Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1884-11-28
MIR. BUiSTEAD'S SURPRISE.

long ago noted that particular letter
with apprehension, helped him in haste
to the hottest and choicest kidney on
the dish. Maggie knew we'll that Of
late the contents of letters from Oxford
were far from welcome.
'Now I will not stand this any long
err" cried the irritable old gentleman,
dashing his fist upon the table and mar
rowly missing the just arrived and juicy
kidney. Now, Master Tom has tried
my patience once too often! Bill after
bill have I settled during the last three
months, expecting each to be the last
and, forsooth, listen to this, miss! To
800 lawn-tennis balls. 912 los. ; to rack
cts, as per former account, eS los. to
marking machines, "a; to-good gra-
cious-to half ton of whiting, "a; to-
tai, e29! Good gracious! I say, does
the young scapegrace live upon whit
ing?'
''Oh, 1t must be mistake, uncle!"
Mistake, indeed! Why, did not I
have bill Of e2 los. for dogs collars ?
Was that mistake, too? And the wine
bill, and Sylnonds' bill for horsehire
All mistakes, Of counsel You may thank
your stars, young lady" cried the old
gentleman, abandoning the Indignantly
satirical for the savagely personal tone,
"that 7 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 wise girl, she kept silence,
and the kind hearted old gentleman
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 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 now cold kidney. "There, my dear,
give me another cup Of tea. Half a ton
of whjting-the lad must have gone
mad!"
ut might have gone in worse things
than whiting" she suggested humbly,
but with numerous culver at the cor
ner of pretty mouth.
$50 it might; that's true" The old
gentleman was little more straight
laced than most Londorers. It'll tell
you what, Maggie, Ill give Tom one
more chance. III go down to Oxford
by the II o'clock train: giving him nc
notice, and see for myself what sort Of
life he is living. If he is doing nothing
worse than waste money I'll forgive
him; butt I find the young fellow IS as
vicious as some of those Oxford sparks
why then"--and Mr.. Bulstead's voice
assumed quite unaccustomed tone Of
cool determination-"Ive done with
nephew Tom"
Maggie trihed with the teaspoon, hel
eyes bent upon her plate. Her uncle's
irritability was little to be feared; it was
more than neutralized by his kindness
of heart. But she knew him to be or
rare occasions, and in some matters, s
man of great obstinacy, and, loving he1
cousin with all her heart, she dreaded
the result Of her uncle's projected trip
Tom would bedding nothing dreadful
but he might be doing something MIR
Bulstead might object to. To move he!
uncle from his resolve, once expressed
in this way, she knew to be beyond ever
her influence; the more as the old gen
tleman, who had few months before
forbidden any express engagement be
tween the cousins, was little inclined
to resent any influence she might try tx
exert in Toms behalf.
/ shall not want any more tea thanh
you, so you may go to your music les
son if you like. [ shall just 60 on tt
the Athenaum for an hour, and then Il
.Paddington. I'll leave orders abou
che carriage, and if you like you Cal
meet the six o'clock train with it,"
When Mr.. Bulstead reached hi
club he found, to his disgust, that. hi
favorite chair was occupied by bishop
Had it been any one else, he would no
have scrupled at attempting to GUST hin
by one of those forms of strategy 81
well known in cl,lb-rooms; but as i
was he ran his eye over the Times cal
standing" and took his; seat In cal
not in the best of tempers. Half to1
of whiting!" he muttered to himself, il
tones of fretful speculation, as h
passed through Park lane. - j.
He felt little like a spy as b
hurried across Canterbury Quad, AM
made with all speed for the bottom Q
TOMS staircase The scout, old "Do
and 90 one," as he was called from hi
wooden leg. in vain essayed to detail
him. Up went Mr. Bulstead two steps q
time to the second floor, where, abov
the ieft-hand door, appeared in whit
letters upon q black ground, his oW
name He knock ed sharply, and hard
i Nv waiting for some one within to ute
what might OF. might not be g Come in,
threw it open and entered. Loungin
upon one Of the window seats, n han
nels and q cigarette in his mouth, was
young fellow whose good looking fac
was rather manly and straigh tforWar
than handsome. He was alone and g
up without much appearance Of hurr.
How do you do, uncle though
it was you crossing the quad Take
seat Why did you. not let me kno
that you were coming z"
Mr.. Bulstead took the proffered sea