Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-08-08
MIR. BULsTEAD'S SURPRISE.

AS O-AAoAN oS AS OPSASN
it he frowned. His neice, who had long
ago noted that particular letter with
apprehension, helped him in haste to
the hottest and choicest kidney on the
dish. Maggie knew well that of late
the contents of letters from Oxford
were far from welcome.
''Now, I will not stand this any
longer!" cried the irritable old gentle
man, dashing his fist upon the table
and narrowly missing the just arrived
and juicy kidney. "Now, Master Tom
has tried my patience oncc too often!
Bill after bill have l settled during the
last three months, expecting each to be
the last; and, forsooth, listen to this,
miss! To 500 lawn tennis balls, G12
los; to rackets, as per former account,
98 los; to marking machines, "a; to-
good gracious-to half a ton of whiting,
"a; total, s29! Good gracious! Isay,
does the young scapcgrace live upon
whiting?"
''Oh, it must be a mistake, uncle!"
"Mistake, indeed! Why, did not I
nave a bill of 92 los. for dog collars?
Was that a mistake, too? And the
wine bill, and Symond's bill for horse
hire! Ali mistakes, of course! You
may thank your stars, young lady,"
cried the old gentleman, abandoning
the indignantly satirical for the savage
ly personal tone, ''that 1 would not let
you tie yourself to this extravaganza
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 win
dow 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 OF twice up and
down the room, began to cast uneasy
,glances at the graceful figure by the
window. Ii there was one person
whom Mr.. Bulstead loved before and
above the cause of his present anger it
was his niece, Maggie Lloyd.
"Well, WE'LL" said he, sitting down
to his o cold kidney. There, my
dear, give me another cup of tea.
Half a ton of whiting-the lad must
have gone mad!"
''It might have gone in worse things
shan whiting" she suggested, humbly,
but with a humorous CULVER at the cor
ner Of a pretty mouth.
$50 it might; that's true" The old
gentleman was a little more straight
laced than most Londoners. "I'll tell
you what, Maggie, I'll give Tom one
more chance. I'll go down to Oxford
by the eleven o'clock train, giving him
no notice, and see for myself what sort
of life he is living. If he is doing no
worse than wasting money I'll forgive
him; but if l find the young fellow IS as
vicious as some of those Oxford sparks,
Why then"-and Mr.. Bulstead's voice
assumed a quite unaccustomed tone of
cool determination-'I've done with
nephew Tom"
Maggie trifed with the teaspoon, her
eyes bent upon her plate. Her uncle's
%rritability was little to be feared; it was
more than ne~utralized by his kindness
of heart. But she knew him to be on
rare occasions, and in some matters, a
n of great obstinacy; and, loving her
cousin with all her heart, she dreaded
,ae result of her uncle's projected trip.
rom would be doing nothing dreadful,
Apt he might be doing something Mr..
Balstead might object to. To move
her uncle from his resolve, once ex-
pIcS6cO III Culo way, sue hucW W Uc
beyond ever her influence, the more as
the old gentleman, who had . few
months before forbidden any express
engagement between the cousins, was a
little inclined to resent any influApce
she might try to exert in TOMS be-
half.
Il shall not want any more tea, thank
you, so you may 60 to your music les
son if you like. I shall go to the Athe-
nnum for an hour, and then to Padding
ION. I'll leave orders about the car
riage, and if you like you can meet the
six o'clock train with it,"
When Mr.. Bulstead reached his club
ne found, to his disgust, that his favor
lie chair was occupied by a Bishop.
Had it been any one else he would not
have scrupled to GUST him by ono Of
those forms Of strategy SO well known
in club rooms; but as it was he a his
eve over the Times ''all standing" and
took his seat in 3 cab not in the best OF
,ten,pers. ''Half a ton of whiting" he
n uttered to himself, in tones of fretful
speculation, as he passed through Park
Lane.
He felt a little like a spy as he hur-