Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1889-04-26

~ nerer meant to kill him." Tom my pro-
tested.
the word was really more than the thing.
II had no such thought in my mind. l
hadn't. Beresford, upon my hol.or."
amazement.
haven't any honor" he said bitterly.
well, suppose I've forfeited any right
to that forever. Any way, you may be-
lieve me or not. as you like, but III tell
the whole truth. had no thought or in
l was furious at his interference In mat
him, and Owen was frightfully sarcastic
and bitter about the whole affair. II he
had spoken to me reasonably and told me
l was q young ass should have seen the
Justice Of what he said. But he didn't
he jibed and jeered at me; taunted me
with my youth, my family, my general
idiocy; and couldn't get back my ring.
No; he meant to keep tho ring until he
saw my father, and he swore that nothing
should induce him to keep quiet about it.
I had disgraced my name, he said, and
myself, and the regiment, and everything
and everybody connected with me, and
my father should know about it at once.
And, of course, l was frightfully angry
about it, for it isn't pleasant to have ones
doinEs canv asSed over to ones father, and
dare say did answer pretty cavalierly
in fact, I believe told him to 60 to the
devil Any way. he put me under arrest,
and-and-and then I went back and
clinked that dumb bell at him; but,
Bercsford, upon my soul, g sure as am
alive this moment, had no thought of
doing him q serious injury, let alone of
taking his life; had not, indeed. Twas
Just blind with rage. didn't know what
was doing"
"You were not blind with rage when
came in here tonight" said Beautiful
Jim, who was not In the smallest degree
moved by the lads story. though he i'm
phcitly believed every word of it.
II was worse than that, I was desper
ate," Tommy answered, humbly. 81
don't and then all at once he gave way
entirely and broke down into violent weep
ing.
And Beautiful Jim stood looking at him
at the convulsivAy shaking shoulders
and the fair, lovely head, SO like hers
the one who did not count, but the one
who was all the world to him. 1t was
with an awful shock he. realized that the
news must reach her sooner or later; that
young scoundrel as he was, he was hel
brother, and If disgrace touched him /,
would Of necessity touch her also.
Quick as thought his mind put into
ideas all that would happen-he saw thu
| almost certain death Of the frail old man
bearing his good old name with honor Il
the last, but crushed completely beneath
the shame and degradation Of his SON.
end; he saw Nancy, with her pure, nobl,
mind, and her sweet doves eyes. LEFT
alone, quite alone-for he knew that ever
for justice. tender Nancy would never for
get that his had been the hand to brinI
him to punishment. "And, OIL God for
give me-Owen, dear old friend, forgiv,
me-" his heart cried within him II can
not be the one TO break her heart
cannot do it."
But was this choicef Scarcely Hi
heart and soul were wrapped up in Name,
| Earle. She was the one woman that tn
world held for him. No. there was n,
choice about the matter. The vision o
Nancy decided the question. and tn
| wretched, sobbing, craven hearted Lad Il
the big chair was safe. or. II not actual,
safe. he was safe, ct least, from Beautiful
Jim's vengeance.
Having once come to q decision, jim
was not the man to let the grass grow
under his feet. There was much to b
done. for II Tommy was to be shielded b.
must be shielded efSectually. Here
stop that bowling. you miserable younl
cur. he said, breaking the silence ct last
and speaking In . sharp, authoritative
tone. He had any amount Of the tender
est and most touching pity for Nancy
but for the boy, none. he would let him
for his sisters sake, go scot free, but b.
was troubled by no sfckly sentimentalit,
about the lads abject terror end expfes
sions Of sorrow. "Quite right II tn
young devil does feel It. j" he told himsel
- he watched Tommy's efforts to regsil
eomposure. II hope he'll 60 on feelini
the same way for the rest Of his life.
sincerely hope it."
"Comei What good do you think tina
Win dot" he demanded, roughly. 'I'u
not going 70 oppose you. though I tel
you candidly, II there WAS no ono bu
yourself to think Of, should Have callet
for the colonel long before this. Blu
there are others to think Of besides your
elf; there's your family-no. don't meaz
the family pedigfee that You are 20 font
Of bragging about, but your old father
and the sister who has had to play secons
fiddle to you Ill her life-the Earle tina
doesn't count. Just you remember, vii
You. that its for her sake I do You thi
service. not IN the very smallest deere
for your own"
By ~ immense effort Tommy pulle,
himself together and looked up ct Jim
And Jim thought that . more pitiable oh
ject than tho lads whito and ha9gard face
with its wild and staring eyes, he In,
never seen. he STROBE to the door an
turned the key in the lock.
Look hero, youngster." he said. SHARP
"; this sort Of thing won't dc
II the truth has to Do kept Be
tween you and me you must manag
to pull yourself together and hid
your feelings bit he$ter. The best thin,
for you to do II to get Q stiff glass O
brandy and tumble into bed 1t once. An
then the sooner you get ont Of WalmsbuE.
But l can't get out Of Walnsbury,
Tommy exclaimed, fretfully.
"You get to bed. a. I tell You, " returne'
Jim IN manage that-lu speak to tn
colonel about It.
but you won't tell him, Beresfordr"
Tell him whatr contemptuously. "Ge
to bed and stop there. Foster is impresse,
with the fact that you are seedy, and 20,
had better keep It up-it viii simplif!
matters. Besides, you cannot 70 to tn
funeral to-morruw-Ic couldn't quite stsnt
that" He turned to leave the room then
and Tommy followed him . step or .,
with an eager expression of gratitudl
on his lips. Beautiful Jim, however