Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1893-08-19

is y sort of iaufilcd bass as uncommon as
it is winning, and his laugh is irresistibly
humorous and contagious. Iwish nature
had given me such laugh.
In fieure he is well set up-not too tall
but one can see he is less athletic than
he was four years ago. In every aspect
he has distinction-th mark of agentle-
man. One feels certain as soon as one
sets eyes on him that under no possible
circumstances could he be guilty of q
low bret! or vulgar manifestation. And
yet ne could forsake IL woman.
Siniire being out of the room, John
tramped restlessly up and down smok-
ing a cigar (which of late he has substi-
tuted fer his pipe) ard putting an occa-
sional word into the conversation, while
mother sat by looking more like Rem
brandt than ever, listening, inquiring
and complacent, with bit of embroidery
in her hands. Henry sat in an easy chair,
carelessly but faultlessly dressed, talking
easily and picturesquely, addressing him.
self now to one, now to another, making
scene after scene rise before US, often
yielding to that delicious laugh. But /
could not help wondering all the time
whether his thoughts We're with us at all
er with what he was saying. Were they
not with that dark haired girl up stairs,
and was he glad or sorry or apprehen-
sive? Surprised | was sure he must be,
and did not believe he could he indif-
ferent.
1t rot to be late. Mother rose at last
and S.,do US good night, giving Henry
both her checks to kiss. John sat for s
while longer, doggedly yawning the top
of his head off, but finally he, too, sue
cumbed and went off. Henry was al
ways late bird, and now he seems to
think that night was made for anything
but sleep. So in order to bemore at our
ease he and went over to my apart
ment and disposed ourselves comforta-
bly, in the library.
ibid you notice that pretty cousin of
ours, Henry said l.
Rather. A thoroughbred beauty,
call her. A bit reserved, though, but
that'll soon wear off. You and Jack are
both in love with her, of courseg"
"Of course. But she hasn't returned
our passion yet. Perhaps her heart was
touched before she came here"
when | settle down, l should like to
marry girl like her But fancy old I'm
Gle Ned having raised such paragoni 1t
seems too good to be true"
You met him while you were abroad,
suppose"
''If had known the kind of family he
had, ! should have made point of look
ing him cd. But as it was | missed him.
must have been within reach of him
several times when | was in India. He
held some position under the govern
ment, believe, and it obliged him to
travel about a good deal. But-well,
there We're other circumstances. 1t would
have been awkward Things don't al
ways come out just right when one
knocks about the world as | do. But
then few people are such fools as am"
Here Henry shook his head, unscrewed
his flask and took pull after offering
it to me. MY last friendr' he said,
with laugh, as he returned it to his
pocket.
ut is wonder to me, though" he
went on after awhile, "how you man.
age to exist in the way you do here,
Frank. always thought and say now
that You are the man of the family.
John is good fellow, but he has no
brains. have brains, but I'm a good
for nothing. You have brains and the
practical clement too. Father made a
great mistake with that primogeniture
craze of his. You ought to have been
the heir of the Mainwarings. Think
what might be done in this country with
$50 GOO year! And what is Jack doing
with it, FL like to know. If you had his
chance, you'd make yourself honored and
remembered for a hundred years to come.
A man with your pale, square face and
big blac1; eyes can do anything, only give
him start You could marry Cousin
what's her nalne?-Sinfre?- name,
isn't it?-and breed race that America
would be proud to own. If you can get
rid CT John, I'll make you a present of
my birthright," he added, laughing again
as he lighted cigar.
THE brandy would hurt you less il
you dida' t smoke so much, Harry, said l.
No hygiene for me, thank you, doc
tor" he replied cheerfully. Il shall live
long enough, do what | will. Besides,
however good order You might keep me
in while I'm here, should relapse again
the moment got away"
You're not thinking of leaving us
surely"
81 don't think of it, but | shall be off
before long just the same. know my
own frailties. Many time have come
to place that seemed to be all that the
heart CT man could desire and have said
to myself that | would never leave it.
But after few days or weeks, as the case
might be, found myself somewhere else.
The fault, dear Brutus, is not in the
place, but in myself. that I'm a vaga-
bondr
Consistency has no part in me. Change
is my sine qua non, no matter if it be
change for the worse. It's the same in
my relations with people-women in
cluded. If Venus herself were to offer
herself to me on the one condition that
I'd remain true to her-well, | might
promise, but should break my promise
before the honeymoon was over. That's
the way I'm made. Other people are reg
! ular glue pots, and so the balance Of ma
ture is preserved. If | were an astrolo-
ger, should expect TO find that was
born under shooting star or comet.
Don't you remember it was the same
when we were children? You never had