National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-06-17
MIR. BULsrEAD,s SURPRISE.

tfhNNN'N-@NNNf-t
in haste TO the hottest and choicest kidney |
on the dish. Maggie know we'll that of lato
the contents Of letters from oxford wore far
from welcome.
Now, 1 will not stand this any longer |"
cried the irritable old gentleman, dashing his
fist upon tho table and narrowly missing tho
just arrived and juicy kidney. Now, Mas
ter Tom has tried my patience once too oftenl
Bill after bill havoc settled during tho last
three months, expecting each to be the last;
and, forsooth, listen TO this, missl To 500
lawn tonnis balls, GIG 1Os.; to raclscts, as por
former account, G5 1O5.; to marking ma
chimes, "a; to-good gracious-to half ton
of whiting, q; total, G29l Good gracious !
/ say, does tho young scapograce 1.-Two upon
whitingp
'Oh, 1t must DO mistake uncle
mistake, indeed Why, did not have
bill of SO lO3. for dog collars? Was that
mistake too2 And the wine bill, and Sy-
monds's bill for horse hire All mistakes, of
Counsel You may thank your stars, young
lady" cried tho old gentleman, abandoning
the Indignantly satirical for the savagely
personal tone, THAT l would not lot you ito
yourself to this extravagant nephew of mine.
Now pve done with him, and so have YOU"
Maggie rose from tho table with n flushed
face, and looked from the window with eyes
that saw little of the square outside through
their tears. But, like wise girl, she kept
silence, aud the kind hearted old gentlemen,
after storming once or twice up and down the
room, began to cast uneasy Chances at the
graceful figure by the window. If there was
ono person whom Mr.. Bulstead loved before
aud above tho cause of his present anger 1t
was his niece Maggie Lloyd.
"Well, WELL" said he, sitting down to his
now cold kidney. "There, my dear, give mo
another cup Of tea. Half a ton Of whiting
the lad must have gone mad"
at might have gone in worse things than
whiting" sho suggested, humbly but with
humorous culver at the corner Of pretty
mouth.
80 IL might; that's true" The old gentle-
man was little more straightlaced than most
Londonors. "Pll tell you what, Maggie, I'll
give Tom one more chance. I'll go down to
oxford by the IL o'clack train, giving him no
notice, aud see for myself what sort of life he
| is living If he is doing nothing worse than
wasting money I'll forgive him; but If find
| the young fellow is as vicious ms some of those
Oxford sparks, why then"-and Mr.. Bulstead's
voice assumed quito unaccustomed tone of
cool deteTmination-"Iv done with nephew
| Tom"
| Maggie trifed with the teaspoon her eyes
bent upon her plate. Her uncle's irritability
was little to be feared IL was more than neu-
tralized by his kindness of heart. But she
knew him to be on rare occasions, and in
some matters, man Of great obstinacy and,
| loving her cousin with all her heart, she
dreaded the result of her uncles projected
trip. Tom would be doing nothing dreadful,
| but he mi ght be doing something Mr.. Bulstead
might object to. To move her uncle from his
resolve, once expressed in this way, she know
| to DO beyond even her influence, tho moro rs
the old gentleman, who had few months
| before forbidden any express engagement
between tho cousins, was little inclined to
resent any influence she might try to exert
| in Toms behalf
~ shall not want any more tea, thank you
so you may 30 to your music lesson IL you
like. / shall just 90 to tho Athen@um for an
| hour, and then to PaddinGton. I'll leave
orders about the carriage, and If you like you
can meet the 6 o'clock train with it,"
When Mr.. Bulstead reached his club he
| found, to his disgust, that his favorte chair
was occupied by bishop. Had it been any
ono else he would not have scrupled at at
tempting to GUST him by one of those forms OF
strategy so well known i'll club rooms but as
it WAS he ran his eye over the Time" "all
standing" and took his seat in n cab not in
the best of tempers. "Half ton of whiting.
he muttered to himself, in tones of fretiul
speculation, as he passed through Park lane.
He felt a little like spy as he hurried
across Canterbury quad, and made with all
speed for the bottom of Toms staircase. The
scout, old dot aud go one" us he was called
from his wooden leg. in vain essayed to detnin
him. Up went Mr.. Bulstead two steps at a
time to tho second floor, whore, above the
left hand door, appeared, in white letters
upon black ground, his own name. He
| knocked sharply, aud hardly waiting for
some one within to utter what might or might
not be Come in threw it open and entered.
Lounging upon one of the window seats, in
1ennes and a cigarette in his mouth, was a
young follow whose good-looking face was
rather manly and straightforward than
handsome. IIe was alone and got up without
much appearance of furry.
Glow do you do, uncle? l thought it was
you crossing the quad. Take n seat Why
did you not lot me know that you were
comingW
Mr.. Bulstead took the proffered scat and
painted as he looked round. Tho stairs were
steep and his wind was not SO good as 1t had
been.
81 thought would come upon you n bill
by surprise, Tom" he said, without any
circumlocution. "The fact is, it IL that
whiting that has brought me-"
whiting, uncleW calculated Tom, with
his first show of surprise.
"Ialf ton of whiting ~ murmured his
uncle, irresistibly impelled to dwell upon the
mystery. Half q ton of whiting! Ay, here
it Is" And he tlourished tho bill under the
others nose.
Tom took it gingerly, and opened it with d
serious face. 1t seemed to Mr.. BulStead that
he was not quite so much at his ease as he
would have his uncle believe, and tho old
gentleman glanced suspcously round the
room. 1t certainly was not tho room of O
hard working, hard reading student, but
still there was nothing Objectionable in IL.
He turned his glance again upon Tom; the
latter was contemplating the bill with a
broad smile genuine enough,
"Well," said Mr.. Bulstoad, "what havo YOU
to say about itp Half ton Of whiting, you
know, Tom?"
Tho young man laughed loudly.
~ am not in fault this time, sir; IL is the
Lawn Tennis clubs account sent in to me as
secretary. / gave tho ground man the check
to pay it last week, and why they should have
had the impudenGe to send it in to you
can't imagine"
"Umph but how about the whiting, Tom
What is thar forY
Marking out the grounds, SIR"
"Of course 10 is, Tom Very stupid of me
We'll, Pm very glad OF it, my boy" said MI
Bulstead, pleasantly. The mystery Of the
whiting was cleared up, but somehow it had
made him suspicious.
"Now" said Tom, will you come with me
to q shop want to call at in the High-nOt q
hundred yards oil, sir? aud by the time we
come back lunch will be ready"
Was the dust Of that whiting still in Mr..
Bul5tead's oyesI At any rate 1t seemed Ia
him that his nephew was peculiarly and
restlessly anxious to get him out Of tho
rooms. However, he rose.
my umbrella? All, hero il Is, thank you.
] shgH > h.. Ia