Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-04-12

+, Was not the Arst time mat ! had no.
.tcsa 4, ArcanIeyn an indelicacy In small
matters and an inclination to pockct
r,fsea n YOU offered him . cigarette. .
vesta. a fusee, or a lump OF sugar, ne
invariably made provision for sucn umcs
as he might be in need OF the article vy
shining q few more into his pocket. ~
made me feel meaner than he to nave
10 take note OF such things; ana us
fact that Il was becoming dairy ino1
and more difficult for me 30 think wen
of Arcsnieva was a source OF real distress
to me. 60
This distress was soon sharpeneo 70
pojgnancy upon a discovery that banisneu
The tranouil confidence between my sister
and me. Between US dividing, because
silencing. element, sat and lowered the
Young God OF Love. We felt his
presence. and his wings were az
wall between us. When j came nome
at night, saw Bridgets pretty race
flush and pale. and her eyes glance quick,
Is behind me. A certain head OF isdeu
ivory and dusky hair. II seen there. would
flush her cheek with confessing glow.
their absence would bring a disappointed
culver to her soft little mouth.
Arcanleva spoke naively and enthusl-
astically about his passion. He took the
whole college and club into his CONN.,
dence. and went abous raving OF that
adorable Miss Bridget" till all the Eel
lows longed to be at his throat. Indeed,
II was becoming painful for me TO WISH
the Athenaeum. Some friend was sure 10
drag me into corner and burst into
frantic abuse Of Arcanleya. He was
low adventurer, schemer, an imposter.
Nobody knew where he came from, VINO.
or what he was. Lumley didn't know.
nor did any OF tho rest TO whom he had
brought letters. Webster had picked him
I'D In Paris, and given him letter to
Lumley. Had I not heard the last re-
ports about him? / begged TO be spared.
and shrank from the shame OF hearing
evil Of the man my sister loved. But
they would not spare me; they protested
that ii lay on their consciences to hear
the rascal prating about Miss Bridget.
and his offensive love: that they resented
II personally. and that 1 was bound TO
close my doors upon him.
Close my doors upon him while
Bridgets heart was open 10 him? Plea
SAINT counsel TO a man who is constitu-
tionally incapable OF hurting a fly. !
escaped from the Athenaeum ehunned
Lumley and dear old Oldberry, and took
long solitary walks when l left the office
to avoid the yexing sight OF Bridget's
pain and Joy. / was In a dilemma; duty
compelled me to act; ana nature made
action in the circumstances peculiarly
distasteful TO me. My feelings toward
the handsome Russian as nearly ap-
preached evaporation as possible; for,
now that my sisters name was openly
coupled with Arcanievas, II behooved
me to make inquiries than which no.
thing was more hateful to me.
The evening on which | reached this
unwonted decision / resolved 10 break
the heavy silence between us as
walked home to Bridget. She greeted
me with the same quick glance over
my shoulder that so distressed me, and
then the little pink flush ebbed back to
its excited source. and she looked paler
and prettier than ever.
Bridget, have you lost confidence in
me?" l asked, with difficulty, and an
odd hurrying of my pulses.
Paddy, you dear. dear boy, what a
question" she cried. looking away from
me into the fire; but saw that she I'M
derstood, for her cheeks grew hot.
Have you nothing TO tell me?" She
turned her face towards me very visit
fully, and my eyes, meeting hers. cried
pardon for the wound my tongue was
forced to infiict. do you love young
Arcanieva? Tell me. dear" She hid her
face against my shoulder and the tell
tale flush reached her hair and spread
down to her throat. do you wanl 70
marry him?' And now l felt to the full
how brutal is this probing Of a thing SC
delicate and fearful as a girls heart
How could expect her TO answer a Ques-
ton that not i, but another alone, had
the right to ask? She moved from me
in a grieved, proud way, and / put on,
my hand imploringly. cut to the quick
by her pain. Don't answer me, Bridget
| have been troubled about you, dear
and your happiness Is all 1 think of
But had no right TO ask you that ques
ton; please forget It,"
1 went out more anxious and perplexeC
than ever, and determined to call or
Lumley and ask his advice. When
reached College Green 1 met LumleS
himself walking towards the college. j
was fine bright evening, and he pro
posed we should stroll about the street.
instead OF immuring ourselves in a clos,
room. He listened attentively to my
story. shook his head several times. anC
stroked his chin In a thoughtful. judicia
way. Lumley had an immense opinion
Of his own wisdom, and liked to be sueC
for advice. Now look here, Paddy; YOU
know you always were complete idiot
You and that charming sister of yours
are just like a pair OF infants playing
with snakes. You know nothing of life
and, what Is more. you never will
you'll simply grow into an aged child
but never into a man. You have a prett,
Imagination, and put you in a librar,
with pen and ink and German poem
Or ri n he fra al n I'D # blr
you are in capital form. But give yoI
swindlers and knaves TO contend with
and there you area fool"
But didn't you all believe in him a
well as /? You brought him down 10 thu
Athenaeum. Lumley'
Yes; but 1 didn't bring him into tn.
bosom Of my family; didn't fling him II
the way OF a pretty, confiding sister
gave him dinners and liquors and tobacco
l lent him small sums which he failed &
return; and when he began to borrow
bigger sums 4 cut him short. While yol
go about with your ears stuffed with woo
or your own simplicity, mine are open t
all the gossip in the air That fellow ha
already taken In q score OF pious oil
| ladies. He goes to see them, drinks Tel
with them, and dlscourses on esoteri
Buddhism. Then the old ladies are In
religious futter, and want 10 CONVEX
him. He is willing enough to be con
yerted II they pay him; and what re
| ligious old lady ever refused TO open he
purse when 1t contains the chance of
| recovered soul? He has changed his re
| ligion six times within the last ST.
months Has he asked you for a sub
| scription for his Russian book?' ! con
| fessed that he had. and had obtained II
IL thought SO. Well. am In position
| to state that not page of that book ha
| been written. and not Il page win ever b
| written The scoundrel came to the offlc
yesterday and begged me to let him hav
ten pounds. I declined. whereupon
produced a revolver and swore he woul
shoot himself If l didn't. Shoot sway