Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-03-05

thing of the manners of the country, and
had a use for that little kettle on most days
after dinner. The bishopess, with her OWE
fair hands plump and hosIitable hands
they were), made grog for the rescuer Of
her child, and pressed it upon him lest he
should take cold. It was signal honor,
and the Major felt it.
A little flushed by his bath and the tri.
umph of the situation, the Major looked
more like handsome man than ever. Mr..
Dugan's tweeds fitted him as though they
had been made for him.
"Phil," said Vivian, 81 always de-
spised your tailor until now"
Eyes" said Phil, innocently, "Ive
changed me man. These were made in
London" And he sprawled into an atti-
tude which seemed likely to be fatal.
The Bishop begged the Major to stay.
His wife commanded to the same effect,
with imperious hospitality. The Major
had nothing to do but accept the situation.
He spent the evening in the same house
with Vivian-that was worth something tc
him.
''Make the running" whispered Jack.
Its all in your own hand"
Now the Major, although an Irishman,
was bashful. 1t was an Irishman who
wrote "She Stops to Conquer" and he
drew the hero on the Irish pattern. Had
Vivian been a pretty chambermaid poor
Geoghaghan had approached her with con.
quering airs, foreboding victory but he
was half-abashed before lady, though
never shametaced enough to be clumsy.
at was a noble deed, Mr.. Geoghaghan, "
said Vivian, letting her splendid eyes shine
full upon him for moment.
''Faith it was not, he answered in a
tone of some distress.
"What rara avis is a really modest
man !" thought the young lady ; and when
she had thought it long enough she said it
aloud.
" Miss Blake" said the Major in half
whisper, Il cannot endure that you should
think of me above my deserts, and es-
pecially when l have done thing of which
| am more than half ashamed. l cannot
endure that you should think / have done
anything brave or trustworthy" Vivian
looked at him inquiringly. | think she
fancied that the Majors lips had given him
little touch of fever, and that he was
wandering. That inquiring glance did the
business. The Majors eyes met Vivian 8,
and he knew his hour had come. A child's
hand can launch a ship, but woman s
ewes can do even more marvellous things.
That look from Vivian launched the Major;
nothing could him back. There is wan
beneath this roof, he said, "who is dearer
to me than life. l was barred to cruel
fate from her presence ; circumstances over
which l had ne control shut me out from
her society l am going abroad" The
Major had only formed the resolve upon
the instant. I" But am content to have
looked upon her before l go; and believe
me shall carry her image to my grave
but me conscience and me honor will not
permit me to go without explaining the
subterfuge by which l came here. The
rescue was mere device"
And in broken accents he told the story
of Jacks ruse.
Vivian had turned away her head whilst
the Major told his love-sick tale; but when
he reached his confession she turned away
more pronouucedly, and the Major saw
that she trembled violently. Was it with
anger or disgust?
Farewell, Miss Blake" he murmured.
Farewell, Vivian. Forgive my baseness,
if you can" There came no answer, but a
strange, gasping sob. 60 AT least forget me,
if you cannot forgive me, !" he urged, broken
by her silence. .' [ shall cross your path
no more. Farewell !"
Still she gave him no answer, but the
sob was repeated. He reiterated his fare
well, and, crossing the room, looked blindly
over portfolio of sketches, seeing nothing.
Suddenly there arose piercing shrek, and
everybody in the room rushed towards
Vivian She had cast herself almost at
I full length upon couch, and was shaken
by wild hysteria. Peal after peal of mad,
involuntary laughter broke from her lips.
leave the room, gentlemen" said the
Bishops wife.
The guilty Major took his way with the
rest. Tears Will relieve her., were the
last words he heard. They fell from the
lips of the hostess.
"Observe, John, said the Bishop, "how
your inconsiderate desire for dangerous ad.
venture operates upon your fellow beings.
Mr.. Geoghaghan rescues you at the risk OF
his life, and the excitement of the story
has brought most terrible attack of hys-
terra upon Miss Blake. Let this be warn
ing to you.
Jack shot glance across at the Major,
who replied by rueful lifting of the eye
brows. The glance meant, did you tell?'
and the lifting of the eyebrows, 81 told,
bad luck to met" To the utter amazement
of the Bishop, the Major, Phil Durgan,
and the Bishops eldest and second sons,
Jack had precisely such an attack as that
from which Miss Blake was suffering.
Unhappy boy p exclaimed the Bishop,
Juggling wildly at the bell-rope; "the ex-
element has been too much for him.
The Major stood like one dazed. The
world was hollow. There was no more
hope in it or Joy in it. But for all that the
fierce throes of unconquerable laughter
were upon him. He was an Irishman after
all, and the situation had an element OF
comedy. The Bishop and the Bishops
eldest and second sons, and Paul and Dur.
gan, began to think the world gone mad,
when with one helpless yell, the Major
flung himself into an arm chair and laughed
until he fell out of it.
cha! ha ha p came family from the
drawing room through closed doors.
"Ha ha ha p screamed Jack as he
writhed upon the floor.
"Ha ha ha % roared the Major, in a
voice which startled passing wagner
upon the high road, fifty yards away.
1t is fact worth chronicling that the
Bishop and his sons and Phil Durgan are a
! little more puzzled at this time than they
were at the moment when the amazing
scene just described was before their eyes
They are all persuaded now that there was
something at the bottom of it.
Vivian kept the secret Loyalty. OF course
Julia knew it, but she kept it. Shamus
Murphy and his wife knew it, and did not
keep it but between their customers and
the Episcopal palace was great gulf nxed,
aud the story never passed over it.
The Major was doubly serious after his
laughter, and begged leave to retire. The
| Bishop accorded the permission, somewhat
stiffiy. In the morning the Majors port
manteau had arrived, and he was dressing
to depart, when Jack entered his room.
"Ye're not going, Major? p said the
youngster, trimming with impudent de.