The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1890-12-21
/ could stand it no longer.

Hold q bit old boy" he said Il
have treated you badly, I know"
A fierce snort was the only response l
deigned to give.
Eyes, know it, but prudence was
essential You're not riledY
.sRiledw I answered, with forced calm
ness. II can't see how you have used
me badly, bat you must permit me to
say you have done yourself great in
Justice
Tom seemed little puzzled.
"And you have done palpable, a
gross injustice was grand now, doing
the outraged yirtuous-'sto an old per-
son who
"Oh, bother the old person. he inter-
rupted, carelessly But then You have
really twigged what I am up to in the
morning.
In the morning. A ray of light be-
gan to dawn upon me.
Yes, in the morning. I'm going to-
now, old boy, don't lock scared-rm
going to run away and be lnarriedls
To be married. And IN the morning,
The ray Of light was binding CLEAN
now. / was literally staggered.
dropped into chair with big lump in
my throat.
Yes, my boy, I'm to be married In the
morning. You know I'd have told you
before, but Bet and only fixed it yester-
day. She arranged it all in the sleigh as
we came along; and, for reasons you
know SO well, we must be quick; I'm
done for if tina old party suspects. But
it's all fixed you're to help me-"
81 help your gasped, family.
Certainly. Who else? You must come
with US; you must be best man; you
must go with us to Uncle Bob and help
Bet explain all about the
Lieut.. Jonest''-I rose stiffiy and stood
] at attention as Toms eyes opened very
wide--"Lieut. Jones, have no criticisms
to make ON your cousins course. If she
! desires to-
.sDesiresl the devil Why, man, she
planned the whole thing arranged the
Christmas frolic, suggested all the de-
tails of the elopement. and she specially
insisted you should aid Us.
ssShe didgv
Eyes; she said you were 50 fond of us
both you'd be glad to do it. -
Oh, the cruel grit the hardened, in
grained firtl This was why she had led
me on then. Tom kept on, speaking
! rapidly, hut with no sense to me IN the
sound till caught:
so you see, my dear boy, it was she
originated the affair; she planned every
detail. not IT,
s9Stop sir!" cried. hoarsely-my face
must have been purple; it felt black
''you have right to run away, perhaps
Ito stoop to anything you please-the
lady is to be your wife. But, by heaveni
you have no right to compromise your
cousin by saying these things
There's something in that, " Tom NUT
tered, thoughtfully; Il mustn't let Bets
name get out, of course. I only told you,
you know" I gave grunt that was
meant for scalding sarcasm. s.Bet VIII
tell you all about it herself"
ssOh, she win, 2 I painted.
ITO be sure. She told me she cou Id
make it all right with you. That's what
we were talking about when you drove
over the cad today"
Oh, the cold blooded, heartless CO.
quettel To deliberately plan torment
for me thusl And he, my old school
mate, my bosom friend IF the soft
answer that turneth away wrath had
been deadly weapon should have
used it then.
Tom. lying fiat on his back and putting
little wreaths into the air, eyed me with
some wonderment. At last he said
cheerily:
well, old boy, don't take on SO. It's
as sudden for me as it is for you, and a
deuced sight more serious to boot. So
I'll count on you of course IN the morn
ing"
Count on mel tell you I'll have
nothing to do with it. Your uncle Blythe
would never
'sPopcornl say, Bet viii make it all
| right with Uncle Bob. verify believe
he'd have helped Us if we had dared to
trust our secret"
Helped youl Mr.. Blythe not obiectl
And still you are mad enough to risk let
ting the tongue of gossip soil the name
of the woman you lovei You plan this
mad escapade far away from his roof
when he might have consented"
ITO WHAT Tom sat bolt upright on
the bed, resting on his hands, behind
him. A strange, fitfnl contraction swept
over his face, followed by very grin of
agony. was merciless.
ITO your union with his daughter" !
said sternly.
My words struck him like bullet. He
clenched his teeth until the cigar drop
ped in two from them; his face grew
crimson, its muscles twitched convu1-
sively and lis chest hesved with des-
perate struggle for breath. Then, with
a gasping sob, he buried his face in the
! pillow, while his whole frame shook and
trembled like an aspen.
! was panied, shocked. The sight of
s'the tears of bearded men" is always
touching beyond expression, and besides
was at loss to account for the great
violence of his sudden emotion.
became more puzzled as looked, for
he still sobbed and shook with the weak
ness Of child.
walked up and down the room and
| tried to think more calmly. After all
had no real claim ON Miss Bette. She
! had refnsed me once and never allowed