Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1888-01-14

gard to the feelings of his friends, and
was, in short, an individual entirely de-
void of delicacy and refinement. At
that moment, and in Southdore Of all
places in the world, Tom felt that he
was absolutely loathsome; for to be seen
with him would be fatally compromising,
while the chances were that Jack would
blurt out some professional question
about trouserings or the new winter pat
terms loudly enough TO be heard by any
one standing within quarter mile
radius
The moment, therefore, that he caught
sight of Jack, and perceived him motion
ing to the driver of the wagonette to
step, Tom turned and fled through the
hotel to the outbuildings at the back,
where he spent miserable half hour in
an empty horse box. Tom was conscious
that his retreat was humiliating, and even
mean, but he positively could not face
his Southdore friends with Jack by his
side, not to mention the risk of coming
across the Vaughans when in such equiv
ocal company.
After half an hour Tom ventured from
his hiding place and stealthily made his
way to his bedroom, TO array himself for
an afternoon promenade with the Waugh
ans He felt very much shaken by what
he'd happened, for besides being ashamed
of himself, the episode only served to
emphasize the fatal obstacle which existed
to the fulfllment of his hopes. How
ever, he pulled himself together and
started forth, after first glancing eau
tiously up and down the road, to see if
there We're any sign o. Jack Brace. But
alas for the vanity Of human foresight!
He had scarcely set foot upon the green
when he nearly fell fiat on his back, from
sheer dismay at coming face to face with
that dreadful Jack Brace, walking with,
and talking very soberly and respectfully
to, no less person than Col. Vaughan
himself.
Tom turned from red to white and
from white to red again, as he stood
rooted TO the spot, overwhelmed with
confusion and amazement, until he sud-
denly realized that he had not been per-
ceived. To hurry on one side, in the
hope of escaping observation, was a
quickly executed maneuver; but that
unlucky moment of hesitation and uncer-
tainty had defeated his object, for, at the
same instant, Jack Brace caught sight of
him, and uttered q shout, which caused
Col. Vaughan to look up with a start.
Tom, however, was too agitated to stop,
SO he FASTENED away, aimlessly, over the
cliffs, and never ventured to retrace his
steps until he discovered that he had left
Southdore a couple of miles behind him.
Poor Tom was dreadfully upset and
depressed, for it was impossible to doubt
that Jack Brace would reveal everything
to Col. Vaughan. If he could only
have stolen by unobserved, his secret
might have been safe, for his name
would probably not have been men
toned. But Jack had unfortunately
recognized and saluted him; Col.
Vaughan had also seen him; and it was
impossible to doubt that questions and
explanations had passed between them.
No doubt the colonel was customer of
Jacks, who, innocently and naturally
enough, would make no attempt to con-
ceal his friends occupation. 1t was now
that Tom bitterly repented him of hav-
ing shirked his obvious duty of inform
ing Col. Vaughan of what he must. by
this time, have learned from third
party. In vain did poor Tom endeavcr
to console or uphold himself with des-
perate hopes that Mabel Vaughan would
be true to him and that the colonel
would be merciful. He remembered the
fate of the presumptuous Mr.. Walnut,
and groaned.
Tom skunk into Southdore, hoping to
gain his hotel without coming across the
Vaughans. He wanted time for reflec-
ton and consideration; in fact, to COM
pose his mind for the ordeal of facing the
angry and indignant parents. But some
vengeful fate seemed to be logging his
footsteps that day. for who should he
run against quite suddenly and unex-
pectedly on turning a corner but the col
onel and his wife and Miss Mabel
Taken unawares, and oppressed by a
guilty and craven spirit, he glanced at
them falteringly, doubtinglv, nervOusly,
and hurried past before giving himself
time to uncover. The Vaughans evil
IDENTIFY perceived him. for they showed
signs of confusion, but none, alas. of
recognition, and Tom painfully realized
that he had been cut dead.
1t was not until some hours later, after
having wandered disconsolately along the
seashore in the depths Of frenzied melan-
choly and despair, with distinctly sui
cidal tendency, that poor Toms dropping
spirits began family to revive from the
recollection that, in his agitation, he had
omitted to take Off his hat to the
Vaughans. Was it not possible that he
was himself to blame for what had oc-
CURED: Might they not have been af-
fronted at his behavior, and thus let him
90 by without recognition? The idea
passed through the gloom of Toms de-
preston like ray of sunshine through n
November fog. though its effect was, I'M
happily, hardly less evanescent. In his
heart the poor fellow felt that the hope
was wild and delusive, but still he chung
to it, and Rugged it through the dreary,
wakeful night, and resolutely presented
it as a shield against the incessant attacks
of his dismal forebodings. As early the
next morning as he could decenty do so
he presented himself at the Flagstaff
hotel to apologize. to explain, to grovel in
the dust, if necessary, at the feet of the