The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1881-01-16

for that little kettle on most days after din
ner. The Bishopess, with her own fair
hands (plump and hospitable hands they
were) made grog for the rescuer Of her child
and pressed IL upon him lest he should take
cold. 1t was a signal honor, and the Major
felt IL.
A little flushed by his bath, and the
triumph Of the situation, the Major looked
more like n handsome man than ever. Mr.
Durgan's tweeds fitted him as though they
had been made for him.
"Phil, said Vivian, 81 always despised
your tailor until now. ~
Eyes" said Phil innocently, "I have
changed me man. These wor made in Lon
don. " And he sprawled into an attitude
which seemed likely to be fatal.
The Bishop begged the Major to stay. His
wife commanded to the same effect, with i'm.
perious hospitality. The Major had nothing
to do but to accept the situation. He spent
the evening in the house with Vivian-that
was worth something to him.
"M Make the running" whispered Jack.
It's all in your own hand.'
Now the Major, although an Irishman, was
bashful. II was an Irishman who wrote
" She Stops to Conquer, " and drew the
hero on an Irish pattern. Had Vivian been
a pretty chambermaid poor Geoghaghan had
approached her with conquering airs fore
boding victory; but he was half abashed be-
fore lady, though never shamefaoed enough
to be clumsy.
/" 1t was noble deed, MIR. Geoghaghan, -
said Vivian, letting her splendid eyes shine
full upon him for a moment.
Faith it was not he answered in a
tone of some distress.
| "Whata rare dris Is a really modest
man thought the young lady; and when
she had thought 1t long enough said IL
aloud.
"Miss Blake, f" said the Major in a half
whisper, " I cannot endure that you should
think of me above my deserts, and especially
when have done thing of which | am
more than half ashamed. cannot endure
that you should think have done anything
brave or praiseworthy. Vivian looked at
him inguiringly. think she fancied that
the Majors dip had given him a little touch
of fever, and that he was wandering. That
inquiring glance did the business. The
Majors eyes met Vivian's, and he knew his
hour had come. A child's hand can launch
a ship, but woman's eyes can do even more
marvellous things. That look from Vivian
launched the Major nothing could hold him
back. There is wun beneath this roof, "
he said, "who is dearer to me than me life.
| was barred be cruel Fate from her presence;
circumstances over which had no control
/ ohut hic out iIoui ntT SoCiely. uUl going
abroad" The Major had only formed this
resolve upon the instant. I" But am con-
tent to have looked upon her before | go
and believe me, shall carry her image to
me grave; but me conscience and me honor
| will not permit me to 60 without explaining
the subterfuge by which came here. The
rescue was mere device"
| And in broken accents he told the story of
Jacks ruse.
| Vivian had turned away her head while
| the Major told his love- sick tale I; but when
he reached his confession she turned away
more proncuncedly, 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
strange gasping sob. "At least forget me If
you cannot forgive me, ~ he urged, broken
by her silence. 81 shall cross your path no
more. Farewell.
Still she gave him no answer, but the sob
was repeated. He reiterated his farewell,
and crossing the room looked blindly over a
portfolio of sketches, seeing nothing. Sud
denly there arose piercing shrek, and
| everybody in the room rushed toward
Vivian. She had cast herself almost at full
length upon couch, and was shaken by
wild hysteria. Peal after peal of mad in
voluntary 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 his hostess.
"Observe, john" said the Bishop, show
your inconsiderate desire for dangerous ad-
| venture operates upon your fellow beings.
nolo Al.
his life, and the excitement of the story has
brought most terrible attack of hysteria
upon Miss Blake. Let this be warning to
you.''
JACK shot glance across at the Major, who
| replied by rueful lifting of the eyebrows.
The glance meant, "Did you tell ~ and the
lifting of the eyebrows, " told, bad luck to
me !" To the utter amazement of the Bishop,
the Major, Phil Durgan, and the Bishops
| eldest and second sons, Jack had pre-
| cisely such an attack as that from which Miss
Blake was suffering.
Unhappy boy p exclaimed the Bishop,
tugging wildly at the hell-rope; 8" the excite
ment 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 uncomfortable laughter were upon
| him. He was an Irshman after all, and the
| situation had an element of comedy. The
| Bishop, and the Bishops eldest and second
sons, and Phil purgan began to think the
| world had gone mad, when, with one help.
less yell, the Major flung himself into an
armchair, and laughed until he fell out of it,
"Ha! hal ha came family from the
drawing room, through closed doors.
"Ha ha ha!" screamed Jack, as he
writhed upon the floor.
Ha ha hal roared the Major, in
voice which startled passing wagner upon
the high road, fifty yards away
1t Is q fact worth chrnnieIing that the
Bishop and his sons and Phil Durgan are all
| 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 some
thing at the bottom Of 1t.
Vivian kept the secret loyalty. OF course
Julia knew 1t, but she kept II. Shamus
Murphy and his wife knew 1t, and did not
keep IT., but between their customers and the
episcopal palace was great gulf fixed, and
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
stitty. In the morning the Majors portman-
teau had arrived, and he was drsssing to de-
part when Jack entered the room.
fe're not going, Major =" said the
youngster, Drumming with impudent delight.
"Yes," said tue Major sadly; "the ruse
was failure
Was ." demanded Jack, holding up a
| letter.
The Major dashed at it, tore 1t open, and
| read
Miss Blake presents her sincerest apollo
gies to Mr.. Geoghaghan for her conduct of
last evening. Will he afford her an oppor-
tunity of making her apologies personally 7"
Only last month Mrs. Geoghaghan, of Bal
lykillrowdy Castle, being in the act of COM
forting young lady whose love affairs were
little involved, made this remarkable
statement
| "Pve no patience with the people that let
their lovers run away from them in novels,
| when a sensible word would set the matter