The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-03-15

their merits and defects. She was speak
ing of this very case of Mr. Hearn
moment ago. You seem to have know
him quite while, Mrs. Brodie. Wer,
you ever stationed together"
MY! no, Col. Lawler; only one can
not help hearing things" answered Mrs.
Brodie. totally unaware of the facial con-
fortlons of her better half, who was help
.essly, hopelessly striving to catch her
eye and restrain her tongue. Every
body IN town seems to think he was such
popular young fellow; only, don't you
know, so careless"
Col. Motifs and everybody at Mrs.
Lanes end of the table happened TO be
deep in general chat at the moment. and
neither saw nor heard anything of this
sudden introduction OF personal affairs
at social occasion. But Mrs. Morris
lost no time. She saw Brodies CLOVER
ering eyes across the board; she noted
LAWYERS keen, shrewd gaze, and the
troubled look that flashed over LANES
kindly face, and had just time to wbis-
per to him: Glow can you ever forgive
US for bringing the man? The colonel
was in misery at the idea. He said he
knew he would be talking shop before
dinner was half over. [ can check Mrs
Brodie, at any rate" Then, aloud. 'sPar-
don me. Col. Lawler," and now her face
was wreathed in sweetest smiles. I'm
not going to let Mrs. Brodie prejudice
you against one of my prime favorites."
''Oh, indeed, Mrs. Morris" protested
Mrs. Brodie, II wouldn't think of such
thing. was just going to point out
to the colonel the very great difference
between what he might have been then
and what he has been ever since he joined
the Eleventh"
''But the point at issue seems to be
what he was then, as Mrs. Brodie puts
it," said Lawler.
'But l wouldn't for the world nave
yea suppose l thought Mr.. Hearn had
done anything that was ungentlemanlv.
I'm only saying what rumor was" burst
in Mrs. Brodie again, who had at last
caught the signals on her husbands face.
and now only sought to excuse her own
lmpetuoSity, even though in so doing
she more deeply involved the young gem
tleman himself. II can't bear to hear
such things said of him without any one
to defend him; but what can one do?'
This was getting simply unbearable.
While all at the other end Of the table
were having a merry, laughing chat,
here was this professional investigator
an accidental and by no means welcome
guest-taking advantage of the circum-
stances and of the well known volubili-
ty of Mrs. Brodie to start her on the SUBJ
ject which called him to the post, and
striving at q social party to ''pick up
points"
by JOver' muttered Capt Cross,
hes as bad as Mr.. Abrams himself.
What can we do to stop him? Nothing
short of divine providence will ever stop
Mrs. Brodie."
But the desired interposition came.
Footsteps were heard on the piazza be-
yond the hall. The Chinaman, answer
ing the summons to the door. came
back, raising the portiere that hung
heavily over the entrance, and handed
his master a card. Lane took it. and
glanced quickly at Col Lawler.
If you will excuse me-" said the lat
ter, rising at once, ''these are gentlemen
whom telegraphe6 to meet, and | will
save time by seeing them here. will
Just ask them intn Your parlor, Can't.
Lane And quitting the room, he
passed through the hallway and met his
untimely callers at the door. Sam came
shutting back an instant after. having
gone to turn up the parlor lights, and
Miss Marshall, glancing over her left
shoulder as the portiere was again raised,
saw that one of the men thus introduced
beneath the captains roof was the Ger
man Jew, Schonberg. Lane, busy in
striving to restore the tone of general
chat, did not see them at all.
1t was an hour later. The ladies had
risen and betaken themselves to the front
piazza: the men remained to smoke a
cigar with their host. The absence of
the legal luminary oddly enough had
dispelled the atmosphere of gloom that
hung for few minutes about the lower
end of the table. Ee and his strange
visitors were still closeted, SO to speak,
in the parlor. but now they came forth.
In some mysterious way every woman
had by this time learned that Mr.. Schon-
berg was there, and at the sound of the
opening parlor door and of the meilifu-
GUS accents of that gentleman's voice
they instinctively huddled TO the other
end Of the piazza. Lawler walked with
the two men as far as the gate. and when
they finally disappeared in the direction
Of the store came sauntering back to join
the ladies'
''As don't smoke" he said, 81 will
take my enjoyment here. Where shall
[ sit:"
''Take this chair, Col. Lawler, said
Miss Marshall, noting the aversion with
which all the others of the party had be-
come inspired. MAY 1 send for coffee
for you?'
Miss Marshall, have no small vices
I never drink anything stronger than
milk: never smoke, never chew, never
swear
''Never even swear, colonel?''
Never. What is it you are smiling
at::"
Have you ever read the works Of
Josh Billings, Col. Lawler?''
II have no time to waste on nonsense,
Miss Marshall. And l never could sec
anything funny or witty in such men az
Billings and Artemus Ward"
''WeIl, it wasn't his fun 1 was think
ing of quite so much just now as his in