Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-04-02

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| like Iago rousing Brabantio to inform him of
Desdemona's famous elopement with the
brawny Othello. Fortunately the old gentle,
man was q light sleeper and his wife q hoavv
one. He hastily threw on his garments and
came to the door. He saw in moment who it
was by the lamp that Badger had brought with
him.
What is it, sir?'' he said courteously care
you il!?'
mo, SIR" was the reply, but feel it nv
duty to inform you that your eldest daughter
is in her room preparing to elope with Mr..
Hugh somebody, after helping him out of Jail.
She"
Come with me, sir. if you please." inter-
rupted the old man, who. evidently from for
mer Information, cOmprehended matters i'm
mediately. II would like to have you with
me-" And they proceeded to the young ladv's
room, Badger very reluctantly, but not know
ing exactly how to avoid it. She was in the
midst of her note of farewell when SO invaded:
she had locked her door AZ she supposed but
the bolt had slipped outside the slot, as bolts
sometimes will do when shot in hurry The
old gentleman now locked it with very notice
able precision.
Il am very sorry, nv dear daughter" he
said kindly, chat you vet hold your extraordi
nary intatuaton for that young man. and are
willing to carry it to sucn lengths. Have YOU
not read in the Good Book not to follow the
steps of him that goe.h astray?''
She said not word, but retreated to a cor
Hcf. "utic Suo StOOu ike u ualI-Denneu tlgreSS
about to spring. Badger. somehow or other,
found himself standing in an opposite corner,
jus. as far from her as no could get. The old
gentleman proceeded:
MY dear, You have never become suffi-
GENTLY acquainted with this holy book. aI
though possessing such beautiful edition Of
il" He picked up an elegant Westminster
copy and seated himself at the table on which
she had just been writing her letter of fare well.
at which he glanced, saying in kind but judi
cial way: Very well composed. my dear You
| are improving in English composition. Only
| the material-the subject matter-is at fault"
The good bat shrewd old gentleman turned
to tho proverbs of Solomon and read aloud
everything he could find that bore upon the
case. The girl half threw, half crouched her
self gracefully on Il small sofa near tho corner
and said never q word.
The young student would have gone to his
own room, but the door was locked and the
| key in the other mans pocket. So he stood
! and listened getting mighty tired, too, for a
| long time before the courtly old gentleman re-
| Inenbcred to offer him q chair For long
| time the reading went on, varied by correa-
| tive passages in other parts OF the sacred writ
which this erudite parent found by means Of a
| concordance. badger loved the Scriptures
| but he felt that this was rather more than he
needed at one instaliment. He did not like to
ask Tor egreBs from the room and, indeed
| somehow had faint suspicion that the old
gentleman had covertly noticed his flirting the
| the young lady. would be mono the worse for
| some Biblical instruction. At any rate they
both received it, anG it was not until CLEAN
of daylight removed all danger of Jail break
| ing that he arose. unlocked the door, bade
Badger courteous and his daughter an af-
| fectionate good morning, dears," and went
| out to discharge from duty the horses that had
been waiting 50 long for events that never
| came.
During the reading Of the Holy Word Door
| Badger tried his beat to keen his oyea off the
beautiful prisoner in the corner, but she fasci-
rated them there continually. Her tongue had
no need to speak to him; her eyes were orators.
They kept saying such things as these and he,
poor fellow, understood them only too we'll:
''Oh, you would do anything in the world for
| me, wouldn't you! l was to know whenever
you could help me, even at the risk of your
life. yes? Brave, gallant young man! true
knight OF cnivalry! II had wanted to elope
with you now you wouldn't have informed my
father after having consented to the plan,
would you? And then you would no doubt
have sneaked off and deserted me afterward
So glad you came along. You have helped me
SO much Congratulations to the young lady
you are engaged to. Ihad rather lave Hughle's
little finger in Jail than your whole body, brain
and soul all at large"
She also quite often wiped her lips vigor.
ously with u dainty handkerchief, and Badger
understood this. TOO. Sho was trying to brush
away the memory Of that kiss Of gratitude she
had given him.
/ When our young hero, feeling very little like
o hero was finally released from the room he
went with true athletic agility to his own and
made hasty preparations for leaving the house
But just as no was mt the head OF the staircase
the thought struck him, why2 lie had done
nothing wrong, was In true position; although
deeply and taroughly mortified and Inundated
as he never had been before, he was conscioui
decided he And he flung himself on the bed
and slept until called To break fast