Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-07-29

with a simpering daughter, the precious
pair batting their hooks to catch and land
| hook was fast in the young idiots jaws!
| What young man was ever match for
one woman?1iet alone two? the victims
young officer They think he'll come in
for all have to the colonel said to
young fooii At twentyethree to tie a mill mill
pretty face. At twenty-three when"
The colonel paused; his own words turned
upon him and struck him. His impatient
frown softened. Twenty-three. He had been
/ twenty-three when he was in love with
third birthday that she had given him a
rose and fixed 1t in his button-hole herself,
and he had ventured to kiss the little white
Of foS years. WY da n sSeh
tr1ne rush back into his memory now?
The GolOners eyesastill bright and keen
straight before him; they were fixed upon
an elaborate trophy of weapons Of all ma
But he did not see the blades Of curved
shining steel He saw the old-fashioned
s sa n h1neysnekle on the porch. He
become bee Of herr Dead long ago. no doubt.
sight OF her until she had grown a lovely
girl His regiment had been ordered abroad,
anu i. ne mad gone without making any def
mite proposal OF marriage to Lucy; but he
thought she understood. indeed he was SUI
nclently sure that he had made her under
TO feel himself somewhat aggrieved when.
on HIS return to England he found Lucy en-.
gagged; And she had married the other fell
low. who had some post In America, and
had taken his bride out there
Well Twas IT was all boyish folly-a young
Bartram. and they had lived very comfort
ABLY together, just as man and wife should
dren; their little boy and girl had died in
early infancy. and Ellen had been delicate
got along very well together: he had been
a good husband to a good wife; and Dick
must do as he had done. marry into a good
was this folly of Dicks that put her into
mis- head today, but of course the cases
were entirely n,i, ay different Lucy Hastings
possible parallel to be drawn. He had BEEN
as no man need be ashamed of being, in
love with girl of his own class. Dick had
bred adventuresses; thus he ciassed the
landlady and daughter.
Rothesay'-his only sisters only son, had
been almost as a son to him; he built great
hopes. in fact the dearest hopes that were
was he to submit to seeing these hopes
dashed to the ground. irretrievably ruined
by boys fancy for girls face? He
ton. the influence of whose family might
be help to the young man in his career
And here was the foolish boy wanting to
throw himself away in a marriage which
instead Of help would be a hindrance and
stumbling-block. clog on his progress all
his life.
What was to be done? Dick was deaf to
reason. If neither threats, arguments nor
persuasions would induce him to break of
The boy was too good to be thrown away.
He was as fine. honorable. manly. straight
forward young fellow as one would wish
to see. thought the colonel relentingly-at
least relenting toward Dick. but all the an
grier with the unknown Effie. Dick had not
attempted to deceive his uncle by conceal
ing or incorporating the social status of
his beloved; that scored well for him with
the colonel! But this very appreciation OF
more anxious to save the young man from
evils
Now an idea occurred to the colonel
which appeared to him q bright one If
these people. these Objectionable Williamses
knew that Dick had not shilling but his
lieutenants pay and an allowance from his
uncle. and that the allowance would be In
rnediately withdrawn IL he married against
eager to hold him to his engagement; they
let him go, 30 doubt they did not at ali
fully aware of Dicks entire dependence on
his uncle or they supposed the uncle would
be as easily gulled and played upon. taken
In and done for" as the nephew would con-
tinue to provide for Dick. and carry out his
Intention Of making him his heir If they
from him. not penny either d UGkee f bis
life or after his death. they would realize
that they would do no good for themselves
by landing the fish they had hooked What
would be the advantage to the girl of mar
rying gentleman. il he couldn't put bread
and butter in her mouth? She would do
much better with a man of her own class
say a comfortably of shopkeeper. and
we'll. the colonel thought, literally, with a.
NI1.1C fv1er IL
wouldn't mind coming down handsomely
In a wedding present to get this girl set
Now he began to see his way He slim
ped his knee and pulled at his fayorife
meersehaum with more genial air than
n ne nad worn since Dick had impaired his
see these people, and enlighten them as to
Dick Trent,s dependence on him. and his
any idea of getting round the old uncia I"
they should find out their mistake They
might have made a fool of his nephew;
the colonel. who indeed did not look like M a
person to be trified with .
Having laid his plan Of campaign, he
proceeded to carry IL out. There was no
shilly-shallying with him: the act followed
fast on the intent. The first morning
Dick being safely out Of the way. as he did
not wish the interview to be embarrassed
and complicated by ''rencontre" with his
train to Southbourne, and had no difficulty
in finding his way to Sea View 1t was one
of the row Of houses dull, monotonous
deadly respectable-looking, which could not
even boast of being semi-detached. and vet
dared-as the colonel noted with critical
disa pprobatio arrogate to themselves
Lodge-and so on. He would have liked to
find fault with the name of Sea View, but
anyhow il was not SO bad as its next
neighbor. Victoria Villa
The door was opened to him by a rosy
buxom young woman, looking fresh and
trim in a clean white cap and apron. He
glanced at her for a moment half doubt
fully. wondering IL this could be the object
Of his animadversion. the landlady's
daughter? then his eve fell ON the cap and
the idea vanished. He inquired for Mrs.
be pleased to walk this way?
As he passed through the narrow hall,
his sharp eye took note that the oil-cloth
was faded, the stair carpets considerably
worn, and the walls wanted reDaperng;
stfn the general aspect of the place was
clean and tidy. He was shown into a small
room at the back of the house: evidently
He did not give his name. but desired the
girl to tell Mrs. Williams that gentleman
wished to speak to her.
While waiting, he glanced critically
round the room. Its furniture plain
and somewhat shabby; doubt the best
Of the household chattels were put into the
letting rooms; but there was an air Of
comfort about 1t. and everything was spot
lessly clean. 1t looked like room that was
lived in: there were flowers on the mantel-
piece: work basket full Of work stood by
the easy chair: there was a Davenport with
some account books on IL, and some other
less busneSslike looking volumes Law on the