The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-12-13

L
devilish awkward business Chambers
sit was, indeed! The awkwardness of it
was brought home to me after had been
shown into General Eernon's bedroom and
after he had gently requested his wife to
leave us for few minutes. She shot an
imploring glance at me as she obeyed; but
what was the use of imploring? | didn't
want to let the cat out of the bag any more
than she did; the only question was
whether the cat hadn't been let out of the
bag already. Hardly had she disappeared
when the general began:
my dear Chambers, if hadn't guessed
before that something was being kept back
from me L should have guessed as much
from your face. You are all of you most
Kind and considerable, and | assure you |
am not ungrateful; but, perhaps, you for
get that am old and dying, and that mis-
fortunes can't hurt me any longer as they
would have hurt me ten years ago. Come,
let US hear the worst and have done with
it My boy has been killed in action, has
he not?'
off that had been the worst, | might
have spoken out unhesitatingly; but as it
was not the worst, and as the worst
couldn't be revealed, there was nothing for
It but prev arication. | confined myself to
the truth, not so much because it was the
truth, but because | couldn't think of any,
thing else to say. | told the general that
his son had been wounded in the head. but
that his life was not in danger, though he
was not with his regiment | don't ex-
actly remember how il was that | was
driven by degrees to admit that mad seen
him, that he was in London, and that il
wouldn't he impossible for him to come to
Hill street. dare say you think YOU
would never have been such a COMPOUNDED
duier; but then you have probably had
no experience of the difficulty OF telling
clrcumstantial lies without having
had time 10 prepare them. ANY
how, the upshot of it was that
l had 10 hatch plot in
concert with Mrs Vernon, who was kind
enough to abstain from reproducing me.
though could see what poor opinion
she entertained of my intelligence She
agreed with me that since matters had
come TO their present pass, Herbert must
needs he summoned; she acQuiesced IN
my suggestion that he should be well
coached up in his part before being per
mitted 10 enter his fathers room. and she
merely stipulated that she herself should
not be required to speak with him. save in
the presence of witnesses. | suspect that
she would a very great deal rather have
died than have faced the ordeal that was
before her; but she never uttered a word
Of complaint. And yet, when we want to
describe man who is utterly useless. we
can't md anything more coutemptuous
10 say about him than 10 call him an old
woman
Well l looked up Herbert Vernon the
next day, and took him 10 Hill street with
me, after carefully explaining 10 him ex-
acuy what he was Ia say and what he was
10 leave unSald. He consented to confirm
the fables which We had coucocted among
Us from time 70 time; bur he maize no end
OF fuss about II, protesting that he could
not bear - deceive his poor old diving
father, calling himself heap OF bad names
which | am sure he Observation-Disclosures
that he would never he able 10 forgive
himself. and so forth. / frankly confess
that don't understand fellows of his kid
neyi when you are 4 coward, WHY the
devil shouldn't Won he a liar into the bar
Ealn2 As | said 10 him AZ the time (for
he tried my patience q little too highiy)
If score OF gentlemen can bring them
selves 10 burden their consCiences with
f2.Sehoods n a good cause | really think
you might
sir Alexander Mackinnon was sitting
VITA Mrs. Vernon " men We reached the
house. l had asked ham - be there.
knowing that the old lady would wish TWO
oi Us - be with her when she had 10 meet
her son. and guessing that the presence Of
q larger number Of spectators would give
her more pain than support However.
believe We both looked out Of the win
dow While the actual meeting took place.
IL was soon over. and We were soon
lett 10 ourselves The mother and son
went together into General Nernon's bed
room where they remained for 3 good
Aati hour. dprlng which Aacklnnon and
Alcsed our heels and tried 10 ta.k. and
wished ourselves anywh here else upon the
t4e lace 81 the earth. At length Mrs
vernon re&pEesTed, locking ike va king
corpse Sld said. VIII you 20 in and see