The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1897-02-06

Mohthofehcy -Smyth. hlndly attend to
your own affairs OF you will repent this
impertinent interference.
Rage made the little man speeehless for
a moment, and his face grew purple after
a fashion, which might have portended apo
plexy for any one of equal age but better
fed. Yet, in spite of his towering passion,
he fell back step.
''I'll give you proof 7 he cried when
he had recovered tongue "Now heed
me! From her own lips you shall have it.
Miss Yunella, is it not true that you have
given your promise to remain under my
management? The truth, girl, the truthr'
Miss Yunella said something in faltering
tones which failed to reach any ears but
those of the two men nearest her, but the
rest of us saw her, still with eyes cast down
slowly and gently free her hands from
Fanning's clasp. Montmorency -Smyth
gave hysterical shout of joy. Then he
turned to face us again:
Art foreverr' he proclaimed art
has triumphedT
He took the girl arm and guided her
toward the group, moving with the air of
a conqueror, while she seemed hardly con-
scious of what was going on about her
Tanning, left behind, raised a hand to his
forehead with the gesture of a man halt
dazed by blow.
But the fates were still hostile to Mont
morency -Smyth. As he approached us
the big man with the pole, who had with
difficulty maintained an equilibrium during
the colloquy, lurched forward. His burden
slipped from his grasp and fell, its end cut
ting huge are as it descended. Three or
four men leaped forward with warning cries,
Tanning was fairly in the line of danger,
one or two appraised arms partly broke the
force of the blow if they could not ward it
off; but Tanning, unconscious of the peril,
went down in his tracks under so crushing
an onset that it seemed impossible he could
survive it. | rushed toward the prostrate
figure, but some one was there before me,
and, as I bent over him, Miss Yunella was
on her knees beside him and had raised
his head upon her arm. | thought Fan
ming eyes opened for an instant and there
was comfort in the fact that in some way
both his hands secured possession Of her
free one, but with stream of blood trick
ling down his forehead he looked sufficiently
badly hurt to satisfy the most skeptical
Montmorency -Smyth strobe up, look
Of the deepest anxiety on his countenance.
. Twould be well to lower his head to
the floor, he said, with much solicitude,
but the girl merely clasped her arm more
tightly about Tanning neck.
'Get a doctor, quickp' she urged.
There my be hope yet. Oh, my darling
my darling!
Moutmorency Smith groaned.
eye gods! ye gods Remember the
pledgel" he cried
Il have given You no pledge, but l now
give him one. This has ended all my
doubts. I am his, his, tell you, and |
only pray he may revive enough for me to
tell him so. And with that her arm
tightened again, until there seemed danger
that we might be able to compare the eff
fects of conclusion with those of strangu-
lation
1t is part of my recollection Of these
events that at this point Mr.. Tanning S
right eye opened, caught mine, and closed
quickly in something very like wink.
There was nothing heroic about Montmo-
rency -Smyth, now. With an oath he
dashed his tall hat upon the stage, and
despairingly ground his head against
theatrical castle wall, with an energy
which was more than painted canvas could
withstand. There was sound of ripping
fabric and the manager head shot through
the breach in the Notifications until his
shoulders caught in the opening, and he
was held fairly pilloried, his arms and legs
fourishing wildly but availing nothing
toward releasing him from his predicament
Both of Tanning eyes were wide open
now to give their owner full benefit of this
pleasing spectacle. and before we could
offer to assist him he was up on his feet
again with reassuring activity and, though
blood still trickled from the cut upon his
forehead. and he was somewhat unsteady
from the shock, ever Miss Yunella per-
ceiyed that he was in no danger of instant
dissolution.
1t was only glancing blow, he ex-
planned. II might have jumped up in
jify, but from the way the action of the
drama changed didn see any reason for
hurry.
Right you were answered; "but,
all the same, you've had as close call as
the law allows. That sot who dropped
the pole ought to suffer for his careless
ness.
s.Yes. that S so, said the wounded
one. "Give him a dollar for me, will
you?'
Within week there was quiet cere-
mony. which Mrs Landers. the contralto,
the tenor, and l ageed passed off beauti-
fully. Montmorency-Smyth was not among
the guests, but he sent a wedding present,
probably the only one in his power to offer
his foroi veness