Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1888-08-23
aHanSOnCab
CHAPTER x
IN TIE QUEENS NAME
By FERGUS W. HUME


black shadows By rights it was December
day, but the clerk OF the weather had evil
IDENTIFY got little mixed, and popped it into
the middle Of August by mistake The
previous week, however, had been little
chilly. and this delightfully."- hot day had
come as a pleasant surprise and u forecast Of
summer. 1t was Saturday morning, ind OF
course all fashionable Melbourne was doing
the Block With regard to its Block" Col
Inns street corresponds to New Yorks Broad
way, Londons Regent street and Rotten
Row, nni to the Boulevurds Of Paris 1t Il
on the Block that people show OF their new
dresses, bow to their friends, cut their enc
mics and chatter small talk.
Carriages were bowling smoothly along,
their occupants smiling and bowing as they
recognized their friends on the sidewalk;
lawyers, their legal quibble finished for the
week, were strolling leisurely along, with
their black bags in their hands; portly mer-
chants, forgetting Flinders lane and incom-
ing ships, were walking beside their pretty
daughters; and the representatives of swell
dom were stalking along in their customary
apparel Of curly hats, high collars, and
masher suits Altogether it was a very
pleasant and animated scene and would
have delighted the heart Of any one who
was not dyspeptic, nor in love-dyspeptic
people and lovers disappointed ones, of
course being accustomed to survey the
world in cynical vein.
Madge Frettlby was engaged in that pleas
ant occupation so dear to every female heart,
of shopping. She was in Moubray, Rowan
& Hicks, turning over ribbons and laces,
while the faithful Brian waited for her out
side, and amused himself by looking at the
human stream which flowed along the pave.
ment Brian disliked shopping quite as
much as the rest of his sex, but, being a
lover, Of course it was his duty to be martyr
lied, though he could not help thinking of
his pleasant club, where he could have been
reading and smoking, with something cool
in glass beside him. After Madge had
purchased dozen articles she did not want,
and had interviewed her dressmaker on the
momentous subject of a new dress, she
remembered that Brian was waiting for her,
and hurried quickly to the door.
~ haven't been many minutes, have l,
dear2" she said, touching him lightly on the
arm
"Oh, dear, no." answered Brian, looking
at his watch, "only thirty-a mere nothing,
considering new dress was being discussed"
II thought had been longer" said Madge,
her brow gathering "but still am sure you
feel a martyr"
'Not at ALL" replied Fitzgerald, handing
her into the carriage; ~ enjoyed myself very
much"
Nonsense" she laughed, opening her sun
shade, while Brian took his seat beside her:
''that's one of those social stories which every
one considers themselves bound to tell from
sense of duty. I'm afraid did keep you
waiting-though, after all" she went on,
with a true feminine idea as to the fight of
time, 81 was only few minutes"
"And the rest" said Brian, quizzically
looking at her pretty face, so charmingly
flushed under her great white hat
Madge disdained to notice this interrup
tion.
"James, she cried to the coachman, 'drive
to the Melbourne club. Papa will he there,
you know" she said to Brian, land we'll take
him off to have afternoon tea with us.
"But it's only o'clock" said Brian, as the
town hall clock came in sight Mrs Samp
SOP won't DO ready"
"Oh, anything will do" replied Madge, IA
cup Of tea and some thin bread and butter
isn't hard to prepare. don'tfeel like lunch
and papa eats so little in the middle of the
day, and your
"Eat great deal at all times" finished
Brian, with laugh Madge went on chat
tering in her usual lively manner, and Brian
listened to her with delight 1t was very
pleasant, he thought, lying back among
the soft cushions CT the carriage, with q
pretty girl talking SO gayly. He felt like
Saul must have dono when he heard the harp
Of David, and Madge. with her pleasant talk,
drove away the evil spirit which had been
with him for the last three weeks. Suddenly
Madge made an observation as they were
passing the Burke and Wills monument,
which startled him
"Isn't that the place where Mr.. Whyte got
into the cabt" she asked, looking at the
corner near the Scotch church, where a
vagrant of musical tendencies was playing
Just Before the Battle, Mother" on bat
tered old concertina in a most dismal man.
ner
$50 the papers say" answered Brian, list
lessly, without turning his head.
II wonder who the gentleman in the light
coat could have been." said Madge, as she
settled herself again.
'No one seems to know" he replied eva
sively.
"Ah, hut they've Got clew," she said
DO you know i..iii,." she went on 'tl.nt h.
was dressed Just !.Ae you. III u Nght uvetcout
and soft HAITI"
"How remarkable" said Fitzgerald speak
ing in slightly sarcastic tone, and as calmly
as he was able. He was dressed III the SAME
manner as nine out of every ten young fol.
lows in Melbourne"
Madge looked at him in surprise at the
tone in which be spoke, SO different from his
usual nonchalant way of speaking, and was
about to answer, when the carriage stopped
at the door of the Melbourne club. Brian,
anxious to escape any more remarks about
the murder, sprahg quickly out, and ran up
the steps into the building. He found Mr.
Frettlby smoking complacently, and reading
The Age AS Fitzgerald entered he looked
up, and putting down the paper held out, ,&is
hand, which the other took.
"Ahl Fitzgerald" he said, shave you left
the attractions Of Collins street for the still
greater ones Of clublanig'
"Not l." answered Brian. "Tve come to
carry you OF to Afternoon tea with Madge
and myself"
II don't mind" answered NJ Frettlby. ris-
ing; "bat isn't afternoon tea at half-past |
ratheIsan anomalyF'
"Wmt's in namef" said Fitzgerald, ab-
sently, ,as they left the room. "What have
you beeh doing all morningF'
"ryebsen in here for the last haR hour
readfEg," answered the other, carelessly.
"Wool market, supposer