have died in lunati'
asylums.' ,
p "Gracious heavens" exclaimed l
A Indignantly. Then why do yo'
!" pprmit such an iniquitous thing L
l. continucT
|. THAT'S Just it, Tom. | have II
voice in the matter. The compac
| was made between my father an
}, old Wyndham, the present man
!. father. who was IA school fellow of tn
/. pater. and who broke his neck on
hunting. We have all spoken I
y him on the subject, but he has mad
I. NJ his mind that Bessie shall MARI
that mailman, and nothing Will a
n ter him. He has given his promise
n. he SAWS. and intends to keep it."
ne "But can nothing be Gone for III
"A poor girl to save her from such a
re awful fatci" ! asked.
a THAT is Just what | wanted
talk to YOU abont, Tom repli'
3. Reginald. "to see if we could ma
IL age to think of any way ont OF Il
,!r "Auythiug that can be done
IS. man ! will promise 1T once to &c
is | observed, sand sooner than tn
Id lovely girl should be sacrificed,
lr. blow the lunatic's brains out III
- SELF
Reginald looked at me for u n
re- ment in surprised and half con
ed cal manner, and then once me
applied himself to his meerschau
III. We were sn1Rng away in
So lcnce, engaged in thinking out
ms remedy for the horrible fate OF VI
I'M. Thornton. when the door was 81
denly opened and then AS qulc'
err. closed; and, before l could max
ne. movement or know what had
net curred. Bessie threw her armsarou
her brothers. neck and, hiding
W face in his waistcOat, sobbed out:
md "Oh, Regy, dear, you must u
lad me, for | can never marry that
full man. would rather die, or
.ed nun, anything. | always ia
lest the idea; but since this evenln
hnd that it is impossible that l
rer. ever consent to he united to him.
e This was all brought ont al
ex n burst of sobs aud tears. AS =
as she had. recovered herself In
red Reginald, smoothing her hair
eat his hand, said:
ton, GAN right. darling; don't dist
ant. Yourself. We were just think
what we could do in order
con. "Wer suddenly exclaimed
xed sic, springing to her feet;
ner. then, becoming aware that Wa
the. the room, she became crimson,
inc. "Oh. Mr.. Drake, l thonght