The Washington critic., 1886-11-20

| the child.
Sybil was bewidercd by the fre.
| qutncy with which she met the son of
her fathers opponent, but Mr. Lotraiu
always looked so very much surprised
TO see her that she could not for a mo
ment suspect him Of completely.
All this time, though both knew well
enough that lawsuit was pending be.
tween their parents, the question was
| never bToachcd between them. Sybil
had o reputation for plunging head.
long into any subject rather than main.
tain constrained silence upon 1t, but
on This matter new shyness kept her
silent; while Lorrain, who was moving
heaven and earth to persuade his father
ioresign bis claim, and had so far sig
nnlly failed, naturally avoided topic
likely to raise hostility.
At last the day was fixed for the trial
TO come on, and then BERTHE marched
into Virgins office, looking the pic.
turo of despair.
KINDLY remember that | am solicit
tor for the other side and avoid that
subject, said the lawyer, severely.
"Ob, hang it!'' said Lorrain, "Im not
going to discuss the case. | only want
TO say that it's sin and shame, and
If ] had voice in the matter I'd with.
draw the claim on our side and apollo.
gizo humbly for ever having made 1t. "
That statement, made to me by your
father through his solicitor, would be
interesting and valuable; from you II Is
mere waste of words"
"Wiggins, don't get on the stills, 4"
said Lorrain, impatiently. "You ought
to see what fix I'm In"
You arc taking up my time sir, 3"
remarked Virgins, significantly.
"Then you may as well listen to me
Don't you understand that | am dead
set on marrying Sybil Eason, and that
which ever way the case is settled I'm
done for? If we win she will simply
loathe me, and if they win how can /
make up to girl who'll have such a
pot of money? Speak up, sir-what am
| to do?"
Speak up yourself" said Virgins,
shortly.
"To her, do you mean? Now? My
word, If ! dared! DO you think she d
let mey'
Virgins put on his spectacles and
looked the young man up aud down
WITHOUT u WOfu.
Lorrain positively blushcd at the
implied compliment.
Seriously, do you think I might?
Oh, Virgins, what an awfully good fel-
low you arel say, how do you think
the case will go?'
"lour question, Mr.. Lorrain, is i'm.
proper to the last degree. Kindly leave
the office"
Lorrain went out very soberly and
hailed hanson.
"Now or never" he said to himself,
as he directed the cabman to Morley
Square.
Once more luck favored him; Sybil
was sauntering round the square alone.
BERTHE Joined her, and presently-she
hardly knew how-she found herself
sitting on q bench with him standing
in front Of her.
lie was quite simple and direct.
"Sybil," he said, "your father aud
mine are fighting this case, and next
week twill be decided; If for us, you
will hate me; If for you, ! can't play
the part of fortune. hunter. SO let
me say now that all / want in this
world is you for wife, and tell
me, Sybil-will you give me what
WANT
Sybil was equally simple, but had not
so much TO say.
Il don't know whether | know you
well enough" she faltered, glancing
up at him and down again, "but
think--I think l do"
And Herewith she glanced up again
with q happy smile and told herself Of
course she did. Was he not everything
man should be?
Dr. Eason took Mr.. Virgins word
for 1t that this engagement was an cX.
cellent thing, but old Hugh Lorrain
was furious for days.
Then BERTHE made n solemn appeal to
him, and in the end the old man,
actuated partly by affection for bis son
partly by not unfounded anxiety as to
the result of the trial, consented to
Eason had always signified his readi-
ness TO enter into, and finally, after
endless consultations, division of the
money was effected, which, while leav-
ing DR.. Eason principal legatee, set
tied large sum on the young people.
Virgins was not so jubilant as might
have been expected, True, his great
scheme had succeeded admirably, and
his reputation for diplomacy was recog-
niZed all round; but, on the other
hand, he had become deeply interested
in the case itself, and so convinced of
his ability to establish DR.. Eason' S
claim, that the compromise patched up
at the last minute seemed to snatch a
second, even sweeter cup Of triumph
from his lips.
1t was not till the wedding day ar
rived that his self satisfaction regQined
undivided supremacy. On that occa-
sion his calm consciousness of sagacity,
benevolence and power over his fellow
men made his manner grand. Every
body credited him with having been
the manager of this affair, and for
once in his life he had his fill, or al
most his fill, of Difference and respect.
Privately Lorrain whispered to Sybil,
with the basest ingratitude, you
know all old Virgins really had to do
with it was the original introduction.
After that | didn't need any edging on
love would have found out the way
anyhow
'But shall never forget that Mr..
Virgins thought of it and smoothed
it," said Sybil, warmly. "I'm going
10 be grateful to him all my life. -
lCassell's Family Magazine.
a Horrible Form
OF malarlal disease is dumb ague. Constant
drowsiness, sleep interrupted by chill,
succeeded by a consuming heat, and that
by an eXhaustng sweat, A sensation as OF
numbness from cold, but no shaking at
| tends It, llostetter's Stomach B!tters in
yariably eradicates 1t, though 1t Is the most
| obstinate form Of miasma-bOrn disease. To
| conquer it with Quinine is as impossible as
to battle down Gibraltar with a howit2er.