The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1886-02-05
A CHILD OF
7 He s TIRE ET s
CHAPTER VI.

idlers, smoking and gOssiping. one bright
May afternoon. They had wondered over
the latest marriage in high life, laughed
at the newest bon mot, discussed the days
news from ZuIu-land, whispered the
choicest social scandal, and prophesied
respecting the weather.
Suddenly the door opened, and q man
entered, dressed in brown velvet coat.
All present looked up as he sauntered in.
"Wel, old man, you are quite the
stranger here. What's the little game
nowi Some fair one in the question, l
bet, since you keep it SO dark. What
chap you are! Now, confess where you
have been hiding yourself"
Hiding mysclfl Well, don't know
what you mean by thatT Haven't been
visible on the boards every night since
May set inf" replied the new conner.
That's true enoughi / spent half-a-
guinea on you last night, l thought I'd
like TO hear the great Gabriel for myself.
You don't do it badly. You were in very
good singing form in Faust old fellow"
said Wentworth Arkwright.
"Ie-e-s, my voice is pretty fit just now"
was Gabriels quiet answer, as he compla-
Gently smoothed his throat with one of his
hands that was ablaze with large rings
set with rare stones.
"Wel. what's the news, SignOr Singer,
eh ?" asked Ribald Drake. the sculptor.
"Newsi Well, first of all the Leopardi
has caught the German measles"
mo" was the general exclamation
Never! What, priHa donna succumb
70 such proSaic complaint say, that's
a bad look out for the company. Tell
you what, therel have to be round
robin got up and sent to Fleur de Marie,
or, begging her pardon, Lady Newen, as
she is now. imploring her to take pity on
the public and give us her Marguerite,
Violtf0, and Elise, and all her inimitable
repertoire just to give the fair Lolita time
to get rid of the spots and infection, and
get out Of quarantine. Oh, 'pon my soul,
it's good joke TO think of Norma sick
with measles"
Don't see the joke" remarked Ark
wright, "hut what's that you saiJ of the
Fleur de Marie! She's out Of England, I
thought"
My child. you shock me with your
lamentable ignorance. Evidently you
don't read the newspapers, or you would
have seen the announcement that Sir
Cuthbert and Lady Ncwen had arrived at
their house in Bedford square for the
season. I bet it's no news to someone.
eh. GabricIT"
well, certainly had heard Of their
return ia England replied Gabriel, dep
recatingly, which was a strange state
ment, considering that few hours be-
fore he had told a casual acquaintance
that the Ncwens were fixtures in Hyder-
abad for another FIVE years at least.
Il say, Gabriel" said a young man.
crossing the room to where the singer
was standing. Il want you to do me
favor You know the Newens, don't you
I mean intimately. well enough to intro
duce fellow, chr
We'll, yes. [ suppose 1 do. You see
little Mysie and 1 are old friends, as she
said in her last letter"
Which, perhaps, you might find it diff
fcult to produce" sEeercd a voice be
hind j i'm.
Gabriel turned hastily, and saw Andrew
Brevet at his elbow, his face white with
passion and his hands twitching nervous
". Gabriel looked at him insolently with
cool effrontery.
"Oh. you may stare, Signor Gabriel, but
remember, know you, what you are and
what you were and also know, equally
well the lady of whom you speak so
lightly. Gentlemen, feel confident that
there is not one word of truth in the
statements he has made. l am certain
that he could not show you one line Of a
letter Of the familiar nature he would
wish you to imagine, written by Lady
Newen TO him since her marriage. /
know that at the time she left England
she cast him aside completely, un-
worthy Of her friendship, having en-
tirely forfeited her esteem. Is it likely,
men, that happily married as she is to
such r man as Sir Cuthbert Newen, she
would carry on regular and confidential
correspondence with one who had de-
ceived and iusulted her in every way
possible to cad and a coward
Andrew Breyet paused at last, breath
less with anger and Indignation.
Gahriel's lips qnivered with ill-cOn-
cealed passion as he turned to the pro
fessor.
~. H.".nt. If yuu were not an old
u"l.-'
..Yau v~lI Enocl, mr down, SIR, Do.
if that viii ataiei Won any satisfaction. I
=
l,oaetcr, and"
"Mr. Brevet" broke in Gabriel. hoarse
and rale with fury. and coming closer to
him.
..Yes. I mean lying Hoaster. -nd re
neat IT. You may strike me. II you choose.
To knock down defeuceless, white
headed man would he consistent with the
res. of your cowardly conduct. If you
have been in correspondence with Lady
Neven. as vou boast. al 1 say is-prove
II do not believe you have received
one letter from Lady Newen since her
rrarria re. and think that unless YOU can
prove your words, no one in this room
viii place any faith IN them; eh, gen
tlemenf"
That's fair enough" said one.
s-Corne. come; prove II. Gabriel; that's
easiIv done" chimed in another.
Produce the letter from dear little
Mvsie~ eneered a third, and 50 on; and a
cborus Of banter and chaf followed which
en- exssperated Gabriel that he felt like
Nero. who wished that all the Romans
had one neck that he might wiring it.
Il refuse to produce the proof in the
form Of the said letters, which are not Of
a nature 10 be passed from hand to hand,
and criticised by strangers. l feel it
would he n most glaring breach Of coufi-
depce on my part towards the writer ]
have received those letters. that il
enough"
..Oh. oh. OH was heard in all the
tones and infections throughout the room.
Andrew Brevet took up his hat aud
,,aIked out in disgust, slamming the door
after him.
And If you desire it, l win prove 20
Won now great is my influence. and of
r.