Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1885-06-25

| tuc ldSU ulUutu UT t"O DiOWu u0S
noticed our intimacy and questioned Isabel
about it. She confessed all. He then flew
into a violent rage-he is very violent at
| times"
ayes, know he is"
| "-and actually swore at her, and for
babe me the house. To-day l wrote him q
note. making a formal offer for Isabel's
hand. and was to come Tomorrow for an
answer, but Isabel heard you were coming
-
'Indeedm
"-and we determined to make an appeal
to you. In the first place let me ask you il
l have acted wrongly in any way!"
mo" said Mr.. Bartlum. looking at Isabel
with considerable admiration; "you have
acted quite right. You couldn't help it."
''Then, sir" exclaimed Walter, 1--WE ap-
peal to you. Make an effort to soften
Uncle Brown. It's only crOtchety within
of his, and you have such influence over
him: you are his adviser"
"Hold hard"' cried James. 81 suspected
all along you were in the wrong box, but
you would come liz. Permit me, before this
goes any further. Who do you think
ann"
Ferguson, of Ferguson & Board, law
yers," cried Walter and Isabel, in breath
you're mistaken; my name is James
Bartlum, your cousin frou-well. say Cal
| ifornia. Just arrived this morning.
20, Walter" cried Isabel, with gasp,
''what have we dOne!"
1--WE are ruined" said Walter, tragic
ally.
"Wait a Bit" said Mr.. Bartlum, sooth-
inSly. "Don't break down all at once.
am getting interested in this affair. 1 am
always on the side of youth and love, old
as am. Now that know all, perhaps
can help you more than Ferguson. Don't
say anything to Ferguson; don't appeal to
him. A man with that kind of name is apt
| to be flinty hearted. Trust to your cousin
James.
80, Cousin Jamesw cried Isabel, con-
WINGED at once, ''bless you! You have
male US feel so happy"
"Bless you, sir!" echoed Walter, also
very much affected.
"All right" rejoined Cousin James, dry
ly. "a brilliant, and, let us hope, feasible
plan has occurred to me, which for the
present shall keep in the inner recesses of
my bosom. Will you trust implicitly to
me?"
sImplicitly," cried Walter.
Every well. Then-you travel out Of the
house."
what"
"Go! and when you come back o-mor-
row for an answer to your note, and Uncle
will, submit quietly"
"Give up Isabel: Never~
''For time, young man-for time! Be
a diplomatic and trust to me-"
Eyes, do, Walter" pleaded Isabel. 81
am sure you can trust him."
snow, them" said cousin James, when
the ardent lover had torn himself away,
"you are very young, and you are a fe-
male, but you look sensible. Can you keep
q secret"
| "Yes."
"I'll try you. Please sit down."
When Mr.. Theophilus Brown returned
from his search for the recreant Ferguson,
| he opened his blue eyes very wide on see
| ing his daughter and the ex-tramp enjoy
ing very lively tete-a-tete.
"Cousn Isabel and ], >" said James, with
a smile, 'are excellent friends already. l
came in. Everybody has changed in five
years except Uncle Theoph."
"Humph," grOwled Mr.. Brown, not alto
gether admiring this familiarity, but yet
compelled to admit that his nephew was
evidently presentable.
Within a week Mr.. James Bartlum had
| taken the Brown mansion by storm. sir.
Brown was a widower, aud since George
had gone away the dinners had been rather
| lonesome, but cousin James changed all
that. An interminable talker, with a
knowledge of men and manners gained in
a school to which Mr.. Brown and his guests
| were entire strangers, and a perfect mint
entertained his uncle's guests in a most
surprising manner. Mr.. Brown was vast
ly amused when he pictured the conster-
nation of his guests did they but know his
nephew's antecedents, which he wisely
decided to keep to himself, and then he
told himself that his nephew ,'is an edu-
Gated gentleman, notwithstanding his
| scampish adventures.
Isabel was completely captivate1, to the
| intense and growing wrath of Walter. He
had religiously kept his promise, and after
being refused Isabel's hand as anticipated.
had been kindly allowed to make an
occasional call, on each and every occasion
only to find Isabel mot at home"
TO the opera with Mr.. Bartlum; out rid
ing with Mr.. Bartlum; here, there, every
where with Mr.. Bartlum, until Walter was
reduced to skin and bone, and began to
suspect that he was being duped. Once or
twice at dinner he had eSSayed to cOmmu
nicate with his beloved, but the attempts
were always failures. Either Mr.. Brown
had his eye on him, or Isabel had not her
eve on him, or, rs most frequently
happened, Cousin James engaged him in
spirited conversation until the opportunity
had gone by.
After this sort of thing had been goiss
on two entire months, the young lover had
worked himself into such a fever that lac
made up his mind to have an explanation,
orwell, anything!
The opportunity came the very next
week ut a bali. After some little ma
earth in bay-window.
Isabel" said he, trying very hard to be
calm, 81 have right, and do demand an
explanation"
ian explanation, Walter?" said Isabel,
in the Innocent, inquiring tone very effect
ually calculated to madden the average
man.
"Gracious heavens" exclaimed Walter,
very eifectually maddened, sis it possible
you affect Ignorance: Do you think am
blind: Faithless Isabel, had l not seen
with my own eyes
Don't talk so loud," interposed the
faithless James, soothingly.
ter passionately. "I'n have settlement
with you at another time and place."
''One moment,' said Cousin James,
coolly. Permit me to remove the lady
from the scene of strife.''
Before Walter could interpose they were
gone, and before he could leave the window
his faithless friend had returned and taken
him by the arm like a school-bOy.
young man." he said, with patroniz-
ing air, ''you are making a donkey of YOUR
self. After making all possible allowances
for your youth and inexperience, l can not
close my eyes to the fact that that you are
something of an IDIOT"
Il won't be talked to in this way" said
Walter, sava gely.
40 yes, you will. 1t is for your own
good, my dear boy. Everything is going
along very nicely, and if you will only
keep quiet"
''i5ut l will not. have been shamefully
deceived, and unless Isabel explains every
thing to my satisfaction I'll do something"
what will you do:''
81 don't know" (gloomily).
"Don't do anything RASH"
"Yes. will. I'll expose you"
"To whom?"
$50 everybody. Toto Uncle Brown.''