The morning call., 1890-08-16
A STRANGE EXPEDIENT.
CONTINUED
CHAPTER II.
A SUMMER HOLIDAY.


"If you are going to Antwerp in your travels,
DevOnad," said one OF The chiefs OF MS depart.
ment as lie was saying bis adleuX, 81 WISH youu
look In on my old friends MurdOn Murdon
Brothers. They have been in business more
years than ! can count. aud are always senulng
me pressing invitations TO come ahd see tnell,
which should be delighted to do If there were
not the sea between us, Cross cannot so Try
TO make amends by sending them all the pleas
ant visitors can. Do go and SEE them."
Thanks for the compliment OF your request
and what it implies" was the laughing response;
''but IT needs more assurance than possess 10
present myself AT tie house OF strangers win no
better excuse than that you babe me do So"
'NOnseuSe; I'll give you letter OF recon-
mendajiun, ana indeed, my dear fellow, you'll
not repent II, for both tile MurdOns are snreWd,
Intelligent men, hosultape to all comers but
especially so to their cOmpatiiOts could not
tell you 1.-THE OF lie kindly acts they nave done
in lGeT day for men Of all ranks ana ages. IN
this case, too, The obligation Will be mutual.
You Will not be half as glad TO find friends III
strange city as they VIII be TO receive guest
who shares their tastes for art aud literature"
So George Devonald suffered himself 10 De per,
suaded 10 accept the Introductory mlsslFe; ana
as everything his friend had SAID IN favor OF Inc
brothers MuIdOn was confirmed by common re-
port, he presented the letter one dismal, rainy
day, when roaming about the city was next 10
impossible, aud picture galleries ana cluTches
had lost Iler attractions.
Tie brothers we're delighted with their guest,
and insisted on his staying 10 dine with them.
The Iead.oi their table was taken by widowed
sister, as pleasant. and SOciabe rs themselves
and tie party also Included blocking young
fellow who held a berth OF Importance in Messrs.
hurdOus Office, and was made Known 10 lue
visitor as VIII Meadows
With this young man George DevOnald struck
up Kind OF friendship. Although bis Inferior
IN sense and intelligence, there was some thing
very attractive about Win Meadows. He was
versatile aud headsIronE, and always blundtrlng
into difficulties; yet SO frank, SO gene Gus. ana
so sincerely peuItent Tor his mistakes, that IL
would nave been difficult 10 withhold the for
giYeness lie always ready 10 entreat.
NOthing pleased him better than playing the /.
I ACCOMMODATING
IN long walks over tho adjacent country, or
visiting with HIM various places OF entertain
meni. one Of these was situated close 10 bis own
lodging and thlher on one occasion lie insisted
HAT MI. DevOnad should accompany him.
Its absurd 10 think that should let you
walk TO your hotel-a mile by the shortest cut
without anything TO shield you from this drench-
Ing shower. II we cannot secure you YoituTe
en- route, can al least lend you an extra gar
mrnl or an umbrella"
To this arrangement a willing assent was
given, for the night was a miserable one; and,
leading the way Into the snug little room lie oc-
cuDIed. " Ill Meadows commenced a HultleSs
search for parapluie.
81 ought 10 have two," he grumbled; but it's
a fact that l never know where 10 ind them
However, | can lend you an OyeIcOat. ana here
Ills. lake care OF IT, for It's the one thing
have In the world that l value"
MAY l know why?" asked the other, as he
permitted himself 10 be indicted in the garment.
Because II was gift from Polly on the eve Of
my leaving Englsndi and If you want TO know
who Polly IS, why, she's the dearest little girl
IN the world. | should have been ruined body
and soul if she hadn't come between me aud
Tie specious scoundTel Who lad me III Ills tolls
WiII Meadows voice was quiverng with emo.
tiOn, and 10 disguise II lie instantly commenced
rafting away about something else As for his
IHend, lie remained silent scarcely opening
his lips, except TO say good night when they
parted.
But on arriving at his hotel George Deyonald's
first act was 10 snatch up lamp and survey
himself In a looking glass. Not satisfied with
This. he took of the borrowed wrap ana exam
med that carefully.
There was no longer any doubt OF it. The but
Ions had been renewed, aud II had been altered
TO tit lie somewhat slghter figure OF viii
Meadows; but II was tile same coat lie had
parted with Two years ago In railway carriage;
ana Polly, The dearest girl IN the Wofld must be
lie young LADY whose tve-pound mole still lay IN
his pOckeL.b0O
Had she ever told WIN how his coat came into
her posse ssiOn? lie certainly would not learn
tile TACT fIom George Deyonald, who did not feel
al all Inclined to acknowledge that 1t was lie who
had been the victim of this strange eXpedlent
de returned the coat on the morrow, saw IL care
leSsly flung into closet, and was quitting The
room when VIII Meadows called him back.
nave never shown you P0lIY's portrait
have i? Perhaps you wont call her pretty girl
but Ilfen, no photographer could do justice to
her features, or seize the changing expressions
that make them SO charming"
Tie owner OF the photo felt somewhat hufed
when the carte-after being studied for nearly
five mlnuies-was laid down without remark or
criticism; but lie was TOO gO0d-humored 10 re-
tain any annoyance for more than a few seconds,
ana as LIE ran downstairs after his retlcent friend
lie was chatting and laughing as gayly as ever.
men next they met II was In the drawing
room of wealthy Spanish merchant, 10 whom
one OF the brothers Murdon had introduced
them. Senior Perera had half dozen fair
daughters, light-hearted, witty and fascinating
TO a degree. He WAS rich enough TO dover them
handsomely, and the two elder we're already en-
gagged 10 countrymen OF their own but lneZ, who
eyinced a prediction for an English sutton,
knew that her father would not make any oppo-
sition ON tile score OF his nationality, always
knuDOSlug
her.
That this choice had fallen on Will Meadows
no one could doubt WHO saw the peachy bloom
deepen in her cheek, and her bosom heave as he
drew near. Mr.. DevOnald pitied The love-
stricken maiden, for how could The young Eng
lishman return her affections ii they were be-
slowed already on one 10 whom he was 50 deeply
indebted as lie was, by his own avOwa, 10 the
dearest girl IN the world?
Senior PeTeiraS hoSpItalties on the night OF
the bail demanded a call the ladies of the
family on the following morning. and accord
ingy George Devonald paid IT, But his brow
grew dark with establishment and dispeasure
wien he found that he had been preceded by
VIII Meadows, who was leaning over the back of
Inez' char, and flirting with her desperately.
lis this righI?" he asked, as the young men left
the senor's handsome mansion side by SIDE
VIII started and Redeemed, but answered with
his customary frankDess:
- Under present circumstances / suppose il
isn't, and every time l see her resolve il shall
be the last; but I'm an idiot and can't resist the
magic of her dark eyes,"
And Polly ?'
VIII bit his lip and hung his head for minnie
or Two; then yowing that lie would behave more
senslblyi made his escape from his mentor, aud
for several succeeding days avoided him alto
getheT.
OF this Mr.. Devonald determined TO take no
notice. He had fingered at Antwerp longer than
be originally Intended, and must hasten his de-
paTture IL lie would utilize the rem ainder of his
holiday. II was not very probable that he would
ever revisit the quaint, busy city, or meet Will
Meadows again. 80 what sgnifed 1t if their in-
here?
But when In saying his adieux al Senior Per-
elTas he casually learned that The tickle viii
was daily visitor there, and laying open siege
20 the heart OF lneZ, all the chivary Of his nature
new 10 arms In defense OF tue forsaGen Polly. In