Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-02-07

him. the big arteries at his throot and
wrists throbbed heavily like some greaHen-
gine.
Sinclair walked quickly; even in the dis
tance,
Latham could see a sprig of white bell
heather, Margaret's favorite flower, in his
coat. HIS b-ain fired, and contrasting
cold fell on his heart; but his voice was
steady and even light as he uttered the sig
nifcant word "Well""
John Latham had an iron nature; his
self-control was most marked; but Tom Sim
clair. In common with his other friends, ut
terlv mlsappreciated his character, and took
for GOODNESS what was merely selt-control
and nothing more. They had never seen
his passion at food "Cool, calculating beg
gar, old Latham" they said among them
selves, and added with au air of palpably
assumed envy: "All the better for him
he's sure to get on"
Carefully tempering the eagerness of his
tone to merely friendly interest, he managed
10 add: "What luck? ." for Toms errand
could scarcely be considered secret, al
though it had not been openly discussed
between them.
The DEVILS own," was the answer, flung
forth in voice whose uneven jerks be.
to6ened an aroused frame OF mind. you've
spoiled this thing Tor me, Latham. Though
you've been 50 quiet, you've acted like a
cad"
Look here. Sinclair" began his friend
in amazemeut; but TOMS whole manner be-
tokened ungoverrable rage; he had evidently
some cause OF quarrel, real or imaginary,
with Latham, and he had been nursing his
wrath during the long lonely drive. He did
not attempt to control himself
va al frou first hat
! meant to marry Margaret Bruce, and
you've seen how things were. l had a
chance. Wei, why should you interfere?
You don't mean TO marry! You can't possi-
biv marry? You've often said you can
barely keep yourself; then what do you
mean hv coming between ME and the girl
I'm on the point OF being engaged to?"
Il don't know what you are talking about,
Sinclair" said Latham when at last he could
interrupt the 5iuster, "In any case, your
premises are false; still"
"I'Il tell vou what I'm talking about in a
very short time cried Tom, with renewed
fury. Il handed that parcel-fern, or what
ever it was-that you sent As she undid
II, half sheet of notepaper fell 10 the
ground; she didn't notice il, but L did. l
couldn't help seeing ;be words, l know your
hand so WELL He stopped, with his angry
ewes glaring at Latham. 4 dull red had
sufiused his friends usually pale forehead,
hut he answered, without trace of emotion,
'Weli?"
We'll, you know what you wrote, sup
pose3"
Perfectly"
1T mayn't have been much; but after
what passed the other night at dinner, it
had meaning; and TO man, unless he were
going 10 propose TO a girl, would have writ
- I In dr. nd
This WAS very sore to John Latham. His
little message, Il am happy TO be the finder
Of vour Highland Edelweiss," had been
penned in a smiling moment, and he had
wondered hundred times since if Margaret
would accept the inference and smile too?
To dream that it might be so had warmed
his heart. He had been so true to his friend
throughout all these weeks, and this wretched
business was the outcome of his for
bearauce he felt very bitter, though he
did not emulate Sinclair'S child's passion;
be passed by without notice Toms charac-
ter,zation of himself
You are talking nonsense, Sinclair; and
if YOU were calmer, you'd see it, he SAID.
LET US put an end to this. are you en-
gagged to Miss Bruce"
What's tina; TO you!'
Just this; il YOU are, it can't matter to
vou what l have or have not done, for you re
The successtu man. If you're not-what
possible right have you to sssume the
guardianship of her afecuons?"
''She is my cousin, and 1 hope TO marry
her. l have right to protect her from the
insults of man who is a"
Look here, Sinclair; take care what you
say! You have referred TO me as a cad al
ready; ii he were not my friend, 1 should
thrash man for less"
Lot hot cfa
sneered Sinclair. "You have ended that.
] don't want 10 know a man who's a sneak
and 4 liar"
Latham had moved a pace away, but he
stepped swiftly back with a muttered curse
on his lips and a light In his ewes. Tom
was ripe for quarrel; at that moment all
he wanted in his brute rage was to fog the
man who had. as he imagined, gone secretly
TO work to injure his cause. In second
their hands were up simultaneously; Sim
clair struck out in a wild inconSidered wav,
but Latham dealt single powerful blow at
his opponents chest, and saw him fall like
a log in the shallow waters OF the lochen.
He fell on his back and a sharp stone caught
the back Of his head; but Latham, pausing
10 get his breath, did not notice that at
once. 'Sinclair!" he called hoarsely, after
a moment-"I say, Sinclair!"
There was no reply. Tom was apparently
stunned. The least Latham could do was to
get him on to dry land, anyway. He waded
il, and called to him again; then. with a
murmur Of Painted, by Jovew he used all
his strength and lifted his friend and placed
him on the hillock beneath the trees. Turn
ing in the moonlight to get some water in
ms cap, he saw blood on his hand; the next
moment he had discovered the wound in the
back OF Sinclair's head, and the quarrel as
al 1r he h,,r
ried over the rough ground to the house,
and came back with their servant and gen.
erai factotum to carry the wounded man
hOne