Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-08-29

with the Stffct ihtont'v" "
- Are You aware. Miss Goring--i be.
,ieve Il il Miss Goring Of the Farm
bs,e the honor Of addressing ?--that
YOU are making yourself my partner in
the fraud you have just accused me
OFF" As his gaze continued to rest on
Tho lovely flushed face below him invol-
ur,a,ily his voice softened. 1t was
hardly possible for young man oil
twenty-five, however steeled against
such sentimental weakness by the isols-
lion OF a studious boy hood, to suppress
a strong desire that this pretty girl
would transfer some Of her strange alb
sorbipg interest in Prehistoric Man to
one particular descendant Of the nine
tenth century. d,
"Yes. Mr.. Muggins, am prepared
TO give you as much as fifteen shllIlogs
| for it,"
ain that case, rapidly rejoined Mr..
Frsnk Carroll, turniog TO Jeremiah
81, in my turn, am equally READY TO
advance a sovereign
"And |, ;" triumphantly, :" one pound
ten.n The little hoard OF seven gold
uieces almost exclusively reserved, with
ore exception, for the use OF the Wild
owls family at Clifton would be some
what lessened by such O proceeding.
However, in the cause of science,
should Helen GoriDg object to wearing
a thiee-y ear. old bonnet during the
ensuing winter? The boys shall have
their warm, new coats as usual.
1.-TWO pounds"
1.-TWO pounds ten."
"Three pounds"
"Three pounds tep," desperately.
"Four pounds"
"Four pounds ten" chokingly.
Give pounds" briskly.
"Six-six pounds" with catch in
her breath like sob.
Six pounds ten."
"Seyen pounds :" 1t was all gone
now The last shining sovereign OF the
savings that represented so many small
self-denials and pinchings and priva-
lions had vanished forever. Farewell
TO winter nantes and thick overcoats
and smart new bonnets to the residue
that with careful management might
have paid portion of the taxes Of the
house at Clifton. She felt like one OF
those mothers of old who passed their
children through the fire to Moloch.
| Shiyeripg. ragged, destitute, reduced to
a state of genteel pauperism, still, Of
course, it must be Of ipestimable advan-
tage to the Goring family to know
even in the comparative solitude of the
yoik.house to which they may event.
ually come-that they are the joint
posessors of perfectly unrivalled relic
Of the newer Stone Age.
"Put me down for seven pounds
ten, Mr.. Muggins."
The aged peasant, whose bleared eye
twinkled with benevolent JOY at the
utter " daltpess Of the whole bust
Loss that was setting him up in ailln-
,nce for the ensuing twelvemonth, wait
ed in vain for another bid. The auction
wss at an end. With high head, but
laltetipg steps, Miss GOring marched
out Of the cottage. The little garden
and bare. bleached hill beyond, the
azure dome and binding sunshine,
seemed one fantastic, glittering blur as
seen through scaldlng tears.
The victor in this keen, brief contest
stood irresolutely looking after her
Somehow for the moment two big blue
ey es flashing up at him through a storm
Of tears, appeared TO be more impor-
tsnt study than all the authenticated
specimens Of the finest museums. Poor
pretty child. Spelling the splendor Of
those liquid orbs because she was de-
MED her latest play thing. What crueI
fate was it that compelled him to wres'
this apple Of discord from her?
These novel, disquieting thought:
accompanied him as he strobe rapidly
back. Dismissing them at length with
a quick sigh as he gained the summit o.
the hill he paused and taking the bone
from the breast-pocket Of his coat, re-
carded it with a tender smile Of exult'
ant possession. Presently, shading his
ewes with one hand, the smile mean
while changing to frown, he scanned
it more intently then with increasing
esgerness and paling lips. Was
there any remote possibility that, Jere-
miah's feryent reservations to the con
trary. this wonderful trophy had beer
cooked for the occasion? The horr
was iudubitsbly that of the prehistoric
OK. But the drawing! Was it not, al
now seen in the fierce light Of thu
downs and away from the dusky domi
Gle Of the Mugginses, little too mar
yellously fresh for production of-sal
twenty thousand years ago: CoulC
there be any likelihood thatseven pounds
odd Of an individual who, however plaiI
and unpretendiDg his habits, was but
beginner in the worlds great race 70
success, had been, 6guratiVely speak
ing. thrown into the sea! But theI
why should a simple old laborer in
little primitive, out-oi-the'way nool
like Chsdbury portray figure con
cerning whose scientific value he mus
be wholly ignorant?
Here bis foot, striking against = pros
,raie stone, arrested his attention
Absently he glanced down at the i'm
pediment. Then he halted. He stoop
ed. lie looked nearer, closer, longer
At what? A fac-simile Of the poi
trait Of Prehistoric Man in his ow
hand.
"Great Heavens /" be exclaime
tragically aloud, like stage hero
Am dreaming? Why, you youn
scoundrel, what have you been dc
ipgs" suddenly and explosively awar
Of the presence Of small spectator
wiih'a big clasp-knife.
At the stern voice the small spect:
tor began TO whimper.
" Please, sir, baint a doin' nothing
| b&int.
us this your work too?" exhibi
ing bis seyen-pOund bargain.
, " Please, sir" with renewed sol
bipg, Granddaughter said he'd leath'
I ne If told. Granddaughter be- might
: strong in spite Of his age. But | BAH