The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1896-12-01

VOlVer, All gong 10 make sure OF IL.
shall first swallow the poison, then
cut my throat and then shoot myself
through the BRAIN"
He tried the edge of the razor on his
finger, and, uncorking the bottle, sniff
cd at its contents with an evident relish.
I turned cold to my finger tips. Great
heavens! Was it all dream? rubbed
my eyes and gazed at the cub. No, it
was grim reality, every bit Of it. The
girl had refused him, and SO he had
concluded that the best way out Of his
misery was to commit suicide.
The tobacco began to hiss and burn in
the bottom of his pipe bowl. His last
smoke was drawing to close. And
then
l threw him my pouch.
'More 'baocy?"
He placed it politely on the edge of
the desk.
"No, thanks-flnished now" And
he rose from his chair and walked to
the window. II should just like to take
q last look at the sun shining on the
trees"
suppose l moved, for he wheeled
around like lightning.
"If you attempt to interfere with me"
he said, with the same unnatural calm
in his voice and manner, "I'll shoot
you first, Worm, and myself afterward.
So pray be careful"
"Put it off for few minutes, I
begged him. 81 want to talk to you.
Just tell me what has happened.
"I'm not in any particular hurry"
he observed, reseating himself, "and
have no objection to telling you what
has happened. But nothing you can say
will alter my determination. This thing
must bel say must be-" And he patted
the pocket which contained the poison.
"Well, go ahead" l urged him.
"Just tell me what you did after you left
us SO suddenly in the Doone valley"
ono need TO detail the journey" he
muttered; Just a sheep walk-eyery
one goes the same way. l made tracks
for Southampton, caught the night boat
to Havre, went on to Rouen, thence to
Paris, Paris to Geneva, and there l
was.
"And then, of course, you took
Mousie-I beg pardon, Miss Rathbone
by SURPRISE proposed to her all in a
heap, and got rejected, as was quite
natural You can't rush thing like
that. ="
II did not meet Miss Rathbone, said
the cub coldly, land l did not propose
to her. Getting to Geneva was ono
thing, but finding her was quite another.
People go TO Geneva and make exour-
sions all round the shops. found out the
hotel at which she was stopping, and
tried to get rooms there myself, but it
was full up. This was why constantly
missed hor-she was always going off
somewhere, and whenever | followed
her she always caught the train or boat
that l just missed. So, although l
lodged about for a fortnight, didn't
meet her once. The amount Of money
spent chasing about and making in
quiries and tipping people was some
thing appalling, but of course I didn't
mind that"
well, said, II don't see why you
should kill yourself because you missed
her i'll Switzerland.
LET me 90 on, said the cub stern
ly, "and then you'll understand why.
just as I was thinking of giving it up
and coming home heard that she and
her party had gone to Chamouni, with
the intention of ascending Mont Blanc.
OF course--just my luck-I was train
and coach behind, as you 60 to Cluses
by train and then coach Oh to Chamouni.
When I finally got there, Twas told that
tho party | was in search Of had started
up some hours before. l asked whether
it wouldn't be possible to catch them
up. but the great fool Of guide l was
talking to just laughed and made u face.
Then he told me that | could watch
them through telescope, but as for
them up that was impossible.
Well" continued the cub, II paid my
money and the telescope chap put me
OH to them at once. He said they were
nearly 4, coo feet above tho valley, but
I could see them US plainly as if they
were only so yards away. There were
five or six people. Just as | had got my
eyes on Mousie great fat Johnnie VINO
was walking few yards behind her &c.
tually went up, and-and'-
The cub paused. go on" l said.
''What did he do:'
"Why''-with heaving chest and glar-
ing eyes-"he put his arm inside hers
and began talking and laughing as if
he known her all her life!'
"And what did she do?'
''Tall;cd and laughed back"
"Well?'
"Well, isn't that enough? She's en-
gagged to him-that' clear. came slap
1omo and here am. It's all over. In
I've minutes shall be dead!"
I started from my chair.
"There must be some mistake" ex-
claimed. "The man you saw was evil
lently relative"
II know all the membe of her FAM
ly," said the cub, "and there's no man
ike that in it, Mo- she's engaged. ]
lon't care to live any longer"
Look here, Jack. - l said desperate
y, "let me make some inquiries give
'ou my solemn word of honor that
Won't say anything about your-or-in-
entions. Let me 60 to your place and
ry to find out tho truth Of the matter.
rust me not to give you away"
The sun shone out gayly just then.
'erhaps tho cub thought it a pity to
eavo it SO suddenly. At any rate no
aid: II won't do anything till you
ono baok-I swear it. Now go!'
So off went post haste to the Jungle.
nd when l returned with the news =
hat relative the cub had never heard
had suddenly returned ho was will (
lg to live long enough TO try his luck