Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1896-03-25

denbroolze, gathering together the de-
spised examination papers.
- have been down at Twickenham
with my people. Can't stand much of
that, you know. | am looking out for
chambers somewhere Bond street way;
and Mrs. Baxter is going to put me up
here for night or two"
"Oh, good. You know Mrs, Baxter
has that portmanteau of yours?"
Eyes; she's fetching it now, believe,
from the lumber room. There are some
papers in it want to look at tonight"
Fleming leaned back in his chair, his
eyelids dropping modify, as they had a
trick of doing; then he said discon-
tentedly:
Haven't you got anything to tell a
fellow? You London people are all the
same. One goes away and lives what
seems lifetime-it's so cram full of ex-
perience-and when one gets back, not
soul remembers if it was last week or
last year they met you at the Jenkinsons'
dinner party"
From what hear, you've no cause to
complain, Fleming"
"Oh, of course, ones pestered with
invitations from lot of silly women
one never heard off, grumbled the new
lion; ''but isn't there anything in the
shape of news?"
"Well," said Addenbrooke, slowly,
there is one piece of news, but don't
know that it's interesting. am thinking
of getting married.
Addenbrooke had never been a shy
man; he was only very modest, and he
had not accustomed his friends to take
an interest in his affairs
Fleming opened his eyes full and stared
his friend in the face. There was always
something startling in his appearance
under these circumstances; perhaps be-
cause his eyes were so rarely shown
perhaps because of some quality in the
eyes themselves. They were curiously
bright and very brown-not black
manque, but beautiful, unusual brown
Looking at them, it was easier to real
ize the power, such as it was, which
Lawrence Fleming possessed over his
fellow creatures.
"Addenbrooke, he said, leaning for
ward and speaking with sudden in
tensity as you value your peace of
mind, have nothing to do with womenr'
He flung himself back, laughing lit
tie, and letting fall his eyelids. In few
minutes he burst into a fierce TRADE
against the whole female sex, taking Ad-
denbrooke's announcement merely as a
text.
Even Johnny was disappointed at this
lack of interest on the part of his friend,
but remembered having heard that Law
renee had been hard hit before he went
to Africa-that nothing less, indeed, than
broken heart had sent him forth to
those distant shores.
Then. before Addenbrooke knew what
was happening, Fleming plunged into
the very heart of his own particular
grievance.
ut was last year., he said. lat coun-
try house. 1t began from the moment
she came into the room Idont pretend
that she was the first; but it was differ
ent, somehow am not even sure that
she was good looking, but there was
something about her-if you cared at all
well, you cared! She stayed a week,
and at the end of the time told her,
more or less directly. that loved her. |
was to see her the next day in London.
The next day, as it happened, was pre-
vented by my mothers serious illness.
wrote and told her this, begging her to {,
fix q day for my visit. She made no
reply, and four days later called at the
house to be told she was out of town.
The next day accepted the offer of The
Waterloo Place Gazette. and went out to
Africa I'm sure don't know why |
cared She wasn't worth it; she had
given me every encouragement
even allowed me to kiss her | suppose
there was richer fellow on hand, or one
whose father didn't happen to keep a
shop!''
Fleming rose, struggling his shoulders
Addenbrooke remained silent. The voice
of Mrs Baxter, announcing that til
portmanteau was in Lawrence's room
came as relief to both.
"By the by" said Johnny, in low
voice, as the other felt for his keys, ''all
this took place at the Meades' in War
wickshire, from March the 29th on
wards?"
oh" answered Lawrence, with some
vexation, pausing on his way to the door,
81 suppose you know all about it like the
rest of the worldr' And he went from
the room.
~
Addenbrooke remained behind, pacing
the ridiculous, homogeneous apartment,
while an UNIV onted storm of emotion
ragged within him.
The parts of tho puzzle lay, fitted to-
gether in his hail.. 1t only remained for
him to step forg;.r and proclaim the
solution of a mos; commonplace enigma.
An inefficient p'stn,;.Ii ii careless house
maid-on some such undignited trife
had the whole complication hung, like
many another complication before it,
No doubt. sooner or later, the missing
clew would come to light, when he him
self had made its discovery of no import
ance whatever.
Had he been of melodramatic turn
of mind, Addenbrooke might have laugh
ed aloud at the irony of the situation.