The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1892-05-07

a certain mocking triumph in MeCabes
look. This was not to be borne; must
carry off the situation in some way.
II suppose" said witheringly to Me
Cabe, ''that you have been at your old
games. Pray how much have you borrowed
from our kind host ?"
| knew the "Spongers" proclivities well
enough to be sure ofmy guess. He WINGED
and poor Mr.. Heavyhand looked unspeak-
ably miserable when turned to him, ask
ing:
ais it not so-did he not Immediately
borrow money of you? and he had to reluc-
tantly acknowledge having lent him twenty
pounds.
"Righteous indignation had full play
again, for | was on safe ground now; if
was an impostor | was an innocent one |
did not want money from the old gentle
man; it was something far more precious,
to my eyes, that | meant to ask him for
his niece
"Mr. Heavyhand," said in my most
impressive manner, must warn you against
this man, who has shamefully imposed up
on you. He is not Heavyhand at ALL"
glowed with pride that | was genuine
Heavyhand, and no impostor as far as that
went. 'He is a well-known character of
very bad record. | can tell you several
stories that he cannot deny, and that
think would convince you: and you, Sir,
turning with lofty scorn on the "impostor,'
''you had better be advised and retire quiet
ly before | am Obliged to expose you fur
ther. Twenty pounds is very good haul
for you; you could never got more than ten
francs out of the greenest of us, but you
are not so well-known here
McCabe summoned up some show OF
dignity. "Mr. Heavyhand has invited me
to stay at his house; at his request only
shall leave it-not at yours.
But the poor old gentleman's faith in his
latest trouUalle was shaken, and he sank
dejectedy in his armchair, feebly suggest
ed that the carriage would be ready at once
if "Mr.-er-McCabe wished to catch the
up train"
Upon this, McCabe, seeing that the game
was up, stalked off, muttering something
about ''not staying to be insulted, and
was left victor Of the hard-fought field.
| was triumphant, but when the flush of
battle subsided realized that my time had
come. After the foregoing scene my con-
fession could be delayed no longer
| felt such fool-to have to descend
from the high Office of exposing fraud, of
protecting my kind old host from imposi-
ton, to humbly confess my own guilt not
many shades less black. Poor old gentle
man how would he stand the shock of two
such deceptions?
There was long pause after the excite
ment, and the butler suggested that the
long g-neglected dinner should proceed.
gasped, for | must speak now; should
never come to the sticking point if | waited
until after dinner
Gone moment, if you please, Mr. Heavy
hand" | began, with desperate effort, 1
have something more to say"
The old gentleman looked up apprehen-
sively as he took his place at the head of
the table. "What is coming next ?"
81 should like to speak to you alone, |
continued am in for it now-''that is
Rita-Miss Mostyn-'' .
Mr.. Heavyhand resigns himself to fur
ther postponement of dinner and motions
the servants from the room, greatly to their
disgust
| seek courage in glance at Rita, who
is all confusion herself, thinking, no doubt,
that am losing no time in getting Uncle
Georges consent; she does not guess what
she is about TO hear Now for it.
l begin desperately, for | am in sorry
plight,
Al am afraid, Sir, that shall-wound
you-disappoint you very much, for must
undeceive you. must confess that am
not-that is, | did not write the letter you
received-it has been Il mistake And |
hurry on to tell of Aker's foolish joke, not
sparing that scapegoat, and falteringly end
my tale, nervously playing with wineglass,
my eyes glued to the tablecloth, not daring
to look up. 81 must ask your pardon, L
am dreadfully ashamed of myself
Rita is silent and her uncle gasps in dis
may.
''Then | am to understand that the let
ter is a fabrication that you are not of
the Northumbrian branch, not descended
from"
The poor old gentleman seems crushed
by the calamity L feel criminal of the
deepest dye.
"No,' | groan in deep contritioB, ''that
is, we do come from the North, but don t
know much about it. My grandfather was
General Sir Robert Heavyhand, knighted
when Governor of the Annexed Provinces
and my father was Robert Heavyhand,
Judge of the Supreme Court in Bombay
'Eh ! WHAT" cried Mr.. Heavyhand.
jumping up as though electrified. "Bob
Heavyhand--my chum, cousin, almost
brother2 Can it be he was your father =?
He rushes to me all excitement. "Why,
bless me, this is wonderful Why ON earth
did you not tell me so before2
Right glad am | at this sudden change,
/ "You never gave me chance to tell you,
l reply, and Rita breaks into laughing
she does not seem to have been much horri-
fed at my confession.
"Poor dear uncle you are so busy hunt
ing up relatives in the twelfth century that
you never think ofthose in the nineteenth. y
"Well, it does look ike it in this case |
admit, my dear, but If this foolish boy had
only told me l should have known his de
scent at once So that was all joke of
your friends Well, well, let us have din
ner at last, and drink the health of our new
cousin"
Little did think the dreaded confession
would have such pleasant end; but | have
not done yet,
'Stop moment cry as Mr.. Heavy
hand is about to ring for the servants, "t
have something more TO say.
Rita is hlushing rosy red, as | take her
hand and draw her toward me. Uncle
George stares in amaze.
"My only excuse for my behavior in
coming to your house at all, and staying
here under false pretenses, must be this;
Il love Rita, and l think she-well, in