Waterbury evening Democrat., 1890-12-22
CHRIS.
n ". r NORRIS.

ought TO make believe to be cross, because
asked you to ride with me. Lord bless your
SOUL understand all that; and what's the
good of humbugging2 1 like you awfully,
you know, and old Mother Barnstaple APP
proves, and what more would you havei III
come round and fetch you tomorrow, If that
will do"
"what is the matterNVith your exclaimed
Chris, turning an astonished and indignant
pair OF eyes upon him. "Are yon crazy? Or
do you really mean to be insolent"
"You amt as angry as you want to Think"
retorted Ellacombe, still laughing and nod
ding his head knowingly. "Come nowL
shall 1t be tomorrow"
He drew his chair closer to hers and laid
his hand upon her knee, while he pushed his
rubicund visage forward. This liberty was
too much for Peter, who started up, snarling
and showing every tooth in his head.
"Get out, you brutep shouted Ellacombe,
with q sweeping back-hander which caught
Peter just behind the ear.
The next instant q terrier Of small proper
tons, but some tenacity Of grip, had got him
securely by the forearm and that terrier was
not shakon OF until Mr.. Ellacombe had re-
ceived one Of those marks OF regard which
last lifetime.
There was q little disturbance and there
were some cries of alarm from the ladies /;
but the whole thing was very soon over, and
before Ellacombs could open his lips he found
himself outside in the hall whittier he had
been hurried by Gerald Severne, who said :
''You had better come up to my dressing
room and wash your arm. If you would like
to be cauterized, shall DO very happy to do
it for you" And in truth Gerald felt that he
could perform that operation with the utmost
satisfaction.
"RotP growled Ellacombe; "cauterized
indeedl I've been bitten often enough before
now, and never bothered my head about it.
II you've got little sticking plaster, that's
as much as shall want Of you"
In the course Of about ten minutes the
wound had been washed and bound up, aud
Mr.. Ellacombe declared himself ready to re-
turn to the drawing-room. Internal little
beastp he muttercd, adding some strong
expressions which need not be recorded !;
"Ill break his head for thisp'
81 shouldn't advise you to do that" an
swered Gerald, calmly; "you might get your
own head broken II you did. And look here,
Ellacombe, shouldn't advise you to go back
to the drawing-room either"
"Eh2 Why not~ asked Ellacombe, saw
agely.
"Because you're drunk, my good fellow
that's why. Tomorrow morning when you
are sober you can take any notice you please
Of that; but you won't have a second chance
Of being impertinent to o lady tonight. I've
ordered your dog-cart, and, II necessary,
can get half dozen men to put you into it {;
but for your own sake think you had better
60 quietly"
Possibly Ellacombe had been in some de-
gree sobered by his adventure; at all events
he offered no further resistance, but, after
staring stupidity for a moment, made his way
downstairs, muttering under his breath, was
helped into his coat, and departed.
An hour later Gerald took occasion to re-
mark to his mother: "I trust you are now
convinced that Mr.. Ellacombe isn't a man
who can be asked to dinner with impunity."
Lady Barnstable was rather crest-fallen.
81 suppose he really did take a little too
MUCH" she observed. '"They all say So,
though I did not notice 1t myself. However,
he has got badly Eitten for his pains, poor
manp
mot half so badly as he deserved. One
thing, at any rate, there can be no doubt that
he deserves, and that is to be shut out Of
your house for the future"
ooh, my dear Gerald, there is no occasion
to take such strong measures. After all,
what heaps Of men one knows who have
been rather wild at first and have afterward
settled down into exemplary husbands and
fathers. There is the Duke Of"
81 don't care II all the dukes in England
began by being sots, >" interrupted Gerald, inn
patiently. "That fellow isn't fit to enter the
same room with Miss Compton; and If you
don't choose to warn her against him, shall. -
Really, Gerald"
Really, mother. mean it and I'll do it.
She is too good and too innocent to under
stand the sickening code of morality which
we have chosen to adopt; and unless some
body interferes to save her, Heaven only
knows what she may not be talked into doing.
I'd rather not, for several reasons, be the one
to enlighten her; but if nobody else will, I
must"
49, De-, IL
ceivsd what she really might have perceived
| little earlier. 1t was creditable to her wis
dom that she made no comment upon her
discovery, but took up her bedroom-candle-
stick. heaved profound sigh, and, after WISH
| ing her son goodnight, went upstairs.