Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1892-11-30

a murmur.
Mr.. Hanson and his wife had departed
upstairs to wash their hands.
''It's awful" murmured Evelyn as she
passed him on her way to the table.
Mamma ran right onto one of the Van
Lith trunks in the front room"
He drank his five dollar wine recklessly
to gain courage. Old Hanson sat and
gorged himself on the ten dollar lunch,
Mrs. Hanson, he thought, eyed him sus.
piciously, and old Joe served them with
broad grin on his ebony countenance.
eff this kind of thing keeps up for
week am ruined" he said to Evelyn as
the day finally closed, and at last he saw
his wifes parents safely retired for the
night.
''I've an idea mother already suspects
something" said Evelyn. "I've a good
mind to take her into my confidence and
confess ALL"
But this proposition alarmed him more
than anything else.
''Don't do that. I've got s4OO left yet.
Let's stick it out. At, say, forty dollars
day, how long can we hold the fort?"
''Just ten days!"
"And in ten days then it is either
fight, the North river or the morgue."
''Ten days is good long time," re-
piled Evelyn. 81 shan't worry myself
so far ahead. Good night. I'm off to
sleep"
Eight days of the ten had elapsed.
The Barkers, with a courage born of
desperation, had ''stuck it out" They
had become accustomed to their new po-
sition, and, despite their failing means,
Charlie sometimes even fancied himself
rich.
y
The Hansons We're delighted with their
new son-in-law. No words in the Eng
lish language were expressive enough to
sing his praises. They had driven here
and there, been taken to all the theaters
and feted every day on tie fat Of the
land. They had been made 10 feel their
importance The Hansons, of Denver,
had never enjoyed themselves so much
in their lives.
Barker was nearly crazy. What would
he not have given to be back in Twenty
third street, and, if he must be shot for
running away with old man Hanson's
daughter, at least have the satisfaction
of dying like all honest man?
On the morning of the l!inth day he
found a letter on the breakfast table.
Old man Hanson was there with his
famous appetite, eating eggs which had
cost fifty cents apiece and ham which
had been purchased from the blackmail-
ers at dollar slice.
The letter was from his father in Bos-
ton and read as follows:
My DEAR CHARLEs-Your me; her has Just
learned from Mrs. Stewart, who arrived in
Boston from New York yesterday, of your re-
cent marriage and also of your late good for
tune in Wall street. always knew you would
fall on your feet, and you can now afford to
laugh at those who have hitherto called You
the fool of the family. Meantime you may ex-
pect us by an early train tomorrow, as we are
anxious to see our new daughter. Your affec-
tionate father, HORACE B. BARKER.
P. 81 send this to your new house in Fifty
seventh street, which Mrs. Stewart tells III
you purchased of the Van Lith estate. She
says it is splendid property. l hope you got
o bargain.
1t was the last straw. Unable to re-
press his feelings, the miserable Barker
uttered a loud groan and rushed from
the room, nor did he stop until ne reached
his chamber. Throwing himself into
chair, he buried his face in his hands and
remained for some time in condition
almost approaching stupefaction.
He was aroused by light touch on his
shoulder, aud looked up to find the door
closed and old Joe standing over him.
Don't you be a blamed fool Mars
Charles. Don't you go an give it yup
You's doin splendid. Pze been talkin to
Ge people down stairs. and dey's all
agreed you's a daisy"
Barker raised his Sead and stared at
the man in blank surprise.
Wee amt goin to pinch you no mo-,
Mars Charles. We done it dis much fo'
de fun dere was in it as fo' de cash. Now
you gets everything at market price
You's ii dEisy.''
The love Of human appreciation is the
handspring of great deal of human en-
deavor
When Charlie Barker heard himself
called "a daisy" he took new heart.
In five minutes he was man again.
He went back to the breakfast table and
told another falsehood-abouth having a
sudden indisposition. He was now de-
termin 81 to see matters through.
Suddenly there was ring at the bell.
"A telegram, said Barker aloud. ''Per- ;
haps to say that father and mother can't
come. How provoking!' but inwardly
he rejoiced with an exceeding joy He
tore open the envelope, and the sight of
that telegram nearly occasioned him
relapse:
We are coming home. Mrs. Van Lith quite
sick. Expect US tonight. P. VAN LrrH. :
''That settles it," muttered Barker.
'If ever Van Lith gets into this house
I'm done for. He's as straight as a
string. And his wife-well, she wouldn't
tolerate such fraud as this for a mo-
yAent.''
There was no time to consult Evelyn.
He must act at once.
He went out in the hail. The boy was
still there.
s'Have you telegraph blank with
your" he asked.
eyes, sir"
Then he wrote:
Don't come. Smallpox in the house. Evelyn,
| and the servants are in quarantine. Am
writing. CHARLES BARKER.
The boy looked at the telegram, read
it and bounded to the sidewalk. He
didn't stop until he reached the corner
Barker was now desperate. He was
in such state of mind and had so far
committed himself that he was ready
for anything,
His parents arrived from Boston in
.t;,ae for lunch. He received them roy