Omaha daily bee., 1897-08-01

which, it seemed to me, must be known
within twenty-four hours to all London
filled me with panic and put me beside my
self. So that, when the girl who had en-
pioyed me on that errand met me in the
street, | cursed her and would have passed
her, being unable to say another word, lest
| should weep. But she turned with me,
and, keeping pace with me, asked me. con-
tinually what 1T was, and, getting no an
swer, by and by caught my arm and forced
me totstand in the passage beyond Bedford
house and close to the Strand. Here she
repeated her question 50 %fiercely, asking me
besides II | was mad and the like and showed
herself such a little termagant, that | had no
option but to answer her. 3u fa
Made i cried passlonately. "Ay, | am
mad-to have anything to do with such as
you"
But what is it? What has happaned?"
she persisted, peering at me, and SO barring
the way that | could not pass. b.
Gould you not hear?"
Il could hear that they were drinking
she answered. ~ knew that, and therefore
thought that you should go to them"
And run the risk % ! said.
We'll, you are a man." she answered
coolly.
At that I stood so taken aback
for she spoke it with meaning
and a sort of sting in her tone
that for a minute l did not answer her,
Then rs not a mans life as much to him as
u III ; W HSl. l Sdlu Win Inauguration.
"a man's!' she replied. "Ay, but not a
mouse's! l will tell you what, Mr.. Taylor,
or Mr.. Price, or whatever your name is
Call me what you like" l said. "Only
let me go!"
Then l will call you Mr.. Craven." she
retorted bitterly. "Or Mr.. Daw, in peacocks
feathers. And let you go. Go on, you cow
ard! Go, you craren!'
Though it was not the most gracious per-
mission, and strung me enough, l took it
sullenly, and, getting away from her, went
down the passage toward the Strand, leaving
her there. But not gladly, although to go
mad been all j had asked a moment before.
No man, indeed, could have had it in his
mind more firmly made up to wrench him
self from the grasp of the gang whose tool
this little spitfre was; nor to a man bred
to peaceful pursuits, as | had been, and
flung into such an imbroglio as this, wherein
to dance on nothing seemed to be the
alternative whichever way | looked, was
it SO much a matter OF consequence to be
called a coward by a child that must
hesitate for that? Moreover, the place and
time, ii dingy passage on a dark night, with
rain falling and a chill wind blowing, and
none abroad but such as honest men would
avoid if they could, were not incentives to
rashness or adventure.
And yet when it came to going nullis
v~eE:iglis retrOrsum, as the Latins say. |
proved to be either too much or too little of
a man-these arguments Notwithstanding;
too little of a man, / mean, to weigh reason
justly against pride, or too much of a man
to hear with philosophy a girls taunt; so
when ! had gone fifty yards | halted, and
then in a moment went back. Not slowly,
however, but in a gust of irritation; so that
for a very little 4 could have struck the
girl for the pulling face and helplessness
that gave her an advantage over me. |
found her in the same place, and asked her
roughly what she wanted.
"a man." she said.
We'll" l answered sulleniy, what Is it?'
Have | found lone? That is the ques-
ton" she retorted. And at that again |
could have had itiin my heart to strike her
acrosss her soornful chiid's face. MY
uncle Is a man, atlleast."
He is a bad one. curse him, - ! cried. in
a fury.
She looked at me coolly. That is
better she said. b IF your deeds were of
a piece with YOUR words, you should be no
mans slave. HIS least of all, Mr.. Price"
You talk fneiyi' / said my passion cool
ing. as ! began to- read a covert meaning in
her tone and words, and that she would
be at something. ut comes well from you,
who do Ai3 errands day and night"
''Or find some one to do them" she an
sWeIed, with derision.
We'll, after this you will have to find
some one else" I cried, warming again.
"Ah. II you would but keep you're word!'
she cried, claping her hands softly and
peerIng at me- IF you would keep your
word.'
Seeing more clearly that she would be at
something, and wishing to know what 1t
was, TRY me-" l said. What do you
mean"
at is plain she answered, what | mean.
Carry no more messages, Be sneak and spy
no longer! Cease TO put your head in a
moose, to serve rogues' ends! Have done
man, with ~cringing and fawning and trem-
bling at big words. Break off with these
villains that hold you, put a hundred miles
between you and them, and be yourself!
BE a mani"
why, you mean your uncle!' / cried,
vastly surprised.
"Why not ?" she said.
But II you feel that way. why do his
bidding yourself?" l answered, doubling all
this might be q trap of that cunning devil,