The record-union., 1896-05-03

1
his usual air of Byronic gloom still
l-emerging from it for a moment-"I've
got roise, Liz, an don't see no use in
| within, so let's settle it an git spliced as
soon as ever we kim When's it to be
eh?"
He put an arm around the girls
shoulder and looked down at her affec-
tionately.
"Oh, Bill! I-can't s'y-not jest yit, ;
she replied, raising her distressed blue
eyes. Father, yer know-'e's ag'nst it
since 'es been and got SAWED. Only
ter-d'y'e said e wasn't goin' to ave nc
bloomin' hanarchis' an hinfidels in is
family
The girl repeated the parental OBJ
jurgation quite gravely in a troubled
tone. Her lover retreated a few steps
leaned against the cupboard, folded his
arms, and looked darkly at Liz from
under frowning brows.
The girl glanced at him and broke into
an involuntary laugh, though her lips
were trembling and there We're tears ir
her eyes. ''You-you look like the young
forger chap at the Starr she cried
her voice shaken between laughter an6
tears.
Figson flushed and let his arms droI
at his sides
Look 'ere!' he said, angrily, ''none
of this bloomin' nonsense. / s'pose yo're
thinkin' of takin' the bonnet yerself
| then, are yer? It'll SCOT yer noicely!" he
| added, sarcastically.
mot MEL replied Liz, hotly. 'I don't
| old with screechin' and 'ollerin'-nevel
did. An no more won't father after a
bit, Bill she added, coaxingly. "'E's
been everythink, yer know-Methody
an Plymouths Brethren an Roman
Catholic-an' now 'e's jined the harmy
for bit. But it won't last" she said
hopefully; 'e'll soon get tired of 'oller-
in, an then, like as not, ell give is con-
sent, an We'll be married afore e jines
somethin' else, and then e can't hinder
US. Do let's wife a Bit
She spoke pleadingly, but Figson still
continued to regard her with disfavor.
"Jine my religi'n!' he repeated, scorn-
fully. I'm a freethinker. 1 thought
yer knowed that"
We'll, fathers not partickler," re-
turned Liz, innocently. "One religi'n's
as good as another to Unjust for the
tonne. Only, BILL don't want to git
married without 'e's willin' Moothe1
wouldn't ave liked it, she added
softly.
stuff an nonsensei" exclaimed Bill
abandoning the Star" manner of pol
ished villainy for one of more vulgar
anger. Think yo're goin' to come that
story over me, do yer, me disy? Yo're
plyin' fast an loose with me, that's
what yo're doin'- and l won't stand it
Go an try that on with AIRY Carpen-
ter,' he added sneeringly; ''p'r'aps ell
put up with it. l won't. Not mel" he
repeated, drawing himself up and in
fating his chest.
The dancers within were doing the
grand chain.
| "Chine! shouted AIRY Carpenter
the M. c., and there was a general
scuff1e, shouts and laughter.
Were did you git that at, Were did
you git that tile?" they sang as ths
music turned off into that popular re-
frain. Liz had got down from the high
stool. Her face was pale and her eyes
very bright.
| III trouble you to let me pass, Mr.
Figson," she said, holding her head
| erect. She paused with her hand on the
door handle. go an talk like that tc
|
der; "p'r'aps she'll stand it, but 1 won't
Not me-" And she threw open the door
The dance was over for the evening
A few of the boys had begun to prepare
| the room for a wood-carving class
while most of the company sought fresh
fields in the reading room, where it was
announced a concert would be held at
8 p. m.
Here the boys and girls took their
seats with scraping of forms and chairs,
| laughing, a little amateur step dancing
and much loud conversation.
| Figson was one of the first to take
! his place in the front row. The chair
next him he kept vacant-not for Liz,
presumably, for she was already seated
| beside AIRY Carpenter and was evil
| IDENTIFY in high spirits, for she laughed
great DEAL and so did AIRY, VINO re-
marked in audible tones that she was a
| "reg'lar cure" AT that moment girl
| a late-comer, appeared in the door
way, where she stood a moment, look
ing around for a seat.
"Ah hal" cried Figson, with we'll
rendered dramatic rapture. MY Raose,
my pretty Raose! My Raose without a
| thorn. Come ere," and he thumped
the chair next to him vigorously.
| Rose hesitated, glanced at Liz, blush
| ed and went like a lamb to the seat he
| indicated.
1t was really high honor to be sin
| gled out by Figson. There was some
thing very fascinating about F'igson.
His air of superiority and gloom was
| impressive and when he did unbend
| his graciousness was extreme but Rose
had rarely been favored with such an
| instance of his condescension as TO-
night He was an awfully clever chap
all the girls owned that. The words he
used were vaguely grand in their length
and mystery, as when, for instance, he
locked ON while they danced, and re-
marked that he liked to watch the
"exooberance of their spirits" Or, when
| he found fault with a lecturer for men,
| tioning Christianity on the ground that
il was only "paganism in another
form" The girls looked on and listened
with deep and uncomprehending inter-
est. wondered how he did it, and mar
veled that Liz lad the cheek to talk
to i'm
Liz was not talking to him tonight
however. She was devoting herself to
AIRY Carpenter, who beamed COM
placently, and, much to her surprise
Rose found herself overwhelmed with
attention from Figson, who even went
so far as to whisper that she was a
'disy. as we'll as a raose." This fiatter-
ing remark was conveyed during the
| chorus to Knocked En- in the Old
Kent Road" which was being sung en-
Enthusiastically to an accompaniment OF
I ~