Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-06-26


ton as aCOuld mad dog"
Hawkins looked at all of it with a
contemptuous eye-it was 20 poor and
| rough, poverty stricken almost, beside
his gorgeous imaginings of what might
so easily be in its stead. Very deliberate
ly he flung his reins over the limb of a
near maple, got down and walked to the
| upon the lowermost one and said in deep
est chest tones:
""Good day, major I'd like little
talk with you shis morning. Will you
come out with me, or shall I come in?"
Good day, sir. Be seated" Major
| Overton said, rising courteously to well
come the guest, at sight Of whom Dare
had vanished.
Hawkins climbed the three steps in
| front Of him with the ponderous tread
| Of an angry man and sat heavily down
in big splint chair, dropped his hat
upon the floor and said, brushing over
his mustacho fine, scented cambria
| handkerchief:
"You are surprised, know, to see me,
major, but my surprise is that haven't
| come before"
A deep line drew in betwixt Major
Overton's brows, but he said, with no
! hint Of impotence in his tone:
''Indeed! Then you must have urgent
business?"
Il have" said Hawkins, increasing
his legs and setting both feet firm on the
floor. Leaning forward, he continued:
1.-The fact is, major, you haven't used
me well i'll this last turn Of affairs. You
know, for l sent you word through Hill
dreth, how l stand regarding this sale,
yet just for chimera you set yourself
| against everything If it meant nothing
to anybody but yourself, I'd agree you
had perfect right to oct-well, the fool
if it suited you. But taking money out
of my pocket is another thing. Do you
think it is quite square, considering all
you owe me?"
The last wor1s were spoken very low,
but Major Ovsrton caught their full
meaning. He st up very straight, and
lightning began to play under his pent
house brows. Gripping hard the wooden
arms of his chair, he said, not loudly,
but with a ring of Defiance:
mo doubt, Mr.. Hawkins, right and
honor are to you but chimeras, not a
| feathers weight in the scale against
hard cash. Unfortunately for you, see
| differently. AS to any obligation that
l may be under, if money or material
advantage can discharge it, then it does
not exist.
Hawkins rose up in white fury.
do you mean to say that ie?" he
roared. Wouldn't you have paid all
and more than all you were worth to
keep people from hearing that your only
daughter willfully, knowingly, ran away
with married man? By the Lord, sir,
they shall hear it, with proof, too, such
proof as cannot be pushed aside, unless
| you listen to reason. I've been easy with
you, your friend so long, you forgot,
didn't you, how l could cut your pride?
| Now make your choice and be quick
about it. I'm not in the humor to stand
any moro of your airs
Both men had risen and stood face to
face. Major Overton's jaw was like iron,
his eyes deadly, but his hands hung at
his side, his tone was low and even as
| he said:
Under my roof, Mr.. Hawkins, you
say what you please. Repeat your threats
away from it, will answer them as
they deserve.
You shall suffer for this" Hawkins
said, turning upon his heels.
''No, you will" said Allen Fauntle-
roy, who had come unheard of either
contestant and stood bare three feet
away.
''Stand aside" said Hawkins furious
ly. trying to shoulder past. Allen caught
him i'll hard grip, shook him as dog
shakes a rat and said through set teeth:
''You hound, you hound, to threaten
an old man in this bastard fashion! Go
now, but take this word with you-the
minute you dare to speak of anything in
that miserable past You sign your own
death warrant! 1t touches me, too, re-
member. / will shoot you with as little
compunction as would mad dog.
As Hawkins reeled down the steps
Allen turned to Major Overton.
Forgive my intrusion, sir" he said,
cor at least hear my errand before you
punish it. You warned me fairly of the
risk ran in coming, but in spite of it
felt that must see you here at once
again.
will you come within to speak?"
Major Overton said, with grave cour-
tesy, leading the way to the small office
Allen remembered so well. The old man
Eas spent and shaken in spite of his iron
nerve. He sat down heavily, with a long
sigh, and said as though speech were
painful:
''Since our last meeting, Mr.. Faunt-
leroy, my opinion of you has changed,
though unluckily fate has put it out of
the power of either Of Us to change our
course of action.
ITO no nnpf;uuaI