The news., 1885-07-21
you, you know that"
Yes, | know that. 2

chamber with pipe in your mouth,
or taking a turn along few fathoms
of pavement. Dye remember that l
lectured you once ON sincerity Well,
it eased nv mind, and ever since I've
somehow felt you're to be trusted
my notion being that if Florence
chooses to fancy you she'll find you
an A husband, built above the usual
requirements, copper fastened, and
something fit to handle. Money she
oughtn't to want; and, if her father
cuts her off you must go to work and
double your income, and that'll do
for the present. SO you see, my boy,
| don't want to discourage you"
"But what do you want to say
then p said |, wondering what he was
aiming at, now that he had made all
these admissions.
why" said he, looking bit
nervous, "you just now spoke of
your cousins helping you. Well,
have no objection. | have my own
theories of life, and do not know why
l should be expected to applaud Mr.
Hawkes. views and support them.
You're a gentleman-poor, but not a
beggar; you have something to offer
Florence even if she came to you
without silver. Isn't that So"
81 have two hundred and fifty a
year." said l.
"Yes," he exclaimed and youth
also, which is always worth money.
If you were dissolute fellow, if you
were twopenny rascal, if | thought
you weren't worth the love of such a
girl as Florence, if l reckoned you'd
like to get her not for her hearts sake,
but for what she'd bring along with
her, does any man who knows me
suppose would lift finger to help
you to foul old Hawke, by running
athwart his hawse? My boy, If |
lifted anything, it would be my foot,
to give ye hoist out of the way of the
charming girl. Mind, Jack, l don't
want to say anything to discourage
you"
"Pm following you anxiously," said
IL.
'"The fact is, nephew, your aunt and
! are not agreed. She is for respect
ing Mr.. Hawkes. wishes to the extent
of our doing nothing to bother him.
She is very fond of you, Jack ay, and
proud of you, my boy, as relative :
but she doesn't think it would be con-
sistent with our dignity for your cous-
ins to meddle in business that's al
ready caused old Hawke to insult us. :"
Il do not blame her." said l.
'It is not my fault" continued he,
growing more and more apologize,
and looking very sorry; sit was who
told you you might count upon your
cousins. But my wife objects, and
she must have her way. She has con-
sented to their calling on Florence,
but on the distinct understanding that
they take no messages, no notes"
"You may depend upon it," said /,
speaking coolly, but feeling frightfully
chagrined, 'that her requests are law
to me. | beg that you will give her
my love, and assure her that the same
resolution that forced me from her
hospitable house will enable me most
strictly to respect her wishes"
"For Gods sake" he burst out,
don't be too polite, Jack, or you'll
make me think you're satirical."
"No, no." said l, II am too fond of
you all to try my clumsy fist at satire" !"
Il know you are, and we're equally
fond Of you, and what l want to know
now is, whether, seeing that it wouldn't
be proper for your cousins to help YOU
in this job, is it worth your while to
60 on bothering yourself over it?
Act sensibly, man. give up these
lodgings, come to my house, and,
when you've had enough of us, re-
turn to London"
"a thousand thanks for your kind
ness, uncle; but-what !" / shouted /;
surrender my love, my hopes, my
chances, by living in house on the
understanding that | must never meet
Florence Hawke, or, if | meet her,
that | must never speak to her or take
notice Of her, lest should excite her
fathers suspicious of your neighborli-
ness, and lead him to suppose you are
keeping me with you for the purpose
of annoying him? My dear uncle,
you once called me swab; do you
really think | am one?"
He laughed heartily, and said, "Well,
well see how it is One musts needs
60 when the devil drives. How you'll
manage to get along don't know but,
| dare say, in its time love has tri-
umphed over bigger difficulties than
any you're likely to encounter. In
deed, once knew man who, to come
at the object of his affections, had not
only to fight his own aud the ladys
family-the two families combined
mastering no less than two-and-twen-
ty souls-but the family Of the rector
of the parish, the family of a justice
Of the peace, and the relations Of a
medical widower. He beat 'em all
His triumph was wonderful There
was no boiling, no scudding away: he
married the girl calmly and legiti-
mately, and you may make an Irish
hash of me, Jack, if the wedding
guests didn't consist of all the people
he had in a moral sense knocked on
the head, and over whose bodies he
had crawled on his road to the altar
Take that fable to heart" said he
: "and moralize it."
No one who has been in love but
Will sympathlze with the feelings
which mastered me at this period, and
follow with emotion the various post
ures of mind into which my passion
forced me.
. CHAPTER XI.
POUR OUT MY SOUL.
: What sort of man was Mr.. More
I combe? was he short or tall? good
looking or plain? real fool, or witt
as much sense as most youths have
That he wore his hair parted dow
y the middle, that he dressed himself il
:, stick-up collars (no great vice., that h
t used an eyeglass, and talked of blooC
e with the complacency of gentleman
J.. .,-bnco 70 cort-iaf,n, thok 900