New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-09-29

and IL does, somehow. returHeu '"V -.
in a pleasant conversational tone ""S ! -.
about TO remark that never served even III
the Militia. so | do not know now " S ayaJ
sword; but l am a capital shot Ana ne eye"
his adversary closely. . $500,
You have your choice Of weapons. retulhe,n
the Italian. calmly. IL have the hohof " VIC"
you good morning. sir -, r1
Good morning, sir repneu tie "'"'' ~
they separated. 49,, ,.,,o, Rod
kin waited on the Irish Bodkln To arrange
meeting at the dawn. so as 10 eVade 'he ''i"
binier: who have a way Of turning up on the
ground as If they had been sent Tor, ana cor
veying the combatants before a.. d ~, arransc
the difference before proceeding TO extremes 50
that this one testified that his prlnCpai WA, "as
really called Bodkn. that his family nau uee. n
Italian for three generations. The young man
remembered his grandfather. who had mace
money in Australia. and was In very e9ou
circumstances. but he had taken 10 palms
as profession. The youths father was d
learned man and a professor in Pubic schooi'
He lost his patrimony by pad inVes,lhen''
and died poor The son was a teacher III the
elementary government schools, ana was 'he
chief support Of his mother and sister lie gave
lessons in the evening to the forestieri' chieny
English people He was clever ieHoW' anu
burned the midnight oil in study.
Alexander Bodkin drew out this story by luss
lions and showing by his manner friendly
interest In the family history OF ms namesans.
IAN this is very interesting. he said Ana
he has a mother and sister dependent on MN.
"The sister teaches also. and earns enough 10
dress herself but when a bad year comes anu
lessons are few then both are snort me
mother is a constant invalid. and they save an
they can for her--to take her to the mlnerai
baths in summer and make her cohIor'aoe'
They love her very much. $4,000.
II should like to have talk with your lrlehu'
said Alexander.
But YOU are going to fght?"
at would be quite incorrect in that case
know: but | do not intend 10 fight II Is an
nonsense and felt inclined TO roar when ne
proposed it. it absurd; but humoreu
his whim for the fun IF the thing. Let us go
North and visit my nainesake.
The friend took his hat with a pleased smile.
content with his ability as diplomatist. ihey
walked In silence Alexander Bodkin fumlnai-
ing on the family history. He called 10 mind
that two younger brothers Of his grandfather
had gone TO Australia when mere youths
They had ceased TO write home AFTER
their parents dropped off, and were be-
lieved to be dead long before their granddaughter
Alexander was born And now. by the merest
chance. he had come upon trace OF one 81 ms
granduncles had encountered his descendant.
and was near fighting him for the right to bear MS
name.
II was bitterly cold day. and the north wind
seemed to be blowing from all points. as Alex
ander remarked to his guide in his inconsequent
Irish way regardless OF sense and science.
What would yOu?" said the Italian. apollo
eetically I'VE must remember that we are in the
heart of winter. This is Christmas Eve.
"Oh am not complaining. returned Bodkln
cheerfully: II am accustomed 10 q worse Vind-a
wind that would take the hair Of your head ont by
the roots. and oak trees in the same manner But
you are walking in the middle OF the street TO be
sure il is just clean as the sidewalk but the
carriages make II slightly inconvcnient
81 always walk in the middle OF the street re-
turned the Italian since have had two narrow
escapes Of my life by walking on the footway
"Brigands?' suggested the freshman
I'VE have no brigands in orr cities returned
the Italian "No. II is the fatal tendency people
have to throw themselves down from third-story
windows that makes life uncertain for the passer-
by | fear they would make me cold as well as
themselves Here are at our friends door
h ic1 .t.N o.
name beside the door bell. rivederla
Alexander mounted the long flights OF dark
stone stairs. which were common To SIX families,
and at last reached the third floor and read on the
plate with a strange sensation the unique
name" of Bodkin which lac had fiattered himself
was peculiar to his race The door was opened ,e'
by a young girl. very plainly dressed, but lady
Ike looking. She was a pale brunette with beau
tifu raven hair twisted in heavy coils at the back
of her small head. She showed the visitor INTO
salottino and said she would advise her Drother
of his presence. 1t was small room with white
muslin curtains and bare brick floor In front OF
the sofa was a square Of carpet and round this in
a circle were ranged several chairs so that all the
company might share the bit of carpet
Our traveller glanced his quick eye round the
room and genteel poverty written on every
object. What struck him most was the number or
books and the handsome binding Of some OF them
which he saw in a large bookcase and lying on the
table He opened one or two and tOund they were
presents from English friends and pupils
In a few minutes the door opened and his ad-
versary entered. He like his sister. delicately
dents life He had brown eyes and broad
square forehead with dark hair standing straight
up. like King Humberts; ne was Of middle stat
ure, slight and thin. well dressed in dark unob-
trusve colors. The stranger soon as he saw
him. advanced smiling and said
y beg your pardon for my rudeness this morn
ing" and offered his hand which the Italian took
with great cordially.
81 not only acknowledge you: right to the name
which had hitherto believed the exclusive pos
session of my family, but an. come to claim you
as k.nsman. I have good reason to believe that
we are related
"My dear sir I am pleased and nattered TO hear
it, But how? Pray be seated"
Tell me all you know about your family his
tory" said Alexander seating himself on the sofa
and stretching out his long legs to the centre OF
the carpet. while his host drew an easy-chair in
front of him, and they took a long look at each
other. The Italian then related more circum-
stantially what We have already heard about his
Australian grandfa Their. Alexander listening at
tentvely: he then told his story. which dove
tailed into the imperfect sketch he had Just heard
The departure of the two boys sixty years before,
moved thereto by the growing poverty OF the
dwindl.ng estate, the number of sisters TO be for
tuned off it, and the spirit Of adventure so strong
in English youths, had been family tradition
which his aunts had often repeated. Their names
were Alexander and Oliver.
"OliVer my grandfather" said Amedeo.
There is no longer any doubt about our common
ancestry" And he took anotbe long look at his
visitor. He was handsome fellow with bloom
Ing complexion, white and rosy. dark wavy hair.
dark arched eyebrows. and those peculiar eyes
which are called Irish gray" with large pupils
and a changing light In them. 1t struck AmedcO
that there something familiar to him in his
face The Irishman bore the scrutiny with
pleasant smile. and then said in his soft mellow
| voice with a certain accent which betrayed his
nationality, though not what could be called
| brogue:
"Well. do you like me for a cousn?"
every much indeed" replied the other laugh
ing. and holding out his hand which Alexander
| grasped warmly.
"NoW I'll tell you all about myself" he said con-
/ fdentially. II belong to that unhappy class
| called distressed Irish landlords. The land has
! gone down in value by degrees-wants capital TO
/ improve t-no money to be had-tenants miser
! ably poor-wont pay up-l won't press the poor
/ devils ! have to live economically | can
chiefly on the Continent. where one gets more for
/ ones money than at home. and the sunshine
gratis. The old place is delightful In summer;
though the house Is shabby IL is still comfortable
! | have two dear old aunts who live there always.
! L...a tha, rLlI har nrnI.isnu