Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-03-17

this gentleman repeated, leerlnS on tn
two most unplcassntly. $50 that i
vo,ir game. is It? Amt you ashamed o
Yourself" he continued, addressing him
self particularly TO the shuddering Arch
deacon and how far away seemed Win
nall and the lavender, and the calm de
lights OF Sudbury at that moment !
"ain't you ashamed OF yourself, ole
man
"This is a private ROOM" said Jacl
sternly, anticipating his fathers out
burst. "You do not seem to be aware
of it, my friend"
"a private room, is it, replied the
visitor. closing one eye with much enjoy
ment. ga private room, and what
then ?"
"This much, that you are requested
to leave it. "
"Ho no, replied the man $50 you
would put NE out of my daughters
room, would you-out OF my daughter
room? l dare say that you would like
TO do it." Then. with sudden change
to ferocity, he added: a." You are Drag
cling above your cards, young man.
Dry I'D. do You hear? Dry mp"
And Jack did dry up, falling back
against the table with a white face and
trembling hands The Archdeacon, even
IN his own misery--misery which far ex-
ceeded his observation-disclosures and mar
yelled at his sons collapse. That Jack,
keen, practical, hard-headed Jack
should be so completely overwhelmed by
collision with this creature, and so plain
" scared by his destinations, infected
the Archdeacon with a kind OF terror.
Yet, struggling against the feeling, be
forced himself to say
"You are Mr.. Kent, presume ~
81 am, sir yours to command, swag-
gered the wretch.
"Then | may tell you that your
daughter" the Archdeacon continued,
resumino something Of his natural self
possession, "was left ip my charge by
your wife. and that | am here in conse.
duence of that arrangement.
Cannon f" replied Mr.. Kent, dis
tinctly. putting his tongue in his cheek.
"Gammon DO you think that story
will 20 down with me? Do you think il
will go down with any one? "
alt is the truth.
Gan right but look here, when did
YOU see my wife? On her death bed.
Once. And before that-not for twenty
years. Well, what do you make Of il
now? Why" he exclaimed, with gen.
uine admiration in bis tone, "you have
the impudence OF the old one hin self
Fie on you. sir Amt you ashamed Of
hanging about stage doors and following
actresses home at your age? But
know you. And your friends shall know
You, Archdeacon Yale, OF the Athenaum
Club. You will hear more OF this !"
"You are an insolent fellow " cried
the clergyman. But the perspiration
stood in great beads upon his brow, and
his quiyering lips betrayed the agony
of his soul as he writhed under the mans
coarse insinuations The awkardnes:
and improbabllity of the tale he would
have to tell in his defence flashed
across his mind while the other waf
speaking. lie saw how cogently the
silence no had maintained about
the matter would tell against him. lie
pictured the nudge OF one friend, the
wink OF another, and his own crimsoninp
cheeks. His sons unwontod silence. too,
that touched him home. Yet he tried to
bear himself as an innocent man he
struggled to give back look for look.
"You are a mailman and q scoundrel,
besides being drunk ! " he said stoutly.
IF it we're not so, or-or l were as
Young as my son here"
81 do not see him." said the man
CURLY.
"Jackl" cried the Archdeacon, pur-
pie with Indignation. "Jack if you
have q voice, speak to him, sir "
at won't DO" replied Mr.. Kent,
shaking his head. "Cail him Charley
and might believe YOU
Charley ?" repeated the ArchdeacOn
mechanically.
Gay, Charley-Charley Williams. Oh,
I know HIM, too, " with vulgar triumph.
al have not been hanging about this
house for two days for nothing. lie has
been here heaps OF times What you
two are doing together beats me, con-
TESS. But l am certain Of this, that ]
have caught you both-killed two birds
with one stone. eh ?"
II was the Archdeacon's turn to fall
back, nerveless and aghast. The light
that shone in upon him with those words
so blinded him that every spark OF his
anger paled and dwindled before it. His
sou, Charles Williams ? He sought in
that sons eyes, sought with pitiful
eagerness, some CLEAN OF denial. But
Jacks eyes avoided his; Jacks down
cast air seemed only too strongly to
confirm the insolent charge. The
shock was q severe one, taking from
him all thought of himself. The why
and wherefore OF his presence there
could never again be questioned by any
one. A real sorrow, real trouble to be
faced gave him courage. "Jack :" he
said with sternnesS 1--WE had better 90
from here. Come with me. For you,
SIR" he continued proudly, turning to
the actor, "your suspicious are natural
to you. Nothing | can say will remove
them. SO be it. They affect me not
one whit. Ii is enough for me that |
cane here in all honor, and with an hon
orable purpose.
Indeed" replied Mr. Kent mock
ingly. "lndeed ? And your son, Nr.
Charles Jack Williams Yale, Archdea-
con? No doubt you will answer for
him, as he has not got q word to say for
himself? He, too. came with an honor
able purpose, l suppose? Oh, yes, Of
course we are all honorable men
For an instant the Archdeacon quailed
He saw the pitfall dug before him. He
knew all that his answer would imply of
disappointed hopes and vain smOition.
He recognized all that could be made OF
it by his listeners, friend or foe, and he
banched But the cynical eye and
sneering lip OF the wretch confronting
him recalled him to himself. Nay, lie
seemed to rise above himself as he re-
piled more loudly and with naughty, in
iated nostrils: Eyes, yes, sir; | viii
answer for my son, too, as for myself !
l will answer for him that he came here
in oil honor"
The man sneered still, but he knew
better things if he did not ensue them.
and he stood aside with secret respect
and let the two 90 unmOlested.