The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-12-23
CHAPTER XVII
A TRYING INTERVIEW.

/ Meantime, society ~ blankhamptOn
was greatly edited by the return of the
last Of the Earles' 10 It's midst.
Just at first ne had not been inclined 10
avail himself Of the privileges which il
afforded him; lie had been dazed and
crushed by events Which had happened re
Gently, and had moreover suffered q good
deal from Beautiful Jim's continued pres.
ence Somehow he never seemed able 10
get out Of sight of the accusing look IL
Jim's eyes, or from the accusing tones III
his voice, or from the accusing meanings
in everything that lie said,
jim had 10 thought 81 this at al-in
truth. he had conceived such profound
contempt for, aud such an aversion TO. the
young scoundrei, that if lie could possibly
help It he never addressed him. or even
allowed his eyes 70 rest upon him. STILL
as have said, 50 It seemed 10 Tommy;
aud II was not until Beautiful! Jim went
of for his short leave that the lad began
to breathe with anything Ike freedom
But as II Is bat step from the sublime
TO the ridiculous. so Il was but 4 step foI
Tommys light ana buovant nature TO clip
from the depression which was the result.
Of Jim's presence 10 the gay and airy
lightness Of his usual dameanor and then
1t was that Blankhampton society was
able TO welcome him to itself again.
Now mind 10 was not that Tommy had
in any way got over the horror and dis
tTess which the Walmsbury tragedy had
caused him-not at all 1t was only that
he had very singular and adaptable dis
position: and after the first great dread OF
discovery was over and lie realized that.
fox his peoples sake, lie was safe from
Beautiful Jim'5 wrath. ne began TO smooth
the irrevocablc past oyr, TO white away
motive here and TO ho tighten an aggraya.
ton there, until he al last began 70 feel
that, so far from his aving committed
crime in being the actr al cause OF Ovens
death. owen lad bel ayed with really
vindictive and remarl able shabbiness TO
him in being knocked aver by the dumb
bell
OF course be was iwfully sorry that
poor OLD Owen had come 10 harm, but I'm
doubtedly Owen had always had u particu
larly disagreeable way Of interfering il
matters which did not in the smallest
degree concern him. and, OF Course. as all
the world knows. when fellows will do
that sort Of thing, they often come in foi
more than the bargain for All the same
be was sorry enough about poor old Owen
whom he had liked very well on the whole
and he would have given worlds TO have
undone or ayerted such a deplorable acct
dent--yes, Tommy always now thought OF
Owens death as & pure accident II was
such a much more palatable word than
murder, which had something coarse and
revolving about the very sound and look
of it--but since that could not be. he had
come to the conclusion that it would be
simply useless TO worry himself into
lunatic asylum. or even into bis grave. by
fretting about il.
So you may believe, after Tommy had
arrived al this decision, that it was moi
very long before he took to the old ways,
and the pretty drawing rooms Of the
pretty women in Blankhampton knew him
as Of yore.
With regard to the young lady at the
Ducks Tail at Walmsbnry, il can only be
said that Tommy had already come TO
look upon the recent events Of the past as
a distinct Intervention Of Providence to
save him from the consequences OF the |
dull and dreary life into which he had
been merciiessly thrust And the odd
part of II all was that he had meant seri !
ously enough to marry her, to make her
the mistress Of Earles Hope, and the pos
sible mother Of the Eafles 80 come.
Well. that had been an escape for
which 10 could never been sufficiently
gratefui-never; and, although no had DO
doubt that she could. II she chose. make
herself rncommonly disagreeable. that
sort OF person Is always open TO being
squared. and happily he would always
have the power to settle matters with her
In that way,
So when Beautiful jim. In great disap-
pointmept and yet not wholly sad, went
back to Blankhampton. he found young
Tommy once more IT. tho fun swing OF so.
cisl popularity, just tho spoiled pet be
had been aforetime: and after the first
gsp OF disgussed suaprise. Jim promptly
went for him.
by the bye. Earle. l want 70 speak to !
yon. hs said to him the day sitter his ~ |
turn from town.
IAN right" rsturned Tommy. .suiIl |
you cons p ny room o. shall con- 70 |!
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