The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1881-02-04

fever, and that he was wandering. That
inquiring glance did the business. The
Majors eyes met Nivian's and he knew
his hour had come. A child's hand can
launch 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 root, he said, who is
dearer to me than me life. was barred
be cruel Fate from her presence /; cir
cumstances over which had no CONTROL
shut me out from her society. ] am 90
ing abroad The Major had only
formed this resolve upon the instand.
But am content to have looked upon
her before go and believe me, shall
carry her image TO me grave; but me
conscience and honor will not permit me
to 90 without explaining the subterfuge
by which | came here. The rescue was
mere device
And in broken accents he told the
story of Jacks rescue.
Vivian had turned away her head
while the Major told his love-sick tale ;
but when he reached his confession she
turned away more pronouncedly,a and the
Major saw that she trembled violently
Was it with anger or disgust
Farewell, Miss Blake!' he murmured
Farewell, Vivian! Forgive my base
ness if you can There came no answer
but strange gasping sob.
At least forget me if you cannot for
give me, he urged, d,broken by her silence.
Il shall cross your path no more: Fare
well.
sob was repeated. He reiterated his
farewell, and crossing the room looked
bliudly over a portfolio of sketches,R Rsee
ing nothing. Suddenly there arose u
piercing shrek, and everybody in the
| room rushed towards Vivian. She had
cast herself almost at full length upon a
couch, and was shaken by a wild hys-
terra. Peal after peal of mad invol-
untary laughter broke from her lips.
Leave the room, gentlemen = said the
| Bishops wife.
The guilty Major took his way with
the rest. Tears willrelieve her, were the
last words he heard. They fell from the
| lips of his hostess.
Observe, John, said the Bishop, how
your inconsiderate desire for dangerous
adventure operates upon your fellow be-
ings Geoghaghan rescues you at the
risk of his life, and the excitement of the
story has brought most terrible attack
of hysteria upon Miss Blake. Let this be
a warning to you
| Jack shot glance across at the Ma ior,
who replied by rueful lifting of the
eyebrows. The glance meant Did you
tell I? and the lifting of the eyebrows, 4
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 precisely such an
attack as that from which Miss Blake
was suffering.
Unhappy boy! exclaimed the Bishops
tugging wildly at the bell rope; the ex
citement was 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 laugh
ter were upon him. He was an Irish
man after all, and the situation had al
an element of comedy. The Bishop, ant
the Bishops eldest and second sons, and
Phil Durgan began to think the worlC
gone mad, when, with one helpless yell
the Major flung hmselflnto an arm chai
and laughed until he fell out of it.
'Ha ha ! ha! came family from tn,
drawing-room, through closed doors.
'Ha ! ha! ha! screamed Jack, as h,
writhed upon the floor.
| 'Ha ha ha roared the Major in .
voice which startled passing wagone
upon the high road, fifty yards away.
1t is fact worth chronicling that tn
Bishop and his sons and Phil Durgan ar
little more puzzled at this time thai
they were at the moment when tn
amazing scene Just described was befor
their eyes. They are all pursuaded no,
that there was something at the bottor
of it,
Vivian kept the secret Loyalty. O
course Julia knew it, but she kept il
, Shamus Murphy and his wife knew it
but between their customers and tn
episcopal palace was great gulf fixet
and the story never passed over it.
The Major was doubly serious afte
his laughter, and begged leave to retir'
The bishop accorded the permissio
| somewhat stifiiy. In the morning tn
. Majors portmanteau had arrived, and h
g was dressing to depart, when Jack ente
= ed his room.
t 'Ye're not going to. Major7' said ii
= youngster, brimming with impudeI
e delight.
Yes, said the Major sadly, the rus
| was failure.
, Was it?' demanded Jack, holding L
/ a letter
t The Major dashed at it, tore it ope
. and read:
e Miss Blake presents her sincere
d apologies to Mr.. Geoghaghan for h
: conduct of last evening. viii he affol
S her an opportunity of making the apol
gies personally.
d Only last month Mrs. Geoghaghan,
Ballykillrewdy Castle, being in the a
= of comforting young lady whose To-
/ affairs were little involved, made ii
e remarkable statement:
I've no patience with the people tn
let their lovers run away from them
: novels, when sensible word would s
~ the matter right at once. And dol
+. mind telling you, Lucy, my dear, that
"a met Theophilus half way
n / remember that the Majors Christi
name was Theophilus, and putting Il
/ fact with the rest, think we may &C
=" clude that Major married Miss Blake.
m Times.
-
10 A Great Enterprise.