The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1893-01-13
7lRII ETOB BOYS.
BY W. E. Moat..a

chair. A rush OF blood made his cheeks
crimson for moment, and then ebbed
slowly away, leaving them Of chalky
whiteness For full minute he uttered
never word; then he advanced slowly to-
ward me from behind the table, trembling
agood deal. Maynard, my dear fellow, y
said he, quite quietly, '1t Is not possible
that you can be telling the truth. Some.
body has played foolish hoax upon
you"
And when shook my head, 'My good
sir, {" he went on, with rather more impa-
uence, VI tell you that the thing is i'm
possiblel You will allow me to know
something about my own son, suppose,
Brhcknell Is what you please--I never
called him perfect, God knowsl-but at
least he is d man Of honor You don't
seem TO take In that no honorable man
could act In the way that you describe.n
''lt is not altogether unprecedented, /
ventured TO observe.
II don't care whether it's unprece-
dented or not; Bracknell never did It. II
he had been determined to marry this
,his lady, he would have detled me and
done 1t in the light Of day like man,
knowing very well what the consequences
would be. But as for sinking of with
her on the sly and betraying The conf.
dence OF his friend-pooh! don't tell mel
If you brought the whole parish to swear
10 1t, wouldn't believe IT,.
Isuppose he was really less incredulous
than he professed TO be, poor old fellow,
for presently he added: "And pray, where
did you get this precious piece Of informa-
ton fromy'
And then told him the whole story.
1t was one Of the most unpleasant things
that have ever had 10 do in my life, and
when had said my say wanted to 90
away and leave him; but he held me back,
gripping my arm tightly. So far he had
listened TO me quietly enough, scarcely in
terrupting me and only once or twice
muttering under his breath word or two
which ] could not catch, but now on a
sudden his anger burst forth in a storm Of
disjointed incoherent sentences.
Al'll never see his face again-never!
You may tell him so from me. He has
chosen TO take his own way, and by the
Lord he shall haveit Not another penny
shall he have, I'll stop his allowance
deyilish handsome allowance, too!-and
his debts, which have paid again and
again, by George, without so much as
grumbling-a fool and his money-but
he'll find that I'm not quite the fool he
takes me for. Damn il all, sirl did you
come up here with the idea that you were
going 10 talk me over' You have got up
this scheme among you--you and that
girl and old Turner, man who owes
everything TO Inc and thinks he can play
me such trick with impunity But I'll
very soon let him see his mistake, He
shall resign the living, as sure as stand
herepi
81 think you forget, Lord Staines,m
interrupted, that ], at least, can have
had no conceivable object In furthering
Hilda's schemes. II had known any
thing about them, or had had any power
over them, should have done my best to
put stop to them for poor Jim Leigh's
sake
''Yes, yes--I know, " he answered, with
q complete change Of tone 81 beg your
pardon, Maynard; don't mind what ! sa
about you; didn't mean 1t. mean what
say about Bracknell, Thoughtful never
speak 10 him again. Oh, Harry, that boy
has broken my hearti He knew 1t was
essential that he should marry money
and then to ruin himself for the sake Of
such a girl as that. You needn't pity
Jim Leigh; he's well rid Of bad bar
gain"
Very likely he was, but unfortunately
there was no likelihood at all that he
would take that view Of the matter. |
was beginning to say as much, but the
words died away upon my lips; for at this
moment the door was thrown open and
Jim himself strobe into the room. As
soon as | saw his face | perceived that
some one had been beforehand with me,
and that there was no longer any occasion
for me TO consider in what words he might
best be informed Of Hilda's fight.
He glanced rapidly at each Of us in turn.
"Its true, thenY' he exclaimed.
Lord Staines wheeled round upon him
with an odd access of fury. "True!--yes,
it's true enough. Why the devil shouldn't
II be truey Did you make the mistake Of
supposing that my son was an honorable
mani Why, what simpleton you must
bel I--I'i----
He stopped abruptly, stared at us for an
instant with fixed, glazing eyes, and then,
swaying forward, would have fallen on
bis face II Jim had not caught him.
Between us we lifted him on tothe sofa,
and then the servants were called, and
poor little Lady Mildred had to be sent
for. told her in as few words as possible
what was the cause Of her fathers seizure,
thinking 1t best that she should know the
truth; and, so far as / could judge, she
was not very greatly surprised. She
kept her presence OF mind admirably, dis
playing no agitation and doing what little
could be done until the doctor. came.
Later In the day great London man
was telegraphed for; but our local practi-
tioner oonfided to me that he would not
have considered this step necessary in the
case Of patient Of less exalted rank.
"Will lie die, thenS'' asked.
"Well, no, answered the doctor; mot
this time. But he will never be the same
again. have told Lady Mildred that she
NAV exercise her own Judgment about