St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-07-13
Mr.. Bulstead,s Surprise.

MI. Bulstead'S Surprise.
Mr.. Bulstead's third and last letter bore
the Oxford postmark; as he opened it he
frowned. His niece, who had long ago
noted that particular letter with apprehen-
sion, helped him in haste to the hottest and
choicest kidney in 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 gentleman. dashing
his fist upon the table and narrowly missing
the just arrived and juicy kidney. CHOW,
Master Tom has tried my patience once too
often. Bill after bill have 1 settled during
the last three months, expecting each to be
the last: and, forsooth, listen to this ness
To 500 lawn tennis balls, E12 los; to rackets
as per former account eS los; to marking
machines "a; to-good gracious Ito half
ton of whiting, "a, total e29. Good gra-
cious! say, does the young scapegrace
live upon whiting:'
Oh, it must be mistake, unce.''
Mistake indeed! Why did not I have
bill of e. los for dog collars!" Was that
mistake, tool And the wine bill, and Sy
mond's bill for horse hire! All mistakes, of
courses You may thank your stars, my
young lady, cried the old gentleman, aban-
doning the Indignantly satirical for the saw
agely personal tone, ''that l would not let
you tie yourself to this extrayagont 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 window 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 aud down
the room, began to cast uneasy chances at
the window. If theae was one person whom
Mr.. Bulstead loved before and after the cause
Of his present anger, it was his niece Maggie
Lloyd.
'Wel, well, - said he, sitting down to his
now cold kidney. ''There, my dear, give
me another cup of tea. Half ton of whit
ing-the lad must have gone mad"
1T might have gone in worse things than
whiting, she suggested humbly, but with a
hume rous culver at the corner of pretty
mouth.
80 it might that's true" The old gen
tleman was Il little more strait-laced than
most Londoners. I'm tell you what, Mag
gle; III give Tom one more chance. I'll
90 down to Oxford by the II O'Clock train,
giving him no 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; but if l lind the young fellow is as
vicious as some of these Oxford sparks, why,
then"-and Mr.. Bulsteads voice assumed a
quite unaccustomed tone Of cool determine
tion-'.I've done with nephew Tom.''
Maggie trifed with the teaspoon, her eyes
bent upon her plate. Her uncle's irritability
was little to be feared; it was more than neu-
tralzed 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 uncle's projected
trip. Tom would be doing nothing dreadful
but he might be doing something Mr. Bull
stead might object to. To move her uncle
from his resolve once expressed in this way,
she knew to be beyond even her influence;
the more, as the old gentlemen, who had a
few months before forbidden any express
engagement between the cousins, was q lit
tie inclined to resent any influence she
might try to exert in Toms behalf.
Il shall not want any more tea thank you,
30 you may go to your music lesson If you
like. l shall just 90 to the Athenium for an
hour, and then to Paddington. III leave
orders aboutthe carriage, and if you like you
can meet the O'Clock train with it.
When Mr.. Bulstead reached his club he
was disguised to find that his favorite chair
was occupied by bishop. Had it been any
one else he would not have scrupled at at
tempting to Dust him by one of those forms
of strategy so well known in the club rooms:
but as it was, he ran his eye over the Times,
''al standing, and took bis seat in a cab not
In the best of tempers. Halt ton Of whit
ing!" he muttered to himself in tones Of
fretful speculation as lie 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 "Dut and go one, " as he was
called. from his wooden leg, in vain essayed
10 detaiu him. Up went Mr. Bustead two
steps at a 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 hardly waiting for
some one within 10 utter what might or might
not be "Come i'm threw it open and enter
cd. Louugiug upon one of the window
seats, in hannels and 4 cigarette in his
mouth, was young fellow whose cookbook
ing face was rather manly and straighttor-
ward than handsome. He was alone. and
got up without much appearance of FURRY
''How DO YOU do, uncle! | thought it was
YOU crossing the quad. Take u seat Why
did YOU not let me know that YOU we're com
ingi"
Mr. Bulstead took the profTered seat, and
painted as he looked around. The stairs were
steep, and his wind was not as good as it had
been.
Il thought I would come upon YOU a bit by
rprise, Tom, " ne said, without any cIrcum-
locution. ''The fact is, it is that hitting
that has brought me-"
whiting. uncle - calculated Tom, with
his first show Of surprise.
Half u ton Of whiting" murmured his
uncle. irresisubly impelled u dwell upon the
MYSTERY HALF a ton of whiting. Az. here
IL is" Ard he iourished the bin under the
others nose.
Tom took it giuEerly, aud opened it with
a serious face. 1t seemed to Mr.. BUlstead
that he was not quite as much at his ease as
be would have his uncle believe. aud the old
gentleman glanced suspjciously around the
room. Il certainly was not the room of =
har3-worNing, hari-readinE student; but
still there was nothing Objectionable in it.
He turned his glance again upon Tom; the
latter wss contCn plating the bill With a bread
smile genuine enough.
''Well," said Mr.. Bulstead, what have
you 10 say about It, Half : ton u whiting,
you know, Ton 3"
The Young man laughed loudly.
~ am not IN the fault this time. sir; it IS
the Lawn Tennis clubs account sent in to