Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1881-06-15
PARTHENOPE.

The dull yellow sunlight of the Eng
hsh autumn struggled vaguely through
the silken curtains. Shadows lurked
everywhere in the richly furnished
apartment, but nowhere so heavily as
upon the faces of the two men who stood
regarding each other with gloomy eyes.
The younger, a strongly built, hand
some man of thirty, confronted his COM
panion with look Of open resentment
The other, double his age, but erect and
stately as pine, returned his gaze with
assumed calmness. His lip quivered
perceptibly, however, and there was an
accent of rage in his voice as he said:
"You appear to forget that you are
my secretary, sir-my hired servant.
''And you would intimate that [ also
forget that you are Sir Thomas Ulmer,"
was the bitter retort, lone of the worlds
leaven and something better, by Heaven s
will, than we poor common mortals.
Therefore, because [ was born plain
Luke Talbot, [ am no match for your
daughter. D
Exactly, sir, replied Sir Thomas;
'yourlogic is excellent. My admiration
for your talent is only equaled by my
wonder at your impudence."
"You speak according to your code,
Sir Thomas, when you call my just as
sertion of the rights God has distributed
equally among all men by so insulting a
name. But III your supreme prejudice
you forgot one important fact. Your
daughter loves me.
ct do not forget that you assert it, -
was the sharp retort. 'sI do not believe
it, for I have better opinion of my
daughters good sense"
''She has told me so,'' was the prompt
reply, "and | can trust her."
"Indeed - said Sir Thomas, ironical-
~. "It has gone as far as that? It is
high time a grain Of sense were cast into
the atmosphere of foolery which you
have brought into this house with you
There are laws In England made to pro-
tect weaklings like my daughter from
scoundrels like you. Be assured I shall
lodge you in the nearest jail if you pre-
sumo to breathe word of this subject
again during the brief remainder Of your
stay. Now leave the room"
Talbot's face flushed hotly.
"You are fool to threaten me-" he
cried, "when it is In my heart to put
you and your pompous pride out of the
world"
Il haven't a doubt you number assas-
sination among your virtues" said Sir
Thomas coldly. cat the same time we
will dispense with your heroics if you
please. Come here at 9 o'clock this
evening, present your accounts, receive
your salary, and get out of the house
within the hour, Orwell, I will not
handy words with you"
IT, IL
moment, and then, as if he really feared
that his temper would get the best OF
him, he rushed out Of the room. AS he
opened the door, a woman's dress whiske6
quickly i5to an alcoye in the corridor
In his excitement Talbot passed On, un-
conscious that there had been a witness
to his interview with Sir Thomas,
At the foot Of the stairs he was met by
young girl, who approached him with
pale and agitated face She looked ur
at him an1iously, and seeing the heavy
frown upon his forehead shrank back
from him murmuring TREMENDOUSLY:
"What did he say, Luke %
"Say," answered Talbot, harshly, "he
heaped insults upon me, and ordered
me out of his house like a mongre
dog"
"Poor Luke said a low sweet voice
behind them, and a tail, slender CIR
came to his side, and took his hand with
an air of compassion. s'You are learn
ing the hard lesson which is as old as the
world, that love has more sorrow than
Joy IN it,"
Yes, Parthenope, returned Talbot,
more gently, spray God when your turn
comes the lesson may not be as bitter as
mine." @
The girl dropped his hand and averted
her face IN silence. One rarely sees SO
wide contrast between children of the
same parents as there was between the
two daughters Of Sir Thomas Ulmer.