The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-04-15

consider MIN fis companion for you" And hs
offered his arm again.
This i some dreadful mistake. gasped Mar.
/ garst, alarmed
.Unfortnnatsiy, no mistake whatever This
fellow Is here making o claim upon your friend
ship and ours under false pretences- He has
deceived everybody. He presents himself
/ der an assumed name. His name 10 not Thomas;
1 is ISL
A sharp cry from Margaret rang out npon the
night Bump dropped his half-raised hand.
Both looked ut her anxipusiy. She pale and
troubled.
..Oh, how frightful!n she exclaimed ST see
it all. Oh. Mr.. Livingstone. it is a terrible mis-
take. 1T is all my fault How can I ever ex-
plain my folly. my stupidity. my selfshnessi
And oh. she said pite0usly, turning to Bump,
how you ever forgive meas
"Wh hat have 20 forgivea" he asked, Rravely.
"Oh, IL / who introduced You MIR.
Thomas-don't you remember-the night you
arrived. You thought il accident. but
did il purposely. And, Mr.. Livingstone, this is
Mr.. Bump. He was never anybody elsei he
never dreamed of being anybody else. Please
take back what you said
.tOh, certainly" Livingstone scarcely reIished
ms position = ~. peg you to forelve me- MI, Mr..
Beverly" And he disappeared toward the
house
Left alone with her injured cavalier, Margaret
entreated. Tell me that YOU think me hateful
cowardly."
s.Cowardlylr queried be. horrid suspicion
springing 20 his mind-.'why cowArdiy7r
Because" she stammered. making full con-
fesslon-s because was coward. We had all
been talking about you just before you came.
and Jennie Van Wart had been rfdieulously
buresquing your-yourr-the cruel words came
slowly-'name. Then. when you really en-
tered. did not dare cay 1T was you; knew
they would laugh" She looked imploringly al
him.
Her words cut like q lash. but he forbore t.
answer for a few moments. When he spoke to
reassure her. gently, his voice shook q little.
Newer mind. Miss Beverly. / think under
standa He led her silently to the door of the
lighted mansion. leaving her 30 go in alone.
Have the kindness TO present my apologies e
Mrs. Livingstone. | cannot go in. Thanks.
Goodnight And he turned away. blind to her
outstretched hand and remorseful eyes.
He gained the street and raced up and down
the moonlt paths, here. there, anywhere. fight
ing the savage knife-paia in his breast. Tha
jewellers had gone home, the small stars had
vanished. ere he cast himself. fully dressed,
his untouched bed. heart, robbed of his
wild. sweet. fleeing dream
The next day appeard. with bland and
sunny greeting, and scents of perfumed lilacs in
the air IL brought small comfort TO Margaret,
who returned to town and spent q wretched
morning in her fathers house. She was nos
Fat home to callers, and was surprised about
O'Clock in the afternoon, when n gentleman In
travelling gear entered tbs dra winR-room and APP
preached her.
Il am taking great liberty. Miss Beverly"
said the voice Of Bump, '.by intruding when
you deny yourself to others; but am quite Ger.
tain you will pardon me when / tell you that
have called to say good-bye;" and he offered his
Margaret took it. gazing earnestly in his face.
He looked as though his night had been sleep.
less, like her own.
not seriously intend leaving to-day-so sudden9'
She felt that it was she who was driving him
awav.
..Yes,n he affirmed s.T think IL best to run
away. fear have already caused unpleasant
ness for you-most I'm wittingly. / beg you to be-
heve-and that viii pass with my departure"
.Unpleasan iness for mel" echoed Margaret
"You lave given me nothing but pleasure
Whereas l." She gazed at him repentAntly.
They were quite alone, her parents being Ab-
sent on visit. No sound broke the short silence
that ensued but the humdrum ticking of q tall
old .. eloek. pnm. .w.,.,u.s .......,,..
opened my eyes 30 the bitter truth.
Even II You were trihe cruel, you
we're SO only to be kind Your
uous, and i had veatured TO dream impossible
dreams.p He caught his breath. and avowsd
impetuousiy: ssThe fact 10, Miss Beverly, that
love ron with all my soul and strength. meant
to ask you-humbly enough, God knows--to be
my wife. to give me some hope, but realize in
time 60 spare you the mockery. the hideous Inn
possibility of ever asking any sensitive woman
become--Mrs Bump
Moved by sympathy aud her own emotions,
Margaret suffered as she began TO reply MIR.
He laughed narshly. .'Oh, don't mind. Out
with it--plain, horrible Bump
You understand Margaret continued, more
steadily. facing him with shining eyes. II did
not hesitate account of you name. but
cause of those other things you sad.n She
blushed beautifully. sYou command the esteem
of all who know yeu. Your name could not
change that il it were thousand times worse
than Bump. don't care what it is--truly NOT;
and. obi" she uttered passonately, al am so very
glad you love ms, and I'm dying 20 call you
Tomr'
Incredulous. intoxicated. Bump seized her In .
his arms The budding year. fresh and glori
GUS, burst brightly into blnssom No cloud
could aver dim the beauty OF that hour.
Some days later, Mar garet. who believed in
plungipg into the heart of difficulty asked,
cautiously: tom, dear. Iet us take q square
look at our bug5earf Where did ii come front
Who what was the first Bump2
Tom bore ir very we'll I'VE are of Frsnch
extraction, / believe. Ny great ersat-grand-
father emigrated to Canada. He was one OF the
first Frenchmen who ever trod Canadian soil I"
Then" cried his betrothed with inspiration
che could not have been Bump. for Bump ID
much worse French than SkeezicksD
That's So" shouted Bump, lifting her off her
feet EIll unearth him.
And uuearth him he did, or rather musty old
papers belonging to him. aud with them titles to
estate in France, and his rightful name
Matthew de la BomOe, viscount and soldier The
name vas at once resumed, but the title and
estate remained unclaimed until after Margaret
Beverly and Thomas Raymond de la Bombe had
been married in church with all che pomp of
fashion
The bride and groom left the altar to be
greeted by a name that was never again bruised
into Bump.