The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1885-09-03

| tlemans antecedents.
After he had been a couple of DAYS at
| Virginia House, his doubts took more
definite shape, and plan occurred to
him for setting them at rest, for assist
ance in which he determined to apply to
Kate Williams Kate and he had always
been on friendly terms, and, from one or
two chance expressions, he suspected
that she was by no means charmed with
her brother in-law in prospect.
"kate." be said, taking the bull by the
horns, II want to ask YOU question
about Mr.. Romney Romney. Who is he
What does your mother know about
him p
''As much Is She does about most of
! the people who come here" Kate replied.
'fe gave a good reference, and he pays
/ his bill regularly Come, Frank, you may
not be fond of him. but you can't deny
that he is a gentleman
"Gentleman or not" said Bartlett,
there is something about him that puz-
zles me. Now don't taught am per
tectly serious, and | have come to you
because | want your help"
My help ?" asked Kate, in surprise.
YES | want you to get me his photo
graph. have a notion that have met
! him before, and should ike to ask my
| partner. Tapeham if be remembers him."
MIR. Romney Romney hasnot got pho
tograph," answered Kate "Mabel was
asking him for one the other night, and
he told her that he had never been
/ photographed since he was a boy. He
| said quite seriously that he had such
nervous horror of being taken that he
could not sit.
"Fiddesticks " calculated Bartlett.
"But | tell YOU what we have got"
Kate went on, evidently taken with the
idea Of assisting in unravelng mystery
mabel took sketch Of his head one
evening while he was playing bezique
quite as good as photograph. She put
it away somewhere, and have no doubt
| could find it"
| Bartlett said he should like to have it,
and to his delight little later in the
| evening Kate took an opportunity Of
| handing the portrait to him privately.
| 1t proved to be a rough, but Very
| characteristic likeness OF the original
and that same evening Mr. Bartlett
| posted it to Mr. Tapeham, with a short
| statement Of the circumstances which
| led to his sending it,
Mrs. Williams had fell rather annoyed
With Mr. Bartlett for intrudng himself
at this crisis in Berthas fortunes bur it
really seemed rs If his arrival had slim
! uIatcd NlI. Romnev Romnty's attach
| ment. On the day after Mr., Bartlett's
arrival. which was Sunday, Mr. Romney-
I > ~, 1,.I
| and walked home with Miss Williams
/ On Monday they were together all the
| morning upon the beach, watching the
| arrival VI tht B0ulogna boat. When, On
/ the same evening, Frank Bartlett was
| holding the above conversation with
/ Kate Williams in a corner Dt the draw
! ng-ro0m after dinner, every lady in the
room was aware that Bertha and Mr.
| Romnry- R0mney were sitting tete-a-tete
in the conservatory down stairs. Pres
entity they walked up and down for hall
all hour in front OF the sea. and ten min
utes after they came in Mrs. Williams
knew that her eldest daughter had
promised to become Mrs Romney Rom
new
By breakfast time the next morning
the news was known all over the house,
and Bertha was receiving the c0ngratu-
| ldtions OF her friends Miss Horncastle
came among the first. Bartlett came
too, and managed to put fairly good
! face upon the ceremony.
Now that the blow had fallen, Mr..
Bart cit .ouId himself undergoing a GER
tain irvGiSion OF feeling toward Mr..
Ronmey- h0mAcy. and it was not long
before he found himself hoping that
nothing untayorable to that gentleman
would come Of his letter to his partner.
lie could noT help seeing what 4 grievous
disappointment it would be u the family
if their prize should not turn out to he
all it was taken for This view struck
him all the more after he had exchanged
a few words With Kate on the subject OF
her sistel 5 engagement.
During the last day or two he had
found himself good deal in the society
Of the second Miss Williams. She was a
lively, aniable girl-the best Of the three,
most people thought her mothers
right hand in the management of the
house. Mr. Bartlett was quite surprised
to find how blind he had hitherto been
to her good qualities
Consequently, when Mr.. Romney Rom
ney contided to him, over their after
dinner cigar, that he was thinking OF
taking the Misses Williams and their
mother TO spend a day at Boulogne, and
invited Bartlett to be OF the party, Frank
entered into the scheme without any
reluctance.
IL see from the time tables that
either of the next two or three days will
suit us. Mr.. Romney- Romney remarked; ;
"but Thursday will give us the longest
time there. shall invite some more
people to join us and we will have a
regular big party in honor Of the
auspicinHa event"
The scheme was further mooted at
breakfast time on the following day.
Unfortunately for Mr.. Romney- Romney's
idea of "a regular big party" it appeared
that a large portion of the company,
consisting of Mr.. and Mrs BoXall and
their three children, had already arrang
ed to 90 to Canterbury by coach on
Thursday. The Rev. septimus Macrory,
with his wife and sister, were going with
them, and their places on the coach We're
already booked.
Miss Horncastle, however, after some
little persuasion, consented on behalf Of
herself and sister, to honor the party, al
ways providing the weather and sea We're
proptious. The last two visitors-Mr,
Iluntley, a middle aged bachelor Of jovial
disposition, and Mr.. Octavius Prout, a
vacuous youth from the Stock Exchange,
at present hopeessly victimized by Ma
bel Williams promised to join the eX-
cursion as matter of course.
This was the second day since Bartlett
had written to his partner. No answer
awaited him however; and as time went
on, and he found himself under the intlu-
ence Of Kate, more and more interested
} in the happiness of the Williams family,
he began to hope devoutly that he would
hear no more of Mr.. komney Romney's
portrait.
On the Thursday morning, which
dawned bright and calm, and everything
: desirable. the Boulogne party were on
the move early. The Louise Dagmar,
which was to carry them for their trip,
! started at 9.3O, and it was desirable to be
on board in good time, in order to secure
; places before the arrival of the tidal train
from London. Consequently there was
rather a scamper over breakfast.
a.. 1~t. ~,