Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-07-29

"Her business She 10 my Wiie WA
the startling reply.
.Your wife, is she?" tho Dean or
claimed briskly. "Then perhaps you
will tell me who you are? And how your
wife comes to be passing herself of as
nv sister ?" This was relief-the dis
coycry of man in the matter; at first.
"My name is Snell,' the other an
svered CURLY. ~ am . non-commis-
stoned officer in the Stores Department
| And now that you know who en-, will
trouble You 70 tell mo what you were
giving my wife," :.
"Some money! hundred pounds, T"
the Dean answered frankly, wondering
in his innocence whether he was going
to get it back.
IA hundred pounds +" the stranger
stammered, ga hundred pounds !" And
then the Deans eyes were opened and
his face grew hot.
"Stay, stay !" he cried pitiably. for
the other was clenching his fists with an
unmistakable purpose, "you misappre-
bend me altogether. Indeed you do,
my good man. am the Dean of Dro-
more. My name is Young. Your wife,
with what motive | am quite unable to
explain. has been troubling me by pass
ing herself off as my sister,"
"As your sister incredulously.
Certainly" the poor Dean affirmed,
"And to rid myself the annoyance, l
perhaps foolishly gave her q hundred
pounds, as you saw
$40 de what ?
"To go away"
"To go away? And You dare to tell
me this. you reprobate " the soldier
cried furiously. "Do you think that
story will wash-that pack of lies ? You,
a dean, and tell me to my face that you
offered my wife a hundred pounds to go
away Shame on you, old man Shame
/ say"
All, il any of the subalterns in the
-th whom his manners had oppressed
could have seen the Dean then ooh,
dear, dear this is very terrible " he
murmured TREMENDOUSLY, looking about
him for help. - assure you, my good
man. you are quite wrong
Wrong? will soon show you who
is wrongl" cried the Sergeant venge-
fully "and-"
But the catastrophe was averted.
GER calculated some one who had Just
turned the corner of the garden-wall,
"er-what is the matter, Dean? What
is all this ?"
The speaker was Major Andrew Mac
donald. The Sergeant pulled himself
up and saluted-a machine once more.
The Major had come upon the scene
in the nick of time-only just in the
nick of time-snd yet the Dean could
not thank him-could for the mo-
ment do no more than smile feebly upon
him ard wave his hand in depreciation,
while the Sergeant stifly related his
wrongs. or the wrongs he fancied.
"But," said the Major, after listening
moment in silence, "do L understand,
Dean, that you really gave the woman a
hundred pounds ?"
Yes" the Dean admitted. She
will tell you-- Why, the woman is
gone in surprise.
ooh, yes, she has gone the soldier
retortsd bitterly, his wrath, which the
presence of the officer had partially sup
pressed, flaming up again. "She has
taken her money and her instructions,
old gentleman, and gone Deuce a
doubt about it And where are you
going to meet her q? That is what [ would
like to know
"Be silent, SHELL" said the Major.
But when he had said that he did not see
his way any further. He stood looking
at blary's father gloomily, assured of his
guilt. To give hundred pounds to a
pure impostor seemed 10 his Scotch
mind an incredible piece OF folly-a
thing which no mar in the Deans posi-
ton, and of his years, would do. why,
you might have gone away yourself" he
murmured, following out his train OF
thought, and perhaps calculating the ex-
pense OF removal to Algiers or Cairo.
az wish to Heaven had " the Dean
calculated earnestly. But he could
scarcely tell the young man why he had
not adopted that course. He could not
explain to him his hopes about Mary
hopes now dashed to the ground and
shattered beyond repair. Poor Mary
For the only doubt left in Macdonald's
mind turned on the nature of the tie be-
tween the Dean and this woman. Were
the soldiers suspicious correct Or was
this vulgar Mrs. Smell really the Deans
sister-a sister shnmefully disowned and
ill treated? Was this dull non-commis-
stoned officer the Deans brother-in-law ?
Macdonald shuddered at this, thinking
OF the escape he had had. and reused
himself from darklins scrutiny of the
offender to say brusquely: "Now, Smell,
you had better come with me for the
present. Good-day."
The last words he flung at the clergy
man as he turned, and nothing more.
But they did tho Dean good. The sense
OF his folly had up to that time para
lived him. New, aware that his posi-
ton was really serious and that some
thing more than folly might be imputed,
he felt all the righteous indignation
which false charge confers on its VIC
tim. Fer few minutes anger kept him
from feeling miserable or from think
ing of Mary. But as he neared the
hotel the sense Of personal failure
crushed him. A week ago he had been
free FROM care. Then this thing had
arisen-in its origin an absurd trihe
now 60 msgnified by ais imprudence that
the rest OF his life might be spoiled by
its shadow.
Ne loitered here and there to take
breath as he climbed the steep staircase
OF street and looked up from time to
time at the harrow wedge of deep-blue
sky which rooted it. But he saw nothing.
All the beauty Valletta had held for him
yesterday, all the pleasure its peeps OF
sea suddenly disclosed when least ex-
pected, its quaint houses, its airy walks
on rampant and bastion had given him,
existed no longer. He crept up to his
room shaken man, and, glad to learn
that bis daughter was out, sat at the
table gazing on its cold, polished surface
with eyes wide and sightless.
The Dean sat thus probably for half
an hour-a week it seemed to him, look
ing back on it with loathing aiterward.
And then nasty knock at the door re-
called him to himself. He looked up.
"Come in" he said hoarsely. swell,
what is it }" hecontinued, his face dark