Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1884-06-12

to MethVen's WileS, was the son of large
Australian sheep farmer, and had come
up to Brazenface the previous October.
Like most colonists who have not been
to school in England, he was very sim
pie and unsophisticated; and though the
kangaroo, as he was generally called,
was very popular, he was constantly be
ing made the victim of small practical
Jokes, most of which were originated by
Methven, who was the professional
hoaxer of Brazenface. He always for
gave them heartily, and joined in the
| laugh himself. However, his one years
residence in college had opened his eyes
little, and being naturally anything
but fool, his friends found it not quite
so easy to take him in now, as it used to
be, and several attempts having lately
| failed, Methven, to sustain his dwindling
reputation as a joker, had concocted the
He found the genial giant busily pack
ing his traps ready for going down the
next day. After chatting moment or
two the tempter began:
GAS you're going to town tomorrow, l
want you to do me a little favor. l
promised to meet a girl, cousin of
mine, tomorrow. We had each got an
order for the House of Commons, and I
was to have escorted her, and as we
meant to have little lunch together at
Lucas before we went in, we had ar
ranged to meet at quarter past at
Westminster bridge landing pier, that
being place where we couldn't possibly
miss one another. Now, as bad luck will
have it, the Dean has sent for me to see
him after collections, so that l can't get
up to town in time. Unfortunately, l
can't let the girl know, because she's
away on a visit for day or two to some
friends, whose address I have forgotten,
and she won't return home till after she's
been to the House. Now, I don't want the
poor child to wait an hour for me, so
would you mind going there about a
quarter past 2 and telling her I can't
come, because of that beastly Dean? And
so that you can't mistake her, I've
brought you her photograph. By-the-by,
her names is Miss Barnard. Now, will
this be too much trouble for your"
ooh, not bit" said Crofton. 81 shall
be delighted"
"Well, remember, Westminster land
ing pier at quarter past 2! And now,
goOd-by, and pleasant long to you"
Methven, highly elated with the re-
suit of his scheme, Immediately wrote a
note to Miss G. Bernard that H. c. would
meet her at the Westminster bridge pier
at quarter past 2 punctually, and that
she must come up and speak to him if
she saw him first.
The next morning Crofton, having I'M
dergone that dread ordeal called "cOllec-
tons" having been bullied alternately
by the principal, the dean and the senior
tutor, hurried off to the station and just
managed to catch the,mid-day express up
to town. On his arrival, leaving his
traps at hotel, he rushed off to West
minister bridge landing pier and arrived
there within minute or two of the ap-
pointed time. There were but few peo-
pie on it when he arrived, and certainly
no one resembling in the slightest degree
the photograph of Mr.. Methven's cousin.
He looked up and down, but no-there
was only one young lady there, and she
wasn't in the least like the photograph.
She was standing close to the ticket of
fee, holding the hand of little boy of
ten or so-and she seemed to watch Crof-
ton with an amused smile as he impa-
tiently walked up and down, lookingn now
at her watch and now at the parliament
clock tower. The little boy, in the mean
time, getting tired Of waiting, had slipped
away under the protecting chains round
the side and began to play with a little
dog that was vaguely roaming about. The
young lady did not miss him, and when
CrOttOn happened to turn he saw the
child, in trying to avoid sudden bound
of the dog, scramble and fall oyer the
pier into the river. The child yelled, the
girl shrieked, and the dog barked for
sympathy, but CroftOn, who fortunately
!, had plenty of presence of mind and was
, a good strong swimmer, dived quietly in
to the water, caught up the child in a
couple of strokes, and in a very short
time had restored his dripping burden to
the young lady. She was of course most
grateful to him for having saved the life
of her little brother (for so the child
, turned out to be), and, as Crofton put
them in cab, she asked him to call on
them at home and give her parents an
, opportunity of personally thanking him.
CrOfton at first pOOh-pOohed the idea of
, thus being made hero of, but there was
, a pleading look in her pretty eyes which
quite Overcame his scruples; and having
ascertained that her father was Mr.. West,
and that he lived at No. 1876 CaYendish
square, he promised to call there the fol-
lowing afternoon. And there was still
no sign of Miss Bernard, and as he was
: dripping wet he hailed a passing cab
and returned to the hotel.
} The next day, according to his prom
Use, he called at No. 136 Cavendish square
J and was received most kindly by Miss
2 West, his acquaintance of yesterday, and
: her mother, an old lady, who thanked
| him most volubly for having saved dear
Bertie's life, who, she added, was none
f the worse for the ducking, and was at
. that moment in bed, with a mustard
l plaster on his chest and basin of cruel
: by his side probably thinking the
2 drowning would have been infinitely
: preferable to the doctoring).
t OF course CroftOn was invited to stay
/ to dinner, so as to meet Mr.. West, who
g did not return from business till after 6
t About that time he arrived, and fine
, did he welcome his new acquaintance
: After dinner, as he and Harry were dis
/ cussing a bottle of "a port, Mr.. Yves
: found out from the supplemented fel
i low that he was native of Australia
and that, though he was happy enough