Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1886-05-21

their nature, kept him abroad till far
INTO the night, and when he returned
20 ms chambers he suddenly remem-
bersd the letter which the poor girl
handed him. Z. i u 5.s5.. 8, ID.
He had been wondering, in q con-
FUSED kind of way, how he should set
about clearing lis character in the
eyes Of this girl. The recollection 81
TINS letter suggested that it might
lead to the discovery Of the real cul-
prlt, with whom he could commune
cate. He drew the letter from the en-
yelope, and single glance at the
handwriting suf6ced4 to reveal to- him
what he wished to know. The hand
writing was Enthusiastically. that OF
Mangrave Vernon, the man of all 9th
ers whose career and reputation he
had most envied. -.
This discovery Jared unpleasantly
upon young Thurston's feelings. Most
people would have been less surprised
than he at such q revelation. Man.
grave Vernon was q man of fashion, q
man OF pleasure "a social butterfly, in
fact; agreeable, witty, polished, and
eagerly sought after by women and
youngsters But there was seamy
side to his character which shrewd
persons suspected and knowing ones
had long ago found out. He had treat
ed Thurston with consideration, for
the young fellow was rich, and well
connected, and, therefore, the lad ad.
miring his dazzling qualities, had Sc
cretly worshiped him and made him
his idol. -:
Even in his present rather severe
mood, Thurston was disposed to make
every excuse for his friends conduct.
There had been q misunderstanding;
no doubt; he could probably give a
different complexion to the affair. At
all events, Thurston resolved to give
him the opportunity, if only in the
hope OF being able to retain his re-
gard for him.
Accordingly, the young man sealed
up the letter in an envelope, and next
day he took Mangrave Vernon aside
at the club and handed it to him.
"What's this?" exclaimed Mr.. Ver-
non, putting up his eye-glass. "A let
ter?''
"Hu had better look at it," said
Thurston, gravely.
"By Jove! My last letter to little
Maggie. written months ago." ex-
claimed the other, reddening slightly.
GLOW did you get hold of it?"
'Tell me, Vernon; is the poor girls
story true?" said Thurston eagerly.
Il never contradict a lady-especial-
~ if she be pretty" said Mr.. Vernon,
lightly but looking rather uncomfort-
able. II don't know what her story
is. She is notg going to be troublesome,
hope-especially just now. If, as
gather, you areinterestedin theyoung
lady,
"she is dead" interrupted young
Thurston sharply.
dead, is she? Well, that's lu- I
mean poor girl. Sad, OF course, very
sad" said Mr.. Vernon, endeavoring to
look concerned, !:ut manifestly reliev-
ed. ''That being so don't mind con-
Tossing that any little unpleasantness
with a lady, just as am seriously
counting a hundred-thousand, pound
err
Her funeral is tomorrow" inter-
posed the young man, setting his
teeth.
els it? Come, Thurston, what the
duce are you driving at?" said Mr..
| Vernon, little irritably. 81 suppose
there is a distressed relative IN the
background. Theregenerally is. When
you are older you will realize the ne
cessity OF putting your foot down firm
ly at any attempt at extortion."
els that all you have to say?" ejac-
ulated young Thurston, beginning to
breathe quickly.
eyes, except to advise you, my dear
boy, as a friend, not to allow your
self to be mixed up in affairs of this
sort" said Mr.. Vernon, in most genial
tones. ''They sometimes lead to po-
lice courts and all kinds OF unpleasant
consequences"
"Vernon, believeyou are villain!"
cried the young man, losing his SELF
control, and looking decidedly dam
gerOus.
"For heavens sake, don't make a.
fool of YOURSELF"
For some unspoken reason Mr.. Yer
non did not finish his sentence. The
two were alone in one of the small
card rooms, and there was no one to
interfere in case of disturbance. This
reflection probably occurred to the
elder man, and young Thurston's at
tltude was certainly aggressive. Mr.
Vernon rather prided himself upon his
discretion, and he manifested it upon
this occasion by Sinking out of the
room without seeking to prolong the
interview.
Young Thurston, quite unnecessa-
rily, as it turned out, sent note to
Mr.. Vernon, stating where he was to be
found the next day, and adding that
on the day after. he proposed to leave
England, possibly for a long period.
Meanwhile on the morrow he was a
spectator of a sad little fune, al in q
dreary London cemetery. There was
only one mourner-a poor, younggi
who appeared too much overwhelmed
with grief to notice him. Young Thurs
ton fingered, in rather shamefaced,
embarrassed way, among the tomb
stones at little distance, until the
mourner, at the conclusion of the
short service, looked up at him. Then
he came forward and cast q wreath of
white flowers into the grave.
II believe my angel was right, and
that you really loved her," murmured
the poor mourner as she passed him.
''Thank God for that, at least! Per-