Democratic messenger., 1881-03-26

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lady, to leave her all smiles and bushes
and fondness, and come back week or
two afterwards and be turned away from
her door.
MIR. Will Wilson wenti to call on Mr..
Henri Templeton. As he went in the
direction of his friends lodgings, his
face expressed nothing whatever. It
was neither angry, nor gloomy, nor
anything but composed and quiet. He
must have been q philosopher, one
would have said-this young gentleman
who had been so suddenly and uncere-
moniously thrown over.
Mr.. Henri Templeton was not ut
home. That is to say, the door of his
lodgings was locked. 1t is true that, as
Mr.. Wilson reached the street and min
gled with the crowd, a corner of the
curtains rose, and the face of Mr.. Tenn
pleton himself was seen watching the
retreating figure.
I'm coward as well as a wretch, 5"
said Mr.. Henri Templeton, with knit
brows and an air of misery. eff he
comes back, I won't sneak in this way
any more, but face him and make n
clean breast of it. rather think he'll
be here again this evening, or tomorrow,
and then Ill tell him everything
Mr.. Templeton had an opportunity
to unbosom himself ON the very even
ing. His friend came back, was
promptly admitted, and Mr.. Templeton
met him with the air of n man who
would much rather be in some other
place.
"Well, how goes it, Harry?'' said
Wilson. 'I called this morning, but
You were not at home"
''You are mistaken" said Templeton,
in gloomy voice-'1 aoGS at home"
'1ndeedl But then you didn't know
of my call ?"
81 knew all about it.. l recognized
your knock, and saw you go away"
''You are jesting What could have
induced you to treat an old friend so 2"
''Being ashamed of myselfr' cried
Mr.. Templeton, hurling his cigar into
the fireplace, and rising to his feet.
ASHAMED !"
''It is the word There's no other to
express the idea -
''Harry Templeton ashamed of him
self 1 don't believe word you say. !"
"That makes it all the worse, and
finishes me !" the other exclaimed.
"What on earth do you mean 2" SAID
Wilson, looking at him curiously.
'Since have got back to town the
whole world seems to be topsy-turvey.
You are not yourself, and other people
are as bad. / have just had what is
called in slang phrase "a sumner. 1
called on Miss Allonby as soon as /
arrived, and she had headache; called
again-the headache continued third
time-she had left town, and not line
or message. 1t is rather hard-don't
you think so? Some persons would call
it shameful p
Mr.. Templeton tore open the breast
of his dressing gown, as if he were sti-
fling and needed breath.
"There's something long way more
shameful % he exclaimed, ''and that is
for a man calling himself gentleman
to act as / have acted"
What in the name of heaven do you
mean?'
mean that / have disgraced my
self, and if you like you can take that
cane yonder in the corner and cane
me-"
4" You seem to have lost your head !
Has mad dog bitten you 2"
Z" wish one had | say have acted
in q way unworthy of q gentleman
have broken faith with a friend. You
can't say anything to me on the subject
that is harsher than what l think of my
SELF"
Wilson was looking at him quietly
and attentively. He did not seem by
any means as much moved as his friend.
A lurking smile touched the corners of
his lips.
Well, perhaps it would be better to
come to the particulars, he said, COM
posedly.
CT will," said Templeton, with a
flushed face. "You left me to take
your place as Miss Allonby's escort, etc.
You had confidence in me as your friend
and have betrayed your confidence" !"
{" I know that is not true"
" Not true!'
You are utterly incapable of such a
thing. You might talk from now till
doomsday, Harry, and You could never
make me believe you. [ mean your
statement that you had made love and
offered yourself to Miss Allonby."
4" did not say had I'm not quite
so low as that" growled Templeton.
ard have cut out my tongue first but
it's nearly or quite as bad"
"Tell me how bad it is.
" 1t is this bad She's given You up
because she likes me better. You are
twice the man 1 am, and she prefers the
half of man. There's no use mincing
words. She never told me so, but she
has shown it twenty times. / tried to
stay away, and did, and like coward
went back. And then she wrote me
word that she could not bear the idea
of meeting you, and meant to leave the
city and not tell you where she was
going, but she was going 10 Hartford,
as if the fact would interest me ~
Mr.. Henri Templeton had seated him.
self in an armchair, and now leaned his
elbow on his knee and buried his hand
In his hair and scowled at the fire.
Wilson bent over and touched him on
the shoulder and he looked round.
"Whv make such tragedy of a
trife, my dear fellow p said Wilson,
laughing. You are not in the least to
blame"
"Not to blamew
"And I never was more obliged to a
friend in my life."
"Obliged to mer'
"In fact, the whole comedy has been