The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1894-02-01
BEYOND DISPUTE.
How Midway Settled the Claims
of His Creditors

evenly IN most countries. lie looked
up and woman looked after him; she
remembered his face all that day, and
he knew that she would, though he had
never seen her before or wanted to see
her again.
Nothing definite was known about
Midway. Where he had come from or
whether he had relation in the world
no one cared. He appeared to be well
off, and he was said to own a vast prop
erty out in Australia, where his father
had been a governor or something; that
was enough. He was tall, cookbook
ing man of about four-and-thirty, dark
and silent, with slow leisurely man
ner that was magnetic. There was a
touch of the uncanny about him now
and then; he appeared to have no sense
of morality; but at the same time he
had an air of distinguished simplicity
that convinced most people of his ex-
IRENE truthfulness and honesty Phys
ical fear was unknown to him. His
clothes We're always well cut, he
smoked the very best cigars, and there
was generally Z flower in his button
hole. Women loved him in no time,
not wisely and occasionally too well.
But they never blamed him; he al
ways seemed so sorry for them, and
called himself a rutfian, and promised
all manner of things, and when moth
ing came of his promises he had way
of saying: My dear | couldn't help
it." in a tone of such tender misery
that it finished them entirely. Then
they went away and silently broke
their hearts or drowned themselves, or
took an overdose of choral, did any
thing rather than worry him; and he
went on to the next woman and made
love with a chastened air that had an
immense success And he was 50 grave
and silent, and always said such kind
things OF everybody that they never
guessed he looked upon the world as d
place made for his especial comfort,
and the people in it as puppets with
wires stuck through them, which he
pulled to amuse himself. He took It
quite as matter of course that trades
men should give him credit. If they
asked for a settlement he said he
wouldn't forget them when his remit
tances came from Australia, and he
was always so calm and assured, and
Immediately gave orders which in
creased the account so largely that
it was impossible not to trust him He
lived in stbourne Terrace, a locality
we'll suited to man who was well-off,
but only with colonial money. He said
this to two or three of his creditors; it
treasured them immensely.
Still. things were becoming a little
complicated.
My dear Mrs. Berwick" he said to
the lady who kindly looked after his
household affairs-a widow, of course
al am extremely sorry that these fellows
should bother you. When | have time
to look into their claims I'll send them
about their business"
1t was the same thing with the serv-
ants. He expected everything done
faultlessly and with extreme punctual-
ity. He ruled them completely with
his slow smile and pleasant voice, so
that they would not have dared to dis
obey him by a hairs breadth; but not
one of them had been paid for months.
They were glad of it. They felt their
day, when he remembered it, he would
pay them all, and the tradespeople,
too, probably, double as much as he
owed them. They had the greatest
contempt for the duns, and did not fail
to show it.
He walked slowly along Westbourne
Terrace towards the park. Yes" he
said the game is nearly played out
Which way it ends depends upon Vic
toria and this afternoon If she cares
the debts will be mere trfle to her
and her half million, and We'll have
time together fit to make the arch
angels come tumbling through the
skies with envy" He stopped before
big house near Connaught square. The
servants-they appeared to hang about
in grOups-evidently knew him; the
hall was lavishly furnished with pic
lures and palms and ella borate carvings.
"Your colonial always does things by
wholesale" he thought; there is moth
ing of the retail dealer about him. l
expect that accounts for my difficulties
at the present time; ought to have
piled things up great deal higher" A
tall, middle-aged woman received him
in the drawing-room. She was dressed
in black, her face was worn, her smile
bright and unexpected.
Victoria is not in, Mr.. Midway"
She spoke with an American accent.
That is unfortunate" he said, after
moment; but it would have been
worse if had not seen you"
You always manage to say nice
things"
You have a way of making me feel
Them he said with an air of convic-
ton, land am sorry | have only few
minutes to stay"
Probably you have heard our news?
have done nothing all morning but
write homep' He looked at her in si-
lence. II always thought it was going
TO be you, Mr.. Midway, but you see
Lord Ernest was quicker, and believe
Victoria likes him because he is poor.
She would have felt that she was not
turning her money to proper account if
she had married rich man"
For a moment he appeared to be in a
dream.
That's fine idea," he said; Its
like most other things about her.
can't pretend to be glad, but Darby