The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-11-10

( THU HOSTESS OF THU GRIFFIN (
FLORENCE B4BDEx
w
->NN(-
ri FLoEESCE B6BDEN.

I sire frEled one bD1Gr0 arm ID 11ic 2iA.t
/ % the sergeant. crying in q voice Of hearty
I welcoro:
ssWhat, Is that you. F.beu2 Eben
Miles, Bless your heart, lad. I'm glad 10
see you.'
As Eben passed into the bar and shook
I her hand in response 10 this hearty lnEi-
fati0n. Ned stepped out Of his way, and
4 in this manner came between the SER
eeant and the younger sister. who looked
into his face and evidently concluded that
! De vas a friend 81 E.ben's. she shrugged
her shoulders, therefore, and gave him
glance which was fllii OF Ve1ation.
Look at mat" soc sad IN a low voice;
appealing az 10 one wiIo knew all about
t. That's fust Ike Harriet. She doesn't
care hoy mueh she aggrayates Bob. And
such a hunaor as he's IL this afternoon,
too
but" urged Ned. entering into the sit
uafion. what could Fob object 70 in your
sisters manner ] should think that frank
welcome a much better sign, II ! were q
husband. than Il she had started and
binShed aad bea8 reticeut and shy"
Minnie sighed, and glanced II from the
passage where she and Ned We're stand
ing 20 the bar, where her sister and Eben
were holding an earnest conversation.
"You mighti'' she said al last. But I'm
much mistaken II Bob VIII And If he
turns nasty. as he's pretty nearly sure to
do. she win go on behaving just the same.
You see, / know her spritr
AS she finished speaking. Minnie turned
her head toward the staircase. just as a
heavy f0tstep made the old boards squeak.
4 vide. old-fasaioued staircase il was.
with shallow steps, and an old tail clock
standing at an angle. The light of the
summer afternoon streamed warm and
mellow through the little window. and
showed Ned the host of the Griffin HIM
SELF. as he lurched heavily down the stairs
4 ma n 4rae. ~ 4hrFa and
thirty years Of age, Bob France had a
dark-comple xloned, sullen face. q thick
crop OF black hair. and a muscular. sturdy
figure.
who's that at the bar?" ne asked short
~. as he approached Minnie.
Then, without waiting for an enswer, ne
pushed pas. her 80 roughly that ne made
her s.agger. and dashed into the presence
OF h.s wife and her old sweetheart.
An exclamation escaped Minnia's lips:
ana Il was clear that she expected some
violence on the part OF her brother-tn-law,
that Ned fustlnctively made step for
ward n order that he might interfere, II
n Saould be necessary. between the two
men. But Bob put strong cCnstralnt upon
himself. and thrusting his hands into his
pockets. cried out in a sort Of jeering tone:
Well, Miles, come back like bad half
penny. eh?'
Yes. Bob I'm back again" said the
sergeant. stepping back without the least
appearance OF confusion or awkw9rdness
10 greet mis- old acquaintance.
Bob affected not 70 see the other mans
outstgetched hand.
And you're talking over old times,
suppose, with Harriet went on HarrietS
husband. in a snarling tone.
His tone was insulting. and II was not
surprising that - hish-spirted matron
should feel annoyed by Il.
Yes. We we're talking OR old times. g"
she said. boldly. and with an honest
fraukness which. in the face OF her hus-
bands mean suspicious, enlisted Ned's
sympathies at once on her behalf And
where's the harm2 The old times are
over and gone now. but there was moth
ing in them to be ashamed OF. and moth
Ing we can't have a laugh over now.
And / should hope Bob. IL We have had a
few words this morning. you and I.
which I won't deny" and she laughed n
! Jolly laugh as she looked from the one to
/ the other. that youl be ready 10 make
/ II up now. OF the strength Of the home
/ coming Of an old friend, and that you'l
/ ask him TO have cup % tea With us"'
! Her tone was SO pleasant, her manner
so winning. that Ned would have thought
J lt impossible for mortal man to refuse her
"Dh. you've made up your mind 10 he
I emIable now. have yOu?' said the land
/ lord. "lve 20 thank Miles for that. sup
pose"
Come now. Bob. am 7 not always the
first 10 give in. tell me that" said his
VIE. who was stiu leaning over the coun-
ter. showing her white. even teeth in a
smile which gave her face the beauty Ned
/ had previously thought il lacked
so You ought TO be-" retorted her hus-
band
''WeH. 81 I do What I ought, always.
/ isn't IL fair YOU should DO what you ought
/ too and make 81 up2''
/ Bat Bob hesitating still. caught sight
I 81 a look on the face OF the young ser
( gcant. a shy look OF admiration which
i inaamed his somber jealousy afresh.
/ well. ! suppose" said be, in a ieerlng
+ tone. that l must he one Of those people
! who never do what they ought. For [
never FELT less like making e up IN my
life. and 50 ] tel you. And Won can 20
+ into the parlor there. ana md out what
/ 'hose people want that have Just come
! in tE serve The gentlemen here"
/ Ani be went through into the bar. and
! icrked bis thumb in the direction OF the
} little private room on the right at the end
+ ~ the passage. towards which a party ~
/ travellers from a cab outside were making
/ tooir way.
Harriet b.t hey lip. threw demurely
I sauly glance az tho sergeant without taxi
Eng any pains that her husband should
ros see II ard walked down the passage.
Ntd nu4 the sergeant had their drink.
! ard. not being encouraged TO talk fy-their
sariy host. they then went out Eben lead
j ing the way through fhe yard at the back
{ 50 'hat he might exchange few words
more VITA tAe younger SISTER. Miuntc.