The Sunday herald and weekly national intelligencer., 1890-08-17

a
climate, you say. ] really don't see why you
should not do Tommy good turn and send him
there" said Vivien to Sir Merlin Carborough.
They were strolling back from the flower mar
ket, and this was about the hundredth time in
the last few days that Viven had worked round
to the subject of the far-off British settlement.
Sir Merlin was great authority on all matters
concerning our policy in the East, and supposed
to have power to do what he liked with the In
dia Office in the question of this the latest an
nexation to the empire. For the rest, distin
gushed-looking man OF sixty, famous beau
and gambler in his day, long time ago, who
had lately been compelled, after prolonged
widowerhood, to recoup by marriage with an
austere daughter OF a millionaire manufacturer,
Of whom he was now horribly afraid. Perhaps
little too fond of making pretty speeches to
pretty girls to be consistent with the dignity of
age, but this amiable weakness is common
enough. To Vivien he had always professed
himself devoted, but the subject of Tommy and
his troubles even his devotion could not make
welcome. His forehead wrinkled into a rather
sinister frown as he replied:
"My dear, talk of something pleasanter Your
solicitude for the welfare of your old friend does
honor to your heart, If not to your head Iknow
my Vivien, but with some people it might be
wiser to curb that delightful enthusiasm of
yours"
"Thanks, Sir Merlin," said Vivien, and her
lip curled in way which her companion rather
liked to see; it showed the arrow had hit the
gold. ''You are always so thoughtful for other
people, and refuse a request more gracefully
than most men can grant one."
"Now be reasonable; could not do what you
suggest if wanted to. There will be thou
sand applications, and to pass over all those
who have claims, and give the place to man
who-well, it would be madness. Have you
been over to Monte Carlo lately?n
"No. hear that the lady who sings so nicely
at the music halls (the one with the unpro-
nounceable name) is over there. That ought to
attract you, or has the spell been broken?''
Sir Merlin began to cough, hard, dry cough,
before he answered.
''Did Tommy tell you to say that?"
81 forget. l suppose he knows what every
body except Lady Carborough knew, that you
were interested in her success once"
Sir Merlin began to hum a tune.
"Of course know that your motives for your
patronage were, in this case as in others, per-
fectly disnterested but there people who
don't know their Merlin as well as do,'' Vivien
continued quietly. 81 suppose theatrical man
| agement is always paying business, nowadays,
| isn't it ?'
mo, damnably the reverse sometimes ~ said
| Sir Merlin shortly.
"Lady Carborough was telling me yesterday
that you have got to hate cards since your mar
| riage, and that you would not risk five-franc
piece at Monte Carlo when she took you over
the other day. l don't believe she knows that
they play baccarat at the NautiQue. Does
she ?''
"What do you mean by that, pray?" with a
| quick glance at his companion.
"What should l mean? You had bad even
ing-in fact, found banking does not always pay
either, on Saturday night, didn't you?"
$50 Tommy told you that, too, eh? L wish
Tommy would mind his own business and go to
| the devil"
'You can't send him there, but you can send
him to Borango, which is as goods
81 see your plan, Miss Vivien; you want to
bully me into doing it, but it won't do. We
want no Tommys at the India Oflice''
''No. Maj. Selbourne is good man of bust
ness and brave soldier should have fancied
it was just what you wanted" Then, as If
thinking aloud, ''Now you are bad man of
business; you quite burnt your fingers, they say,
| in trying to make the public share your own
views on the merits of the unpronounceable
lady; and you are not particularly brave"
'They would tell you different story in Up
| to his full height.
"Oh daresay you were bold enough before
herd of native rabble. Imean you are coward
on many occasions"
''Thank you"
"Wel, you are terribly afraid of Lady Car
borough, and yet she is so good to you"
"No, | am not"
''Then may tell her about Saturday night ?
AS she will probably have to pay, it seems
hardly fair to keep her in the dark"
81 would prefer that you didn't" said Sir
Merlin huskily. ''lf | can shield her from the
knowledge of what might annoy her, it is better
to do so.n
81 see, and this is why she did not hear of the
theatrical speculation"
"Vivien, what a cat you are sometimes ~
burst out Sir Merlin, as If the reflection was
wrung from him irresistibly.
| "And what an old bear you are sometimes
How many times have you told me you would
do anything in the world to please me and the
first favor | have ever degned to ask you you
fatty refuse, as you might troublesome beg
ging-letter;' and Vivien's bright eyes were elo-
quent with soft reproach that was very diff
cult to ignore
"Vivien," said Sir Merlin and all the petu.
lance had vanished from his voice, 81 am old
enough to be your fath-I am old enough to
know your value better than a younger man.
You wrong yourself, believe it, by giving a sec
ond thought to this man. He has run his race
and it is over. What is he to you that you
should care what happens to him now? You
say yourself he will not go back to England
Well, so much the better; let him go-you know
where. You must see that, innocent as it is
your long hirtation-or call it friendship, ii
you like-has done you harm"
"Dear Sir Merlin l have thought of these
things too. | hardly know yet whether l am
glad or sorry that the man must go. Perhaps
after he has gone, shall be able to follow your
example and settle down in life. Only, don't
you see, have know him so long, and know
that he is as capable of noble things as any
Knight of the Round Table. Don't smiles it is
true. And for old sake's sake, want you to
give him this chance. WIN your"
'Come inside and see my wife, and tell her
about the baccarat," said Sir Merlin grufy
"and then | shall be able to refuse you, at any
rate"
But good Lady Carborough was out driving,
and the gaudy hotel stting-room was empty, SO
he did not find the escape from the gentle
pleading of the soft violet eyes that he had
| ya1