The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-05-17


But am CORY for you. If you choose to
leave yourself entirely in my hands, will
see what l can DO for you"
| assumed a judicial attitude as | said
this, and Binks looked crushed and hum
BILE.
Now you clearly understand, Binks,
that when say that, / mean that l will
help you to dissolve your engagement
Binke groaned hereto Mrs Huckwell.
But do not intend 10 assist You in any
further matrimonial adventures. You
must give up all idea OF marrying Ger
trude."
81 don't want to marry anyone" said
Binks, fervently.
paced up and down the room for q
few steps, frowning portentously.
"You will give me carte blanche in
the matter presumeV l went on. Il
don't want any of your clumsy interior
ence in my schemes"
Il am sure l couldn't be in better
hands. Joseph" said Biuks, with habby
humility.
Its Just as we'll that yeu at last recog-
nize that, Binks." / said severely; "some
men might have taken the past into ac-
count and left you 20 get yourself out of
the scrape as best you could. However,
Binks, did you have any money in the
Oriental bank?"
The suddenness of this question nearly
threw Blnks off his mental and physical
balance.
"Whv, yes" he responded; "but what
has that got to do with it? Ii has gone TO
smash. and have lost sixty pounds"
smiled grimly as | seated myself at
Bnks' writing desk, and wrote a short
letter which 1 sealed and put in my breast
| pocket
Ii was addressed to the editor OF the
| local paper.
well, good-by, Binks," l said cheer
! fully. land thank the stars that you
| possess a friend who has a head on his
| shoulders, and a generous aud torgjyiag
! disposition
Binks wanted 10 hear a good deal more
about what | intended to do. but | de-
! parted with a sphinx-like air and left him.
though still sitting on the edge of a
! portmanteau, with CLEAN OF hope in his
beady eyes which had not been there
| when | first entered the room.
/ dropped the letter into the nearest
| pillar-bOx, and went home serenelv.
chuckling little to myself.
The next morning this paragraph ap-
peared in the North Barton Courier:
I'VE regret TO learn that our esteemed
and respected townsman, Mr. Timothy
Binks of Oldteld house. has been heavy
loser by the failure of the Oriental bank.
Rumor says that the unfortunate gentle
man had deposited nearly the whole of
his fortune in it few days before the
| crash came. IL is to be feared that he is
not the only loser here"
/ read this account of nv friends ruin
with a cheerful and unmoved countenance,
and IN the afternoon | took my hat and
stick and went over to Shaw Lodge
| in time for cup of aft
ernoon tea. l saw from the moment
i entered the drawingroom that the
family seemed in a depressed fame OF
mind. Casting my eyes furtively round.
/ saw the North Barton Courier lying open
on the table.
After the first greetings had been inter
changed, and Gertrude had supplied me
with tea and mullins with her own fair
hands, Mrs. Huckweil took up the paper
and mournlully asked me, as Mr. Binks'
oldest friend ana adviser. whether there
were any truth IN the sad statement she
had just read.
For" she remarked, these news
papers do get hold OF things and exag-
gerate them in a most extraordinary
fashion, and l should not like to write and
condole with poor dear Mr. Binks if he
has only lost a few pounds"
Mrs. Huck well" l said solemnly, put
ting down my cup and neglecting the
mullins, .our poor friend Binks is in a
state bordering on distraction. l have
Just come from him. sadder sight |
never saw. He was already packing to 20
abroad, but he desisted on my advice from
deciding anything hastily, anu will, /
hope, be induced to stop on in the ia
mIliar place where we ali love and respect
| ] I Cd -
"that some OF US might club together and
provide a small cottage to shelter his old
age"
Dear me, is it as bad as that?" said
Mrs. Huckwell uneasily. 81 should have
| thought Mr. Binks would have done better
abroad"
You don't understand Timothy Binks
ii YOU cay that, ma'am. He is OF pecul-
isrly sensitive disposition. Transplant
him and he would die Besides, to tell
you the truth" and l benta little forward
and fixed my ewes on hers "he seems to
have particular reason for wishing 70
STAY in North Barton. ! fancy it is a SEN
timental one, but l cannot violate the
poor fellows confidence by telling you
anv more"
Then you don't know the lady's
name2" asked Mrs. Huckwell, with an
uneasy ihuEus
Al haven't the least idea" | answered
unblushingly. "Binks is very reserved
man. But | feel sure TINT il he loves it
will be for ever. Hope the lady 10 whom
he is attached will not throw the worthy
fellow overheard. He is a man in a
thousand"
"Ah, you are young and can take ro-
mantle view of things" said Mrs. Huck-
we'll, signing. I'VE old folks know that a
household is not carried on by kisses. II
knew the lady of whom you speak. Mr..
Slater, should recommend her 70 break
off the match"
She slipped her tea with a pensive air
and relapsed into silence, now and then
casting look at the paper and murmur-
ing:
Poor Mr.. Binks"
When lett Gertrude followed me to
the door There were actually tears in the
poor girls beautiful eyes, and felt per-
feet brute.
please give my love to Mr.. Binks." she
said, in a whisper, land tell him how very,
very sorry am. He Is always so good to
me-"
L gave Binks part of the message. but
the love" | kept myself. / thought il
might have ON intoxicating effect upon
him, and lead him to seek Gertrude out
on the spot, reveal the iraud-of which at
present he was blissfully unaware and