The herald., 1896-04-26

WHAT WAS SHE TO DO?
scarcely like to stay there any longer; only,
man, I'm positively afraid to leave him
alone. You'll see I shall be blamed for it
later on. I'm staying at great sacrifice.
I'm hindering my chances at the Bar, and
| can't blind my eyes to it. And what I'm
afraid of is that I'm going to get kicked
for il all round before alfs done You.
see nobody believes in friendship nova
days"
We'll Innes' his interlocutor would
reply, its very good of you l must say
that If there's any blame going you'll
always be sure of my good word, for gne
thing .ss .s-S--s.,
.'Well," Frank would continiiey candid-
ly, | don't say it's pleasant. He has ..
very rough way with him: his fathers
son. YOU know. | don't say he's rude-of
course I couldn't be expected to stand
that--but he steers very near the wind.
No. it's not pleasant; but I tell ye, man.
in conscience l don't think it would be fair
to leave him. Mind you, / don't say
there's anything actually wrong. What l
saw is that | don't like the looks of it.
man. he would press the arm of his mo-
mentary confidant.
In the early stages | am persuaded there
was no malice. He talked but for the
pleasure of airing himself. He was essen
tally glib as becomes the young advocate,
and essentially careless Of the truth, which
is the mark of the young ass, and SO he
talked at random. There was no parIcu-
lar bias, but that one which is indigenous
and universal to fatter himself and to
please and interest the present friend. And
by thus milling air out of his mouth, he
had presently built up presentation OF
Archie which was known and talked Of in
all corners of the county. Wherever
there was residential house and walled
garden, wherever there was dwarfsh cas-
tie and a park, wherever a quadruple Coz
tage by the ruins Of a peel-tower showed an
old family going down, and wherever
a handsome villa with a carriage approach
and shrubbery marked the coming up OF
a new one-probably on the wheels OF ma
chinery-Archie began to be regarded in
the light of dark, perhaps a vicious mys-
terry, and the future developments of his
career to be looked for with uneasiness and
confidential whispering. He had done some
thing disgraceful. my dear. What, was
not precisely known, and that good kind
young man, Mr. Innes, did his best to make
light of it, But there it was. And Mr..
Innes was very anxious about him now; he
was really uneasy, my dear: he was posi-
lively wrecking his own prospects because
he dared not leave him alone. How Who'll
ly we all lie at the mercy of a single pra-
ter, not needfuly with any malign purpose!
And if man but talks of himself in the
right spirit refers to his virluous actions
by the way, and never apples to them the
name Of virtue. how easi'y his evidence is
accepted in the court O. public opinion!
All this while, however. there was
more poisonous ferment at work between
the two lads, which came late indeed to the
surface but had modified and magnifed
their dissensions from the first. To an
idle, shallow, easy-going customer like
Frank, the smell of mystery was attrac-
tive. 1t gave his mind something to play
with, like new toy to child; and it took
him OH the weak side for like many young
men coming to the Bar. and before they
have been tried and found wanting, he
aattered himself he was fellow of un-
usual quickness and penetration. They
knew nothing of Sherlock Holmes in these
days, but there was a good deal said of
Talleyrand. And If you could have caught
Frank off his guard, he would have confess
ed with a smirk that, if he resembed any
one, it was the Marquis de Talleyrand-Peri-
CORD. 1t was on the occasion of Archie's
first absence that this interest took root
1t was vastly deepened when Kirstie resent
ed his curiosity at breakfast. And that
same afternoon there occurred another
scene which clinched the business. He
was fishing Swingleburn, Archie accom-
panying him. when the latter looked at his
watch.
well, goodbye" said he. tI have
something to do. See you at dinner
Don't be in such hurry" cries Frank.
''Hold on till get my rod up. I'll go with
you: I'm sick of flogging this ditch"
And he began to reel up his line.
Archie stood speechless He took long
while to recover his wits under this direct
attack; but by the time he was ready with
his answer, and the angle was almost
packed up, he had become completely
Weir, and the hanging face gloomed on
his young shoulders. He spoke with a Ia
bored composure labored kindness even;
but child could see that his mind was
made up.
''I beg your pardon Innes; don't want
to be disagreeable, but let us understand
one another from the beginning. When
want your company, I'll let you know
"Oh!'' cries Frank. 'you don't want my
company, don't you?'
Apparently not just now" replied Ar
chic. 81 even indicated to you when
did, il you'll remember-and that was at
dinner. If we two fellows are to live to-
gether pleasantly-and l see no reason
why We should not-it can only be by re-
specting each others privacy. If we be-
gin intruding-"
"Oh, come I'll take this at NO mans
hands. Is this the way you treat guest
and / old friend?" cried Innes.
''Just go home a, think over what l
said by yourself" continued Archie,
whether it's reasonable, or whether it's
really offensive or not; and let's meet at
dinner as though nothing had happened.