The Washington critic., 1885-10-16


cred, full between the eyes. 1t sent
the recipient, gaudily-dresscd flop,
spinning into the gutter, much to the
detrimcnt of his fine apparel and
served him right for insulting an UNI
protected girl, whose hurried steps and
timid manner betrayed her uncasine3s
at being alone on the street at such an
hour.
Having done his duty in the prem
ises, and waiting to see the bespattcd
coXcomb pick himself up ungraccfully
and stink away abashcd and cowcd,
Ned Armour turned to see what had
become of his protcge.
She stood trembling, as though fright
had arrested her steps. Her pale face,
on which the light of ncighboring
lamp CHANGED to fall, was of surprising
beauty, and Ned being knight as
gallant as brave, begged permission to
see her safe home.
In sweet, gentle voice, with n
slightly foreign tinge, she accepted the
offer, and the two walked on together,
for the most part, silently.
"Will you not come in, sir?" said
the girl, stopping at the door of
plain looking house. "NIy father.
am sure, will wish to thank YOU for
the kind service you have rendered.
lie is an invalid, and it was an errand
to procure him some ncccssarics that
took me out tonight"
Ned accepted the invitation, and
that was the beginning of his acquaint-
ance with NJ. Bertrand and his charm
ing daughter Maria.
Ned Armour was the junior of law
firm of which his uncle, Mr.. Banting,
was the head. He had little love for
the profession, but had entered IL to
please his uncle, to whom he owed
everything, his rearing included 1t is
safe TO say that after the adventure
just related he spent two evenings in
the society of Maria and her father to
one passed with Coke & Blackstone.
NJ. Bertrand was an old soldier of the
first Empire, who, with the fall of his
chief, had lost ALL and driven into ex-
lie with his infant child, he had wan
dered from country to country in the
hope to mend his fortune Now, his
daughter and himself had no other de-
pcndcnce than the earnings of the for
mcr, who turned to the best account
she could her proficiency in music by
giving private lessons.
Ned would gladly have assisted his
friends from his own purse had he
known how to do 50 without giving of
Tense to the proud old soldier
"I've been thinking of wife for
you," said Ned's uncle one morning, as
the two sat together in the seniors pri-
vnte office.
80 have l." replied Ned.
"Ahem!' returned the uncle.
Eve picked one out for YOU" he
continued.
I've picked one ont for myself, >"
said Ned; chat is, provided can OBJ
| tain her consent
"The deuce you have" exclaimed
the head of the firm, who had always
regarded the question rs one within
his own exclusive jurisdiction.
There is no knowing to what pitch
the discussion would have reached but
for the entrance of two gentlemen, who
came to consult Mr.. Banting.
| A Frenchman, stranger, it seemed
had died suddenly while on visit TO
this city some years before, leaving q
large sum of money. One of the two
gentlemen present had been appointed
trustee of the fund, and the other
claimed to be next of kin to the de-
ceased, whose cousin he asserted him
self to be-
"The deceased spoke of having n
brother" said the trustee, Gin search
of whom he was travelling"
YES, his brother Antoine" said the
other, "who absconded from this coun-
try years ago, and of whose death
have ample proofs"
The papers were submitted to Mr..
Banting, who promised to examine
them and give his opinion next day,
at which time, if everything was regu-
lar, the money was to be turned over to
the claimant.
1t wasn't often that Ned paid much
attention TO the business of the office,
but the mention of certain names dur
ing the colloquy caused him to prick
uphis ears while seemingly busy with
the morning paper, and five minutes
later he was running at full speed to
the house of his friends, the Bcrtrands.
AT the appointed hour next morning
the same two gentlemen came to hear
Mr.. Banting's decision. Ned, as be-
fore, had the morning paper before
him, but kept a sharp ear turned.
These papers appear to be all right,
observed Mr.. Banting 81 have scru-
tinted them carefully and find nothing
wanting"
Then it only remains to pay over
the money, | suppose" said the heir
eXpectant, rubbing his hands.
Nothing more, " replied Mr., Bant-
ing,
The trustee produced his accounts,
showing the sum on hand, which had
been largely enhanced by accruing in.
terest, and was beginning to draw a
check for the amount, when Ned Ar
mour threw aside his paper and strobe
forward.
Don't be too fast - he exclaimed.
1t was the first time Ned had ever in
terfered in a business consultation, and
his uncle looked up surprised.
"Why, what do you know about it?'
asked the latter.
eve witness in my private room
/ think you'd better examine before
proceeding further" answered Ned
"Wait n moment and I'll bring him.
Ned stepped out and returned imme
diately, escorting an intirm old man
whose eye flashed as it fell on tn,
covering countenance of the would-bC
heir,
"Tcll these gentlemen who you are,
said Ned, though one of them doesn'
seem to need the information.
Il am Antoine Bertrand" replied
the old man, proudly, "the brother anC
heir of him on whose fortune this base
wretch seeks to lay his lawless grasp
1t was this william, when the star of my
illustrious chief went down ut Waterloo
who, through perjury and falsehood
drove me into exile, and received, n
the reward of his perhdy, my entir,
n,nnlih Ihn nrnnfs In nnuu nrnsnnI