Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1894-10-05
THE SECOND SIGNATURE.

.
widow-3O (confessed) summers.
Eunice Hardy, an orphan-20 summers.
The Colonel Seated alone and look
ing down the each)-'Yes! 1t is
Mrs. Mordaunt. What a handsome
woman! What dashing woman"
(Lapham enters, hopping his rubi-
cund countenance with his handker-
chief.
Lapham-"Whew-ew Myl But it's
hot! Hello! Hello, Bob! looks
down the beach. What is it? A fire"
The Colonel-"Oh! N-n-nun-no-
OIL Why, it's you, Morley! This is
an unexpected delight
(Rises, shakes Iapham's hand and
sits down again.
Lapham-"Where are all the folks 2"
The Colonel looking down the
beach AGAIN. boating, or
bathing, or somewhere. aside.
He's caught up to her. Confound his
gray hairs and presumption. [ be-
lieve the old fool is serious. ITO Nor
ley)-Ahem Got too hot in town
for you, did it? No wonderl ] have
campaigned it in Arizona in August,
but it's nothing to Broadway on
day like this. -
Lapham-"Hot? Simply seething,
sizzling hot But you slim fellows
shouldn't complain. Wait until you
weigh hundred and seventy-fve."
The Colonel pushing an electric
button)-"You make me thirsty. Will
you have a lemon and seltzer?''
Lapham every apropos! The
quicker the better, Bob. I simply
made time in order to get down here
Hotter it IS, buster | am. [ sail for
London tomorrow at IL for the Atlas
Company. Capital ten million and
they've mele me their attorney, Boo. "
The Colonel (endeavoring to be en-
thusiastic)-'Lucky dog! Every
thing comes your way. We poor chaps
IN the army never get any such
chances"
Lopham-''Whero did you say
Eunice WASP"
The Colonel-"Out with Young
BradsIeigh."
Lapham (tugging at his mustacho)-
sob, the son of the millionaire %
The ColoneI-''Yes. His heads as
empty as his pocket is full"
Lapham-"'Bob %
: The Colonel -"Well?"
Lapham-''Bob, I came down here
to see Eunice--to-ah-settle little
matter. Eunice will DO twenty-one
before [ return"
The Colonel-"And you are in
trap?"
Lapham-"Yes-yes-t that's it
that's it, Bob"
The Colonel-"When he, fathers
estate was settled there was nothing
left and you have educated her and
cared for her practically out of your
own pocket because of your love for
her dead brother-dear old Tom, l
can see him now rushing in at the
head of his men, and l can hear him
saying rs he lay there in the dust with
that red imp's bullet in his breast
60 onl Go onl Run the dogs down
Don't bother about me I"
Doth use their handkerchiefs freely,
principally about the eyes,.
Lapham-''No, not that. You didn't
understand me. [ made very lucky
investment for Eunice-verv lucky in
vestment-very, Bob. Whew-ew
But it's hot"
The Colonel-"Yes."
Lapham (suddenly and anxiouslv)
Don't you ever let Eunice know u
word"
The Colonel (rising in his chair and
81
knowing me oil these years, do you
think [ am that sort of man?"
Lapham-"No, no, dear old fellow.
I spoke before l thought. You see.
Bob, l get very Lonesome in my bach
elor quarters, and
The Colonel (aside)-'sAs I sus
pected. He's after her, too. TO
Morleyl-Yes-yes I'm listening"
IA piece of paper futters out of
window directly overhead and lands
ct Morley's feet; but neither he nor
the Colonel sees it.
Lapham-"Ah! You see, Bob, nv
care for Eun1ce has brought me to
to"
The Colonel-"Mrs Mordaunt?"
3Lapham g(absently)s-"A fine woman
very fine woman, Bob Whew but
it's hot!"
The Colonel-'' Er-er-yes.
Lapham-''Superb chaperon!"
The CoIonel-"Unriyaled! Er-er
you wouldn't be lonesome with Mrs,
Mordaunt, you mean?''
Lapham (aside) -"Oh, I seel ITO
the ColoneD-No, no, no. I had
never thought of her in that respect.
Besides, | can see that your military
bearing has won her already"
The colonel-''Oh, no! Won't you
have another lemon and seltzer, Nor
ley?-lf that waiter ever comes. That
Atlas Company affair is the stroke of
your lie. "fJumns up and vigorpusfv
shakes Lapham's handy 1 am as
happy about it as you are. It's great
simply great, and you deserve it.
Deserve it all and more"
Lapham-''Bob, it's Eunice of whom
wish to speak to you. Let me say it
frankly: [ came down here to ask her
to he my wife. l do not want her I'M
less she wants me, and if che should
accept me because of what I have done
Tor her and not because she loves me.
when L found it out l should be mis-
cradle. You have seen US together,
Bob. am much older. You know |
have never cared for society, and I'm
q sort of back number in the art of
courtship, dare say. But, Bob, old
fellow, do you think-she cares for
me?"
The Colonel-''You want the truth?"
Lapham with emotion) Nothing
else-and all OF it. D."
Tho Colonel-"She is with Young /
Bradsleigh constantly. People say |
they are engaged"