Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-07-11
MIR, BULsTEAD'S SURPRISE.
A Clipper Little English Love story.
From London Society.l

MIR. BULsTEADS SURPRISE.
A Clipper Little English Love story.
From London Society,"
Mr.. Bulstead's third and last letter bore
the Oxford postmark as he opened it he
frowned. His niece, who had long ago
noted that particular letter with appre-
hension, helped him in haste to the hot.
test and choicest kidney in the dish.
Maggie knew well that of late the con-
tents of letters from Oxford were far
from welcome.
"Now, will not stand this any longer y
cried the irritable old gentleman, dashing
his fist upon the table and narrowly miss
ing the Just arrived and juicy kidney
Now, Master Tom has tried my patience
once too often Bill after bill have I set
tied during the last three months, ex-
pecting each to be the last and, forsooth,
listen to this mess To five hundred
lawn tennis balls, G12 los. to rackets as
per former accounts, fS los. to marking
machines, ca to-good gracious Ito
half ton of whiting, f4; total, f29
Good gracious say does the young
scapegrace live upon whiting?"
80, it must be mistake, uncle!"
Mistake, indeed Why, did not I
have a bill of co los. for dog collars ?
Was that mistake, too? And the wine
bill, and Symonds's bill for horse hire ?
All mistakes, of course You may thank
your stars, young lady," cried the old
gentleman, abandoning the Indignantly
satirical for the savagely personal tone,
THAT would not let you tie yourself to
this extravagant nephew of mine. Now
I've done with him and so have you.
Maggie rose from the table with a
flushed face and looked from the window
with eyes that saw little of the square
outside through their tears. But, like a
wise girl, she kept silence, and the kind
hearted old gentleman, after storming
once or twice up and down the room, be-
gan to cast uneasy chances at the window.
If there was one person whom Mr.. Bull
stead loved before and above the cause of
his present anger, it was his niece, Mag
gle Lloyd
"Well, well, said he, sitting down to
give me another cup of tea. Half ton
of whiting-the lad must have gone
mad !"
1T might have gone in worse things
than whiting" she suggested humbly,
u
of pretty mouth.
$50 it might that's true" The old
gentleman was little more strait laced
than most Londoners. "I'll tell you
what, Maggie I'll give Tom one more
chance. III go down to Oxford by the
II o'clock train, giving him no notice,
Is living If he is doing nothing worse
than waste money, I'll forgive him but
if l find the young fellow is as vicious as
some of These Oxford sparks, why then, u
and Mr.. Bulstead's voice assumed q
quite unaccustomed tone of cold deter.
mination-"Ive done with nephew
Tom"
Maggie trihed with the teaspoon, hel
eyes bent upon her plate. Her uncle't
irritability was little to be feared it wal
more than neutralized by his kindness Of
heart. But she knew him to be on rart
occasions, and in some matters a man O.
great obstinacy, and, loving her cousiI
with all her heart, she dreaded the result
of her uncle's projected trip. Tom would
be doing nothing dreadful, but he nigh
be doing something Mr.. Bulstead Nigh
object to. To move her uncle from hi
resolve, once expressed in this way, sh
knew to be beyond ever her influence
the more, as the old gentleman, who hat
few months before forbidden any ex
press engagement between the cousins
was little inclined to resent any inhu
ence she might try to exert in Toms be
half.
II shall not want any more tea, thanl
you, so you may go to your music lesson
If You like. / shall just go to the Athen
aeum for an hour and then to PBddington
I'll leave orders about the carriage, and j
you like you can meet the 6 O'Clock trail
with it. "
When ~. Bulstead reached his clut
he was Disguised to find that his favoritt
chair was occupied by bishop. Had i
been any one else he would not hav,
scrupled at attempting to Gust him BY
one of those forms of strategy 30 vel
known in club rooms but as it was, h
ran his eye over the Times "all standing
and took his seat in a cab not in the bes
of tempers "Half ton of whiting 7
he muttered to himself, in tones of fretfu
speculation, as he passed through Parl
Lane.
He felt little like spy as he hurrie,
across Canterbury Quad, and made witt
all speed for the bottom Of Toms stair
case. The scout, old "Dot ond go one,
as he was called, from his wooden leg, il
vain essayed to detain him. Up went Mr.
Bulstead two steps at time to the sec
ond floor, where, above the left hand door
appeared in white letters upon blacl
ground, his own name. He knocked
sharply, and hardly waiting for some on,
within to utter what might or might no
be "Come in" threw it open and entered
Lounging upon one of the window seats
in haunels and a cigarette in his mouth
was young fellow whose good-lookint
face was rather manly and straightfor
ward than handsome. He was alone, anC
got up without much appearance of fur
ny.
"How do you do, uncle2 / thought i
was you crossing the quad. Take seat
Why did you not let me know you wer'
coming?"
Mr.. Bulstead took the pioffered seat
and painted as he looked around. The
stairs were steep, and his wind was not 81
good as it had been.
II thought i would come upon y0u q