Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1891-05-14

charm. HIS lace showed unmiStakable
signs Of coarseness, and in moments Of
passion it sometimes assumed an aspect
OF outright cruelty.
While he was lying on the sofa and
I blowing the cigarette smoke from his
mouth. malicious smile made his feat
ures almost repulsive.
That's a pretty good cigarette, was
the remark with which he broke the 81
lence at last
q am glad you like it, was Ralph's
distracted answer. His brothers sage
remark was not interesting enough to
draw him away from his thoughts OF
love
Nor did the next attempt with which
Walter tried 10 begin a conversation have
the desired effect
@By the way" he said, 81 heard a
devilish good joke at the club to-day.
But all the answer he got from Ralph
was a careless, as that SOP"
Walter evidently was determined to
have a conversation. His brothers list
lessness did not deter him from further
attempts.
Its joke on you, he said, impress
siYely.
as it possible?s
Even this Information failed to rouse
the loVe1orn swain.
Walters patience was at an end. he
raised himself from his recumbent posi-
ton, and, directing a searching glance
at his brother. while his lips were curled
= by malignant smile, he said:
"The fellows at the club say you are
going To marry Lucy Lyon"
The shot had hit the mark. Ralph
suddenly became interested in the con-
yersation- The blood left his face until
his features became as pallid as death.
But he still kept his silence, listening
now, however, with eager attention,
l when Walter continued, apparently with
/ the greatest carelessness, as he languid-
4 ly returned to his former recumbent at
titude:
Don't You know, Ralph, it serves you
right. When Miss Lyon was here the
last time you paid her very marked at
I tentiOns,' as those newspaper fellows
would say. And when She returned,
the first thing you had to do was to run
| and renew the acquaintanceship. Serves
you right, old man, TO be teased that
way"
Ralph could hardly preserve his COM
posture as he listened to these words.
/ Still more than by the WORKS themselves
was he exasperated by the frivolous tone
| in which they were uttered Bnt he
controlled his emotions until his brother
| had finished.
Then he said, with artificial GOODNESS.
/ which was given the lie by the nervous
twitching of his features and his labOred
| breath:
aAnd who told you that it was
| joke?D
Walter affected not to understand
him. With look of simulated surprise,
| he asked:
! "What do you mean?S
~HOw do you know that the fellows at
the club did not tell you the truth?"
Walter Warringham laughed. as if his
| brother had cracked the best joke Of the
year
"Very goodl Hal hal ha! Very good.
I had not discovered the humorous vein
in you before, Ralph. Very goodl I
suppose you will accept my congratula-
tions, then, at the approaching union of
Ralph Hutchinson Warringham, NJ. D.,
and Miss Lucy Lyon, actress. Excellent
| Hal hal ha!"
While Walter INDUCED in this outburst
of merriment a dark frown gathered on
the brow of the lover, whose Utmost
feelings were so rudely attacked. His
teeth gnawed at his lips, as men will do
| when they strive to control an outbreak
of temper
When Walter at last seemed disposed
to listen, Ralph said:
after this display of good manners
| you will perhaps be disposed to listen
when 1 say that you have heard the
| truth, though do not know how any
body could obtain any knowledge of it. +"
Walter rose again from the sofa.
| This time he rose fully to his feet with a
jerky motion. He made step toward
his brother and stood before him looking
straight into his face. There was no
trace OF the former malicious sneer in
his features now. Walter Warringham
| had the muscles of his countenance
under good control, and for the present
| IL seemed best to him to affect a look Of
extreme and incredulous amazement.
~You do not mean it?" he said.
q do, most assuredly."
do You understand that referred to
Miss Lucy Lyon, the actress?"
THE very lady that I referred to-"
@And do you speak seriousiy?"
Il told you so.
swell. I declared" Walter made q
gesture expressive of disgust. For a
moment both were silent. Walter rolled
another cigarette and lighted il. Then
he turned again toward his brother,
who still retained his seat in the rock
ing-ehair by the window, but whose
cOuntenance no longer showed that ex-
preston of complete happiness On the
contrary, it looked dark and troubled
now
Walter again stood before Ralph, after
having paced the floor of the study two
or three times.
%Do you suppose, Ralph" he recon-
be permitted to commit such an incred-
ible piece of folly?"
The frown on the Doctors brow dark
ened.
@Who has authority TO prevent it, if
you please?" he asked, testify.
well, do you think that your family
will consent to marriage with a woman
like that?"
Ralph had all the sensitiveness Of a
lover who will not suffer the slightest
breath OF insult to faint the name of his
love. Excitedly he rose from his chair
and stood opposite his brother But
he checked his quick impulse, and when
he spoke the tone of his voice was quiet,
but firm. and little threatening.
Il wish you to understand" he said,
shat 1 shall not brook a disrespectful
remark in reference to my future bride. &"
| Walter did not seem to notice the I'M
dercurent of menace which was hidden
beneath the outward self-control OF his
brother, else he would have taxed heed
not to exasperate him further, for he
did not wish violent quarrel. He said,
however, cOntemptuously:
%Well, she is an actress"
@Walterln
Ralph's frame shook with anger His
face, that had been deadly pale before,
now suddenly turned a fiery red. His
eyes glared fiercely, and for an instant
it seemed as If he would raise his hand
for blow. But a second time he re-
gained his temper. For a short while he
stood before the younger man, threat
ening, like lion before the hunter.
TO BE CONTINUED.
Something Like a Whale.
Whether our heading refers TO the
story following or TO the fish described