The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-01-08
DAVID BALFOUR.
a Sequel to "Kidnaped."o
II ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON.
Part II.
copyright. 1892. by Rober. Louis Steve nson.l
CHAPTER VI-CosTrSCKp.

CHAPTER vL-cosrIsUKD.
/ must never deny that / was greatly
Mortified by 30 much basenes.. and much
unnamed by this immediacy and ugliness
of my danger. Mr.. Symon had already
gioried in the changes of my hue; / make
no doubt / was now no ruddier than my
shirt: my speech, besides, treInbled.
"There is q gentleman in this room"
cried l. II appeal to him. / put my life
and credit In his hands"
Prestongrange shut his book with a
snap. 81 told you so, Symon," said he;
''you have played your hand for 40 it was
worth. and you have lost. Mr.. David"
he went on, 81 wish you to believe it was
by no choice Of mine you were subjected
to this proof. l wish you could under
stand how glad I am you should come
forth from it with so much credit. You
may not quite see how, but it is a little of
a service to myself For had our friend
here been more successful than l was last
night, it might have appeared that he was
better judge Of men than /: it might
have appeared we were altogether in the
wrong situations, Mr.. Symon and myself.
And know our friend Symon to be am
bilious" says he. striking lightly on Fra
ser's shoulder. GAS for this stage play, it
IL over; my sentiments are very much en-
gagged in your behalf; and whatever issue
We can find to this unfortunate affair, |
shall make Ii my business to see it is
adopted with tenderness to you"
These we're very good words, and could
see besides that there was little love, and
perhaps O spice of genuine i'll will, be-
tween those two who were opposed to me.
For all that il was unmistakabie this in
terview had been designed, perhaps re-
hearsed, with the consent of both; it was
plain my adversaries were in earnest to
try me by all methods; and now fpersua-
sion, flattery and menaces having been
tried in vain) could not but wonder what
would be their next expedent. My eyes
besides were still troubled, and my knees
loose under me with the distress of the
late ordeal; and could do no more than
stammer the same form of words: 81 put
my life and credit in your hands"
well, well, said he, I'VE must try to
save them. And in the meanwhile let us
return to gentler methods. You must not
bear any grudge upon my friend. Mr..
Symon, who did but speak by his brief.
And even if you did conceive some malice
against myself, who stood by and seemed
rather to hold a candle, must not let that
extend to innocent members of my family.
These are greatly engaged to see more of
you, and cannot consent to have my
young womenfoik disappointed. Tomor-
row they will be going to Hope Park,
when | think il very proper you should
make your bow. Cali on me first, when l
may possibly have something for your pri-
vate hearing; then you shall be turned
abroad again under conduct of my misses;
m
promise of secrecy"
/ had done better to have instantly re-
fused, but in truth / was beside the power
of reasoning; did as l was bid: took my
leave | know not how; and when / was
forth again in the close, and the door had
shut behind me, was glad to lean on a
house wall and wipe my face. That hor-
rid apparition las may call it, of Mr.
Symon rang in my memory, as a sudden
noise rings after 1t is over on the ear
Tales of the mans father, of his falseness.
of his manifold perpetual treache-ies, rose
before me from all that | had heard and
read, and joined on with what had just
experienced of himself Each time it oc-
CURED to me the ingenious foulness of that
calumny he had proposed to nail upon NV
character startled me afresh. The case of
the man upon the gibbet by Leith Walk
appeared scarce distinguishable from that
was now to consider as my own. To rob
n child of so little than nothing more was
certainly paltry enterprise for two grown
men; but my own tale, as it was to be rem
resentedfn a court by Symon Fraser, APP
peared a fair second in every possible point
OF view of sordidness and cowardice
The voices of two of Prestongrange's
lveried men upon his doorstep recalled
me to myself.
Haze" said the one. ''this billet as fast
as We can link To the Captain"
lis that for the cateran back again ?'
asked the other.
at would seem sac. " returned the first
Him and Symon are seeking him"
II think Prestongrange is game gyte. I"