Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-11-04

sit preaching here for all the world as
If knew something of these great sub
iects. life ffland honor. and even death
play he something and forgive me.
T.odv stavneyard turned 10 the harpsi-
chord an instrument on which she boast
ed an admirable proficiency. A gavotte OF
GluclTs Sc, Mr.. Hawley in mind Of vol
ure by a. young and little known com
poser-a Mr.. Mozart He had brought the
book with him as a present to his hostess
if she would excuse him for moment ne
would bring the gift TO her.
The music. he recollected, was in his
bed cham Der in the locked valise. WhlIe
he was searching for 1t. he caught the I'M
mfstakable sound of a snow ball striking
the window of the dressing room adJoln-
/ ing. He found the book and without paus-
inf, to lock the valise, went to the dress
ing room window This ne flung open.
Outside in the snow-covered court yard
he saw little blue-eyed Celia Stayne. In
he, hand was a second snow ball, which,
with marvellous accuracy for child Of
eight. she aimed at Hawley. In a mo-
ment Mr. Hawley replied, collecting the
]
battle ensued. In no time, however. his
ammunition ran out, and he withdrew
"Ah. you coward, Mr.. Hawley. he
! heard her calling, come down and fight
it out"
As he passed through the ben room, he
( caught sight of the valise lying shut, ap-
| parently exactly as he had left it, with
the key in the lock. and he turned the
key without opening it. Little did he
think that in so short a space of time Mas
ter Horace had been there curiously
searching for the birthday present he had
so foolishly mentioned to him. This the
child had not found, but pistol and a
wonderful scarlet coat had instantly
struck his fancy, and calmly extracting
these from their hiding place, he had
slipped out of the room with them.
Mr.. Hawley returned to the drawing
room. Lady Stayneyard was not there.
! The room was quite empty. on her lady
ships escritore lay the programme OF the
conc ert for that evening. 1t was written
in ahne, clear hand and inscribed with
many curls and fiourishes. lie read
twice "Song-Mr. George Hawley,' a2I
he tried to make up his mind which Oh
the favorites he would sing.
He was softly humming to himself the
opening bars of a ballad TO a setting by
Purcell. when II = ugh the open doorway
lie heard Lady Stayneyard's voice
, Mr.. Hawley! Mr.. Hawley!' she cried.
Help, l am attacked
There was no distress whatever in the
tone. but for all that in a moment Eawley
was at the foot of the staircase, from
whence he fancied the cry came.
Here a curious sight met him. -Four
stems from the top of the fight, leaning
against the wall just under the famous
Laughton Zusshero, stood Lady Stayne-
ward. with a look of the greatest amuse-
ment in her eyes. But on the landing at
the top the winter sunlight, through the
great west window, Showed Hawley a
figure which for moment, made him
almost faint.
There stood little fair-haired Horace
dressed in faded scarlet coat which
traied on the ground, and over his face
he wore the Grape mask he had found in
TN epocket of it.
Hawley recognized the coat in fash,
though it was many months since he had
seen it by daylight, and he set himself
down for lost.
In the Kings name, you will deliver
10 CAPTAIN Scarlet" cried Horace to his
mother. not noticing Hawleys presence.
And with that he raised a cooked pistol
! Hawlev's smaller weapon-and pointed it
az his mother. who with well-assumed
fright was fumbling in the pocket of her
dress. Hawley saw the danger at once.
The pistol. he remembered, was loaded.
As like as not this child would kill his
mother as she stood there laughing at
him.
With this recollection came to him that
strange mental clearness and sense OF
strength which the sight of danger al
WAYS provoked in him. and a recklessness
that was somewhat more than unusual.
Ouick as thought he shouted, Captain
Scarlet. by your leave I am here 10 defend
mis- lady. You will shoot me first" And
he raised his right hand, pointing the fore
finger at Horace and swapping the other
in a make-believe pistol fashion.
Instantly the action had the desired eff
feet Horace. noticing Hr. Hawley for
the first time, turned the barrel full on
him.
81 wait for no man." cried the little boy
unless maIQma ndlluS lilS ilSA J0"N'@'
shall count three and fire
The inartistic lapse of mamma TOT
"this lady" did not, you may be sure es-
cane George Hawley. In the SECONDS
which followed, his grave eyes for mo-
ment met those of Lady Stayneyard.
with a faint shade of irritation he no
ticed that she smiled a little. How slowly
Horace counted. At two" Lady Stayne-
,.ard held her hands to her ears. a cold
sonse of calm, almost triumph, came 10
him. MI, .
o,;c,, and he knew that the pistol had
flashed in the pan. He thought no" I'M
like the great highwayman such mis-
tal,o was Then to his horror he heard
Lady Stayneyard say;
Horace. where did you find the wonder
full coat? What a formidable pistol 100
Almost like a real one.
"r found them in Mr.. Hawley's the
child began. 80. ma.
Rut Hawley cut him short. You little
rascal he cried. seizing him by the arm
and quickly taking the pistol from hiih'
You have disclosed my secret.
..Vhat secret. Mr.. Hawley?" Lady stay
neyard asked.
why" said Hawley and he was nm
self once more, Il wished 1t to be sur.
prise. had a notion to sing couple Oh
songs in this costume, which had made
ON purpose, at your entertainment TINS
evening. Topical you know. Gentlemen
all. in the name of the king, and 'What'
no there. my gallant spark style OF al
fair. They would not fail in this partcu-