Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-05-04
ASERIESOF SHORT STORIES
By ]. MARsDEN SUrcL1FFE,
ENTITLED
THE ROMANCE OF AN INSURANCE OFFICE
BEING PASSAGES IN THE EXPERIENCE OF Mr. AUGUSTUS WILLIAM WEB
Formerly Company
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

oracular lips OF Mr.. Pr1ngle, VINO, as eQltor
of the Chelderton Times, was supposed to
know everything.
''You have grown silent all at once, Mr..
Pringle," said old John Lovatt 81 do be-
lieve that you could clear up things bit
if you tried"
"Perhaps could, If tried, but there is
no knowing" answered Mr.. Pringle, with q
laugh.
Come, out with IL, said old John Low
att, adding, with wink at the company,
81 can see you know something"
'No no." said Mr.. Pringle deprecatingly,
"you are wrong, John. really cannot say
I know anything at least, not to call know :
ing-you understand" glancing around at
the company. 81 just heard a whisper the
other day, and though laughed at it at the
time-the thing was so very absurd-I be-
gin to think now there must be something in
It. But it is only whisper, mind"
"But you don't tell us what the whisper
is" said Mr.. Meekin, who had sat OPEN
eyed and open-mouthed, looking at Mr..
delivered himself of this exordium with
pompous slowness and deliberation.
"Cannot you speak out plainly?" said
Dr. Radcliffe, who knew Pringle's way Of
making communication, and Judged that
he had really something to say. "Man
alive, you are as slow as one of your own
leading articles"
There was a general laugh at this shaft,
which had the effect of putting Mr.. Pringle
on his mettle.
"Well. if you will have it." he said, "I
heard that Mr.. Englefield is going to marry
Madeline Robson"
''NIr. Englefeld going to marry Madeline
| RobsonP' said John Lovatt, slowly repeat
| ing the astonishing communication in puz-
zled, distracted tone.
81 ridiculed the rumor when I heard it,
exclaimed Mr.. Pringle, "but what have
heard tonight lends some color to the state
ment."
''Going to marry Madeline Robson! cried
John Lovatt again, still unable to take in
the news.
At this moment the door of the parlor was
suddenly thrown open, and young, show
ily-dressed man entered, and, exchanging
salutations with the company, took his seat
and called for long clay and whisky cold,
if you please"
The conversation that had centered round
the affairs of Martin Robson, of the Red
House farm, suddenly ceased with the ar
rival of the newcomer, and the talk veered
round to the absorbing topic of the war.
The latest arrival in the inn parlor was
familiarly known in Chelderton Magma as
''Tom Leyton, the vet" Mr.. Leyton had
settled down in Chelderton some two years
before his Introduction to the reader, and
though it was an uphill fight with him at
first, he was reported to be doing well in his
profession. He possessed that hail-fello~-
well-met air that seems in some mysterious |
manner to link itself on to men who affect |
the stables, and was highly popular with |
the Cheldertonians as well as with the |
farmers, among whom his practice chiefly |
lay. He was tall, well-built, with fair |
skin, and features that would be best de- |
seribed as more striking than handsome or |
pleasing. The rumor ran that he was the |
accepted suitor Of Madeline Robson, of the !
Red House farm, which may perhaps ac-
count for the sudden silence that fell on the |
room when he entered.
What is this you were saying abos
Miss Robson?" suddenly asked Mr.. Leyton,
addressing himself to dhe host of the Golden
Lion, when he had lighted his pipe and
taken preliminary sip of his whisky, ct
heard you saying something about her mar
rying as came in. Who is she going to
marry?"
John Lovatt shifted uneasily in his seat
at this sudden challenge, but contented him
self with putting more vigorously at the
long churchwarden that he held in his
hand, while beating about in his mind for
an answer to this unlooked-for demand.
PLAGUE the pipe" he said, recovering
his tongue at last; ''it won't draw"
Have fresh one, and then answer nv
question, said Mr.. Leyton, coolly.
But John Lovatt was not in the mood to
be hurried into repetition of the remark
that the young veterinary had overheard.
Hes deal too peppery fellow for me to
put my head into that moose without think
ing over it first" Lovatt remarked after
ward
"As Mr.. Lovatt does not seem inclined to
be communicative, said Mr. Leyton, when
the awkward pause continued, "perhaps
some other gentleman will kindly oblige."
embracing several members of the company
with swift eager glance as be spoke.
Il do not know why there should be auy
concealment about it." said Mr.. Prinqle
t'We were not talking treason, though Won
happened to overhear remark that was
not meant for you. To cut the matter short.
some Of us have heard that Mr.. Engle6eld'
the banker, is going to marry Martin Rob.
sons daughter, and Mr.. Lovatt was express
ing his astonishment as you entered. That
was all.
"Yes, that was all" exclaimed John
Lovatt, in burst of admiration at Mr..
Pringle's dexterity in rescuing him from
what he felt was an awkward dilemma.
who has set this about?" demanded Mr..
Leyton, speaking with greater heat than the
occasion seemed to warrant. There was heavy 8
cloud of anger on his brow, which boded i'll !
for the author of the rumor in the event of ,
its being traced HON.
Haven't you been in the market TODAY
that you have NOT heard it yourself?" re-
sponded Mr.. Pringle evasively.
mo, l have not, said Mr.. Leyton, hotly.
''But that is neither here nor there. Miss ,
Robson is my promised wife: and should |
like the man who says that she is going tn
marry anyone else to say it to my face. !
We'll, you ought to know if anyone
does, said Mr.. Meekin in a soothing tone.
$50 ought, and so do for that matter" |" I
replied Mr.. Leyton. ''It is a lie, and Won !
may tell your informant So" I
Just So, said Mr.. Meekin, still bent nm /
pouring oil on the troubled waters of the +
young mans passion. 81 was Just about to I
say when you came in that if ANYBODY j
knows everything that goes on at the Red /
House farm it is yourself, Mr.. Leyton." I
''Thatis all nonsense" cried DR.. Ran. :
life. You needn't make fool Of your- !
'elf, Leyton. People will talk. and as long 4
Is Mr.. Robson doesn't paw up the affairs Of i
'he Red House farm are likely to get talked q
lbout'
"But don't see what Mr. Robson's diff. d
,ulties have to do with Miss Robson marrv- Il
ng Mr.. Englefeid, said Mr.. Leyton. III Ii
hink her name might be kept out of it" i,
"You see it is in this way" said Mr.. /;
Dringle, who was not disposed to leave the b
cad In the conversation to the doctor. eve b
III know that Mr.. Robson has been in his Il
ime very embarrassed man. No unkind- b.
less is meant, but we all know it.'' n
go on, said Mr.. Leyton, 81 am listen b.
ng. What Of it? What has Miss Robson II
,ot to do with it?" "
"Well You see, when Mr.. Robson. who is to
'ead over ears in debt, comes to market to- ii
Iay, and to eFerybody's surprise pays up, 10