Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-11-08

visit nv home on account of family trouble,
for il was impolitic to breathe word Of my
impending holiday lest it should reach Mrs
Neville's ear and put her on the alert.
The fateful morning dawned, and FORUM
ately it was fine, so there would be no diff
cuIty about Alice's going out for her morn
ing's ramble. Punctually at II. and with
much inward agitation, even trepidation, l
called for nv brother. Mrs. Neville In her
joy at the event came out to the very steps to
speed her parting guest
always glad to see the back OF
DOCTOR" she observed with
her customary pleasantness. "And I con-
gratulate you, Dr. Dalton, on having fur
bished up your medical knowledge on that
little point, you know-sprains. These
steps are all right, eh, Mr.. Dalton? Such
a pity if you had another accident Just
when you are escaping from this dull holeF'
"You may well say that!' was Jacks fer
vent rejoinder, as with the help of my arm
he made the descent "Jove! I've never
known a dullerl Even Miss Alice-by the
by, where is she? Can't say goodby?
"Outr said Mrs. Neville, triumphantly.
"On, out?" echoed Jack, and he returned
her benevolent smile by one as benevolent.
"Well, for manners commend me to the
natives of Ii Tell her with my COM
pliments, will you, that she might have had
the civility to speed my departure as warmly
as her>grandmother."
81 will! Oh, I'll tell herl" cried Mrs.
Neville, and she laughed and rubbed her
hands in an exulting way that sent cold
shudders coursing headlong down my spine.
"Jackp' l said as soon as we had started,
mas she discovered the plot and locked up
liceo She lookS so iubil8pt' ~
"By Jupiteri' cried Jack, and he posi-
lively turned pale. "If she has I'll return
and make her ankles acquainted with those
steps, No, no, Bob-she can't have found
out-we've been too deep"
Still be looked uneasy, and felt as COM
Portable as a detected thief. We said not
another word; but long before we could see
the corner where Alice was to await US our
heads were out one on either side of the cab.
She was not there-another moment-yesl
yesI there was the little figure, the tiuttering
blue veil! Jack threw himself back with a
smothered exclamation, and my professional
eve took note that his late confinement had
weakened him more than l thought. He
looked quite shaken.
Tell him to drive like seven furies," he
cried, when he had pulled Alice in. He, IS
invalid, sat beside her. She covered back
in her corner trembling and frightened,
while felt utterly at loss in such unusual
circumstances. Ought / to take her hand?
to whisper a tender word of encourage
ment?-or-or what? Really, books OF
etiquette are wanted for these romantic
iunctures Jack seemed to divine my en-
barrassment, for he leaned toward me and
whispered, Leave her a bit, she'll come
round presently" and then fell into bust
ness talk l told him exactly how all the
arrangements were made; he nodded ap-
proval. murmured a careless, And the
ready?" and l passed him sn envelope and
took the opportunity of pressing his hand
in token Of nv gratitude. l performed the
two actions as surreptiousfy as possible: my
pains were wasted. He opened the envel.
ope straightway, counted the notes audibly,
nodded gracious appreciation, and buttoned
them up.
I'VE are nearly at the station" 1 said,
with a nervous cough, after while. "OI
course, old fellow, we can travel together
That's ior you to settle" replied Jack.
"Oh, Bob, just q word before we get out.
The tact is-a mere matter OF detail, but
NAV as well be mentioned now-Aiice
thinks she would rather go with me than
with you. You see, she knows me better
and in point of fact likes me better. Isn't
it SO, Alice?'
She sobbed, "YesT' and clung to his arm.
You see how it is with her." commented
Jack calmly, and as l uttered loud and
indignant exclamation, he soothingly added,
"Yes, yes, but we can't have q row in the
cab or in the station either. That was the
only condition on which could induce her
to run away, so l couldn't help myself. It's
the lady's privilege to choose, and of course,
as you remarked yourself, all's fair in love
and war;"
left my locum tenens in possession fol
four full weeks. Not a day sooner had
courage to return to l.. On the morn
ing after my arrival there came a note from
Ms. Neville bidding NE call at once. My
courage rose TO the occasion alter reading
the few snappish words. Clearly she was
in a rage, and meant to abuse Jack finely
and express her stern determination 20 cut
off her granddaughter, or, more likely, to
announce the execution of her fell purpose,
! remembered her warning and 1t wonder.
fully reinvigorated me, TOR now that the
tender sentiment no longer obscured my
perceptions, l read Enthusiastically an abso-
lutte sincerity in the threat. Jack would
receive the just penalty tor his treachery. ]
obeyed the summons. there ore, with alac.
rity. The sight OF the steps did not cost me
a pang: l entered the garden boldly.
"Hulloa, old boy, where have you hidden
yourself for SO long?" shouted Jack, big,
audacious, radiant.
"Why, DIR. Dalton-no, mean Bob-we
thought you must have run away too, y
chlmed in Alice, equalling his shameless.
ness. 1--WE got home week ago!
Its all right, whispered Jack in my
ear as we walked toward the house. "Oid
lady's come down like trump" He spoke
in the most engagingly encouraging way, u!
if to set nv brotherly anxiety at rest anG
sure 1 should be pleased, and. well-I OWL
the weakness-I was pleased; at the frs
sound of his voice l was in full sympathy
with him once more.
But coRld not yet agree that it was "al
right," for had a very bad half-hour with
the old lady alone. I was the culprit;
had aided and abetted nv helpless, lam,
brother In his flight; on my head wer
heaped reproaches and scathing sarcasms
No, il was as usual not call right" for me
Once more 1 had to play the part of
AnOther.-Belgrauid.
RCDYARD KIPLING'S great story, tn
first serial he ever wrote, begins in TIL
DISPATCH tomorrow morning. The open
ing chapters are of absorbing interest Dom
I E.U -A.I A.