Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-06-28

Il soon
wormed ont Of me the reason OF my black looks
and OF my sudden departure. A beautiful col.
ne dog, which had been standing at the inn
door, followed me and stood by me, wagRinR
his tail, while made my confession.
a 'Ah," said the landlady of the Swan" as
she handed me box of cigars They were
very bad cigars and very dear; but for some
reason IL WAS considered special privilege to
be offered one, and dared not refuse You're
not in the mood to take it kindly, but let me
tell you there's many worse men about than
Sebert Corringnam, for all he's bit rough in
his way. And as for that lass he married. she
was regular hussy, and it was her firth ways
got her into trouble with him. And then to go
and leave him as she did, with her child un-
born, and him dying to have chick of his
own, IT was enough to turn a saint hard, let
alone such man as Corringham."
but that's no reason why he should make
up to another girl when he's not sure he's a
free man. And use his position as employer to
turn another man out of the field"
En- bat we are none of us quite fair when
we're In love. you no more than the rest The
lass knows he's had wife, and if she likes to
take the risk, why even if the first should turn
up. Cunningham would do the right thing by
her and not let her starve."
But this suggestion was intolerable to me-
sprang up from my seat. The collie, whose
head had been caressing, leaped up about me,
~ if sympathizing with my indignation.
And don't you think, burst out trying
rum. that 1t would be better for her to marry
man with whom she would run no such risk?
And young man? One who wou Id be a COM
panion to her? And"
And deal better looking and less rough.
and n gentleman eh? Well that's for the lass
herself to say. But after all, sir, she's no lady,
and maybe she thinks she'd not fall in with
your London ways. She's no fool, isn't Meg
Thredgold."
That's just it. She would accustom herself
to new mode Of life without any difficulty.
being so intelligent and she would soon feel
more at home in a London drawing room than
in that miserable brick field where her home
is"
"Well. if she married Corrngham she'd have
plenty OF money-more than You could give
her, reckon. No offense to YOU"
But she'd never learn how to spend 1t.
Now, could educate her and without her
knowing it!'
"fIa, ha'
This interruption in the shape of dry, hard
laugh, came from outside the bar. Startled
ana angry, looked up to see Sebert Corning
hams wooden face wearing an expression of
hooking amusement. l could not tell how
much he had heard, but his head was bent for
ward in an attitude of listening attention.
Educate her. eh?" he repeated to himself
In voice like n file, why, thou wantst educat-
ing myself, thou young cub, afalling foul of
thy betters!'
In his anger, which peeped through his tone
OF contemptuous amusement, Sebert Corning
nam fell INTO rougher kind of speech than
had before heard him use. turned nv back
upon him without word and was leaving Mrs.
Longs parlor, when he raised his voice &C.
utter final taunt.
Thou hast lost thy chance of dinner or q
tea now and then at my house, lad. Jhou'n
not be on my wifes visiting list, and SO tell
thee"
So this coarse brute was Meg's choice! For
could not doubt, both from his easy tone of
assurance and from the reception l had had
from Mrs. Thredgold, that he was Boosting on
a sure foundation. In an agony of mortifca-
tlon and resentment was about to rush out of
the inn, when l was suddenly restrained by the
knowledge that CorrIngham waiting at the
bar and that / should have to pass him. |
paused and stopped to pat the collie, which,
having apparently taken a great fancy to me.
mad followed me into the hall. At that mo-
ment the door Of the smoking room opened.
and red-faced man, who was sitting inside
with long clay pipe in his mouth, called to
the dog:
Ruff, Ruff, COON 'erer'
But tho collie shrank behind me as the door
closed
turned to the chambermaid, who was cross
ing the hall
do you know who this dog belongs tor"
asked.
"Oh, yes, she answered at once. ITO the
Duekers, cheap-jack and his wife. that's STAY
ing here. Mrs. Long let them pitch in the field
al back and they've got van out there and
tent. A nice pair o skinfints they are and
cruel, too. Why, they've made their own dog
so shy he won't go near strangers, but hangs
about the van all day long"
HE Will go to strangers, though He's been
rawnlng upon me and following me-"
The girl looked at the dog, which at that mo-
ment was licking my hand.
"Well, said she, in surprise, 81 never saw
nlm carry Oh like that before: never"
door n ba inc
and again the red-faced man called to my dog
Trend. l went into the room, the collie fol-
lowing close at my heels.
lis this your dog?' asked of the man with
me long pipe. who looked, in spite of the
character had just heard of him. prosperous
and Jovial. He seems to have taken a great
fancy to me and 50 have to him, for he's a
beauty and no mistake
"Ay, sir, that a be, said the cheap-jack, who
was evidently Yorkshireman. And a picter
a used to look, standin' ont plank wi a bow
got up as your Little Lord Fondeloy, black
velvet and crochet collar and u particular nice
cad OF air. 1t drawed t'folk, specially the
women, better nor plum pudden competitions
or barrer races, or any sOoch-like. Didn't it,
Martha?"
A stout lady in purple silk. with a black
front, who was sitting by her husbands side
careless of tobacco fumes. nodded emphatlc
assent as she smoothed out the folds OF her
dress with large mittened hand.
iou We gwen ner up; then! asked, noting
his regretful tone.
"As given me oop," he answered, rather
sharply: WI nothing to do but eat his
head off, as taken into his head to catch
such cold can't let him show. as folk
would be saying it was cruelty. So there l
am, supporting roy and dog, and nothing to
show for it..
And he took two or three vicious puffs at his
pipe.
You might engage another boy till this one
lost his cold" suggested
That's what I'm always a-tellin' of himr'
broke IN Mrs. Duckers. triumphantly.
But her husband shut her up with glance Of
scorn.
Nae, I couldn't" he said dec!siyelv. .To
be any good, t'boy must be takin-like and
have cad Of air. Wigs won't do; I've tried
EN-. And our boy has pair of eyes that fetch
the women, and there's no denyin' he makes
your ordinary brat look common-like and broad
In the nose. Besides. it don't do for your Lord
Fondeioy to sniff. and most of 'em Sniff. Now,
Wailie doant sniff; and that fact alone is worth
fortin'!"
well" said /, as rose to leave the room,
II hope he'll soon get we'll for his own sake as
well as for yours, poor little chap"
Hell take his time about it, If only to spite
me-. grumbled Mr.. Duckers. while his wife
rose and made me bob-curtsey. 1T suits his
book better to lie all day q coddlin' himself oop
than to earn his bread and repay his benefac-
tor"
didn't care much for the benefactor's tone
and quite sympathized with Ruff for not liking
him. 1t was strange thing, though, to see
how the animal, which had been lying quietly
under the table, jumped up when opened
the door and skunk out after me. paused in