Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-06-28
MR.. BULSTEAD'S SURPRISE.

Mr.. Bulstead's third and last letter bore the
iIford postmark; as he opened it he frowned
lis niece. who had long ago noted that particu-
lar letter with apprehension, helped him in
haste to the hottest aud choicest kidney on the
iIsh Maggie knew we'll that OF late tine con-
tents OF letters from Oxford were far from wei
come.
''NoW. ] will not stand this any Ionger!" cried
lie irritable cid gentleman, dashing his fist upon
he table aud narrowly missing the just arrived
aud juicy kidney. Now. Master Tom has tried
ny patience once too often. Bill after bill have
settled during the last three months expect
~ each to be the last; and. f0rs6oth. listen to
this. miss. To 500 laWn-tennis balls. E12 los.
10 racNetS. us per former account. rs lbs: TO
marking machines. "a: to-good graciOus-to
half a ton OF whiting. "a; total, egg Good
-raciOus, ! say, does the young scspegrace live
upon whiting?"
oh it mn;t DE a mistake uncle"
Mistake. indeed, Why, did not have a bill
0t - los. for dog collars: Was that a mistake.
too: And the wine bill. and Symonds' bill for
horse -nire, All mistakes. OF course. You may
thank your stars. young lady," cried the old
gentleman. abandoning the Indignantly satirical
tor the savagely personal tone. THAT would
not let you tie yourself to this extravagent
nephew OF mine. Now I've done with him, and
50 have you.
and looked from the window with eyes that saw
little of the square outside through their tears.
But like wise girl. she kept silence. and the
hind-hearted old gentleman. after storming once
or twice up and down the room began to cast
uneasy chances at the graceful figure 10y the
window. III there was one person whom Mr..
BuStead 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 now
cold kidney. There. my dear. give me another
cup of tea. Half a ton Of wniting-the lad must
have gone mad."
1T might have gone in worse things than
writing" she suggested humbly, but with a
humorous culver at the corner of a pretty
mouth
so it might: that's true" The old gentle
man was a little more straightlaced than most
Londoners. III tell you what. Maggie. I'll
give Tom one more chance. I'll go down to
Oxford by the IL O'Clock train. giving him no
notice and see for myself what sort OF life he
is Twin q If he is doing nothing worse than
waste money I'll forgive him; but If find the
young fellow is as vicious as some OF those Ok
ford sparks. why then'--and Mr.. Bulstead's
voice assumed quite unaccustomed tone Of
cool determinatiOn-"Gye done with nephew
Tom"
Maggie trifled with the teaspoon. her eyes
bent upon her plate. Her unCes irritability
was little to be feared; it was more than neu-
traliZed by his kindness of heart. But she knew
him 10 be on rare occasions and in some mat
tiers. man of great O5stinacy. 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 might be doing
something Mr.. Bulstead might object to. To
move her uncle from his resolve. once expressed
in this way. she knew to be beyond even her ip-
iiuence: 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 Influence she might try to
exert in Toms behalf.
II shall not want any more tea. thank You, so
YOU may 70 to your music lesson il you like |
shall just go to the Athenaum for an hour and
then to PaddingtOn. I'll leave orders about the
carriage. and if you like you can meet the six
O'Clock train with it,
When Mr. Bulstead reached his club he found
to his disgust. that his favorite chair was occu-
pied By bishop. Had it been any one else. he
would not have SCRUBBED at attempting to Gust
him by one Of those forms OF strategy SO well
known in club-rooms: but as it was he ran his
eve over the Times '.all standing" and took his
seat in cab not in the best of tempers. Half
a ton of whiting" he muttered to himself. in
tones of fretful speculation, as hepassed through
Park lane.
He felt little like spy as he hurried across
Canterbury Quad. and made with all speed for
the bottom OF Toms staircase. The scout, old
dot and 90 one" as he was called from his
wooden leg, In vain esSayed to detain him. Up
went Mr.. Bulstead two steps at time to the
second floor, where. above the left-hand door.
appeared. in white letters upon black ground
his own name He knocked sharply and. hard
ly waiting tor some one within to utter what
might or might not be Come In, threw it open
and entered. LOunging upon one of the Win
dow seats. in hannels and cigarette in his
mouth. was a young fellow whose gOOd-lOOking
face was rather manly anu straightforward than
handsome. He was alone and got up without
much appearance OF furry.
How do you do. uncle? thought it was
you crossing the qCad. Take a seat. Why
did you not let me .,nOw that you were COM
ing?
Mr.. Bulstead took the prOffered seat. and
painted he looked round The stairs were
steep, and his wind was not go good as 1t had
been.
II thought would come upon you bit by
surprise, Tom." he said. without any circumlO
cation. The fact is. it is that whiting that
has brought me-"
whiting. uncle!" calculated Tom, with his
first show OF surprise.
'EIalf a ton of whiting," murmured his
uncle. irresistibly impelled to dwell upon the
Halt a ton OF whiting! Ay. here it
is" And he fOurished the bill under the others
nose
Tom took it gingerly and opened it with
serious lace 1t seemed to Mr. Bulstead that he
was not quite SO much at his ease as he would
have his uncle believe. and the old gentleman
glanced suspiciOusy round the room. It Ger
tanly was not the room of rd-wOrking. hard
reading student; but still there was nothing OBJ
jectionable in it. He turned his glance again upon
Tom the latter was contemplating the bill with
a broad smile. genuine enough.
'.Well. said Mr.. Bulstead. .'what have you to
say about il? Hall ton OF whiting you know
To4is"
The young man laughed loudly.
Il am not in fault this time. sir; it ia the
Lawn-Tennis Clubs account sent into me as
secretary. / gave the grouud-man the check
to pay 1t last week and why they should have
had the impudence to send it in to you l can't
imagine"
lymph. hut how about tine whiting, Tom.
What Is that for?'
Marking out the grounds, sir"
''Of course it is Tom! Very stupid of me-
Well Tm very glad Of it. my boy" said Mr..
Bulstead pleasantly. The mystery Of the whit
ing was cleared up: but somehow it had made
him suspicious.
Now ' said Tom. ''will YOU come with me
to shop want to call OF in the High-not
hundreds yards of. sir? and by the time we
Come back lunch will be ready"
Was the dust Of that whiting still in Mr. Bull
1eads eyes? At any rate it seemed to him that
his nephew was peculiarly and restlessly
anxious to get him out Of the looms. However,
he rose.
Eyes. Tom. certainly. Where did | put my
umbrella? All. here it is. thank you. Why
what the-deuce-is-that."
If it had been another nalf-tOn of whiting
piled upon the sofa, the old gentleman's face
could not have grown darker The thing lying
half hidden by the sOfa-cushion was lady's
parasol-a dainty. tiny. wicked-lOOking sun
shade OF gray silk; and by 1t was glove OF too,
too apparent French kid. Mr. Bulstead's worst
fears were confirmed with vengeance; all
L.. ~ <la$ <6avo hir,rv