The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1881-05-27
Select Story.
PARTHENopE.
BI c. l.. IIiLDRETlI.

The dull yellow sunlight of the Eng
lish autumn struggled vaguely through
the silken curtains. Shadows lurked
everywhere in the richly furnished apart
ment. but nowhere so heavily as upon
the faces of the two men who stood re
gardng each other with gloomy eyes.
The younger, a strongly built, handsome
man of thirty, confronted his companion
with look of open resentment. The
other, double his age, but erect and state
" rs n pine, returned his gaze with as-
sumcd calmncss. His lip quivered per
ccptihly, however, and there was an ac-
cent of rage in his voice as he said
"You appear to forget that you are my
secretary, sir-my hired servant
"4lnd YOU would intimate that | also
forget that you are Sir Thomas Clmcr,
was the bitter rctort, zone of the worlds
leaven and something bctter,by Heaven
will, than we poor common mortals
Therefore, because / was born plain
Luke Talbot, | am no match for your
daughter
Exactly, sin" replied Sir Thomas
"your logic is excellent My admiration
for your talent is only equaled by my
wonder at your impudence."
'You speak according to your codes
Thomas, when you call my just assertion
of the rights God has distributed equally
among all men by so insulting a name
But in your supreme justice you forgo
one important fact. Your daughter love'
me-
81 do not forget that you assert it,
was the sharp retolt. II do not believe
| it, for | have Il better opinion of m.
daughters good sense
"She has told me 50" was the promp
reply, "and ! can trust her"
''indeed - said Sir Thomas, ironically
at has gone as far as that? Ii is higl
time that a grain of sense were cast int
the atmosphere of foolery which yo
have brou ghl into this home with you
; There are laws in England made TO pre-
tect weaklings like my daughter fror
scoundrels like you. BE assured that
, will lodge you in the nearest Jail if 20
presume to breathe n word of this subj jeC
R again during the brief remainder OF you
stay. Now leave the room"
Talbo,'s face flushed hotly.
"You are fool to threaten me, h
3 cried, "when it is in my heart to put 20
; and your pompous pride out OF the woll
IS together.
II haven't a doubt you number ASA
e sinaton among your virtues" said )
ID Thomas coldly AT the same time "
will dispense with heroics if you pleas
a Come here ut 9 o'clock this evening, pr
:, sent your accounts, receive your salar
. and get out of the house within the heu
Orwell, | will not handy words wi
you"
; Talbot glared at him fercely for
|, moment, and then, rs if he really fearC
that his temper would get the best ofhi
he rushed out of the room. As
opened the door womans dress whis
N ed quickly into analcoye in the corridC
- In his excitement Ta'oot passed on, Il
conscious that there had been witne
to his interview with Sir Thomas.
At the foot of the stairs he was m
by young girl, who approached hi
with pale and agltated face. She look
up at him anxiously,and seeing the hea
re- frown upon his forehead shrank ba
from him mumuring temulously:
"What did he say, Luke2"
"Say" answered Talbot harshly, "
MS heaped insults upon me, ard ordered |
out of his house like a mongrel dog"
"Poor Luke, said low,sweet Vol
lbehipd them. and taleslender gin Gal