The Columbus journal., 1888-06-13

cranberry TART, Proctor had never KNOW
father or mother: his ideas Of love or hom
were all drawn from poor Standish and hi
crazy menage So strong was this boyish in
stinct in him just now that he actually stoot
breathless when anybody resembling tn,
major came In sight If the old man should
not recognize him, or should meet him with
the formal Difference Of other respectable
people, why, then, good-by to that old boy
hood, SO horribly dear and disreputable!
Now the major was in a restaurant q few
/ doors down the street. "Try an advertise
ment in The Camera, Sam" he said to the
bookkeeper. 81 swear it will pay you like
like His talk halted; the ideas seemed
to stagger through his brain.
81 believe you've had drop too much,
Standish," said Sam
"No; I've had to stop drinking. You
can't get glass Of champagne fit for gen
tleman in this accursed town. But about
the advertisementT The Camera paid him
small percentage On this sort of business,
and few cents now would buy him his din
ner.D
| 'No."
| The major leaned on the glass counter for
| q moment .t was two days since he had
tasted food. The steam of savory dishes be-
| low was too much for him A collapsed
stomach in a powerful frame like his ia a
deadly drag upon a mans pluck. He looked
at Sam. The fellow would give him his dill
ner if he asked it, he knew.
He gathered himself up with an effort.
| 'I'd steal, but can't beg" he said, silently
He nodded affably to Sam, and filliped to the
| parrot rs he went out. His high featured,
| usually forid face, had turned cold and blue
| under the mustache and whiskers, but he
carried himself jauntily.
John Proctor saw him as soon rs he stepped
on the street There was the identical broa,l-
cloth suit cut twenty years ago, and the vast
expanse of shirt bosom, frayed in the plaits,
but Immediately white. Tho major was a
property of the town, we'll known as the city
clock. With his bushy white name, his i'm
| posing shoulders, his lofty bow, he radiated
and filled tho pavement from wall to curb.
Proctor thought the old man would he glad
| to see him, but he certainly had not expected
the strange effect which the sight Of him pro-
duced. Standish stopped as though he had
been struck a blow, holding him off at arms
length His pomposity seemed to suddenly
drop from him.
why, Jack, Jackw he stam;nered. 81 did
not look to see you. l beg your pardon, Mr.
Proctor. forget drawing back, yet still
holding the young mans coat sleeve with
what would have been very like a caress in
q woman.
Forgot! You forget old friends, think"
''Prince Hal Las changed his state" said
the major, smiling, with an effort to be HIM
self. 1T is time he shook off old Falstaff.
How i'll white hairs become q fool and jester.
So surfeit swelled, SO old and SO profaner
touching his big breast with bitter laugh.
"You did not use to affect the cynic"
"No. 1t is the sight of You that reminds
me Of what had better forget"
Procto. was ashamed, as one man always
is of emotion in another. You had always
IN unreasonable liking for Inc, vicious young
dog that / was." he said, lightly You're
Mt the old place, ] suppose! Ill come round
at dusk. Wen t:'oil a steak together, hey,
major' My hand has not lost its cunning
The old man looked down at him steadily
with an inexplicsbh brightness in his keen
eyes, Il did not think you would 60 so far
as that, my boy" he said quietly.
Mr.. McMurrays carriage drew up at thu
door at that moment 1t was plain but rich,
the horses thoroughbred An innocent look
Ing, ultle DlOuue, OIeSSeu WIFI
Quaker like plainness looked out and blusheI
crimson at the sight of John. At tina: the
blood mounted also into the fellows tell tale
face, and he went down to the carriage, lean
ing on the door to speak to her.
"A handsome pair, ma jor," whispered
Withrow, who was still lettering near
Standish nodded "She looks like a good
religious woman McMurray would raise his
do al L.
''She's worth q cool half million: that's the
way in which I'd think you would look at
her"
very lucky. Talents and education and re-
ligion, and now a good wife with money.
The boy could not ask for more"
There was something in the old mans un-
usual quiet and the look which he fastened
On Proctor. that reused Withrow's curiosity.
"There used to be some connection be-
tween you and the young man, wasn't
there! He was under your guardianship
when he was a boy, l think I've heardf'
''Not at all, SIR" eagerly, mot at ALL 1t
was mere business transaction. held Ger
tain moneys for the lads use from his father,
ard paid his bills; that was all. placed
him under Mr.. McMurray's care when he
has the entrance to the best society, and is
religious; those were the two things looked
at. Why, the boys blood is of the best. His
father was one of the old blue bloods of Vir-
ginia. He would never have trusted his son
to the guardianship of an old scallawag like
Dan Standish." The major was himself
again, his rolling voice and theatrical gest
ures keeping time and apparently ENJOYING
each other thoroughly.
''Oh, that's its You were not one Of the
blue bloods then!"
my father was q butcher, sir. I've lived
by my wits; and an internally poor capital
they are for any man. I'll say that I've
dined with dukes and ragpickers in my day,
MIR. Withrow. But the smell of the slaughter
house followed me. A man is nothing with
out family here in Philadelphia" And again
his eyes rested on Proctor, with the anxious
thoughtfuiness SO strangely at variance with
his ordinary STACEY manner.
Withrow clapped his hand to one pocket.
then to the other. ''By the way. Where the
deuce Oh, here it is. Come this way,
major" drawing him into the doorway, and
opening New York paper. Here in the
Personals. Richard Standish.' You seel
No relation Of yours. ehs'
The major had the paper up before his |
face. He took out his cracked eyeglasses and |
adjusted them ON his nose; took them down
and wiped them leisurely; read the card |
once, second time. mo; don't know the |
man."
From Virginia, You see,n said Withrow,
putting the paper in his pocket again; and
came here about the same time you say YOU
did But your names Dan. Certainly. 1t
looks like trick of the police to get hold Of
criminal to me-"
$50 it does to me-
''Going, eh! Proctor's busy" with a sig |
nificant wink. "He has no need of old fel- |
lows like us, now"
No" The major stood moment watch |
ing Johns eager gestures, and the bright, |
flushing face bent over him. "No: he has |
no more need Of me- he said quietly, and |
turned away with a bow as he passed the |
though neither of them saw him.
MI McMurray, with the young clergyman !
again in his Office. safely trapped, could not |
let him 60 without word or two Of rebuke |
''Should You accept it" they were talking of |