The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1896-05-21

I
cation, whether his own political con-
victions were not merely revulsion
from his domestic tyranny and alien
surroundings.
In the midst OF this gloomy retro
speet the coupe stopped with jerk
before his own house. The door was
4 quickly opened by servant who ap'
4 pcared to be awaiting him.
"Somc one to see you in the library
sir" said the man, and" he hesitated
and looked tewnrd the coupe.
| swell, said Clarence, impatiently.
"He said sir, as how you were not to
send away the carriage
"Indeed, and who is it?" demanded
Clarence sharply.
"Alr. Hooker. He said l was to say
Jim Hooker
The momentary annoyance in Clar-
ence's face changed to look of re-
Elective curiosity.
"He said he knew you were at the
theater, and he would wait until you
came home" continued the man, dubi-
| ously watching his masters face. "IIe
don't know you've come in, strand
anu l can easily get rid of him."
"No matter now. III see him-And,"
added Clarence with faint smile, "let
the carriage wait"
Yet as he turned toward the library
he was by no means certain that an in
terview with the old associate of his
boyhood under Judge Peyton's guard
ianship would divert his mind. Yet he
let no trace Of his doubts nor OF his past
gloom show in his face as he entered
the room.
Mr.. Hooker was apparently examin-
ing the elegant furniture and luxurious
accommodations with his usual resent
full enviousness. Clarence had got n
soft thing" That it was more or less
the result of his ''artfulness," and that
he was unduly ''puffed up by it, were
in Ilooker's characteristic reasoning
equally clear.
AS his host smilingly advanced with
outstretched hand, Mr.. Hooker's efforts
to assume proper abstraction of man
ner and contemptuous Indifference to
Clarence's surroundings, which should
wound his vanity, ended in his lolling
back at full length in the chair with his
eyes on the ceiling. But, remembering
suddenly that he was really the bearer
Of message to Clarence, it struck him
that his supine position was, from
theatrical view point, infelicitous.
In his experience of the stage he had
never delivered message in that way.
He rose awkwardly to his feet.
ut was so good of you to wait" said
Clarence courteously.
Saw you in the theater," said Hook
er, brusquely. Third row in par
quet. Susy said it was you and had
suthin' to say to you. Suthin' you
ought to know" he continued, with a
slight return of his old mystery Of
manner, which Clarence SO well remem-
bered. "You saw her-she fetched the
house with that flag business, eh? She
knows which way the cat is goin' to
jump-ycu bet. tell you, for all the
blowing of these secessionists, the
union's goin' to payl Yes, sir!" He
stopped, glanced around the handsome
room and added, darkly: "Mebbe bet
ter than this"
With the memory Of Hooker's char
acteristic fondness for mystery still in
his mind, Clarence overlooked the in
nuendo, and said, smiling:
"Why didn't you bring Mrs. Hooker
here? should have been honored with
her company"
Mr.. Hooker frowned slightly at this
seeming levity. "Never goes out after
performance. Nervous exhaustion.
Left her at our rooms in Market street.
We can drive there in ten minutes.
That's why I asked the carriage to
wait"
Clarence hesitated. Without caring
in the least to renew the acquaintance
Of his old playmate and sweetheart, a
meeting that night in some vague way
suggested to him providential diver
sion. Nor WAS he deceived by any
gravity in the message; with his re-
membrance Of Susy's theatrical ten
denotes, he was quite prepared for any
capricious futile extravaganza.
"You are sure we will not disturb
her?" he said, politely.
"No." b
Clarence led the way TO the carriage.
If Mr.. Hooker expected him during the
journey to try to divine the purport
Of Susy's message he was disappointed.
Ills companion did not allude to it,
possibly looking upon it as o combined
theatrical performance. Clarence pre-
ferred to wait for Susy as the better
actor.
The carriage rolled rapidly through
the now deserted streets and, at last,
under the directions Of Mr.. Hooker,
who was leaning half out Of the win
dow, it drew up at middle-class res
taurant, on whose still lit and steam
ing windows were some ostentatious-
ly public apartments, accessible from
a side entrance.
AS they ascended the staircase to-
gether it became evident that Mr..
Hooker was scarcely more at his ease
in the character of host than he had
been as guest.