Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1897-11-04
THE WEARS %.
MAY MEETING.
BY BRUCE McKEEVER.

Nile. Alplhonsine before, and that 1t
was quite by chance went to the sup
per, through the invitati@n of an old
college chum, won't you reconsider the
matter?"
Rev. Thomas Dane shook his head de-
cidedly. 'No, Mr. Sinclair, must act
according to my conscience, and that
forbids me to consent to my daugh-
ter's engagement to man who fire.
quents such society as that of-er-
this dancer, who-I-er-understand IS
a most-er-notoriou character"
'But it was mere chance, don't fire.
uuent such society,"" urged Charlie Sin
clair, who thought it very hard that,
because a tale of his having been
guest at a theatrical supper party had
been carried by some malicious busy
body to the vicar, his engagement to
pretty Rose Dane should be broken off.
The vicar had never regarded him with
much favor, and seemed to grasp
eagerly at this preteXt for dismissing
him.
perhaps you don't remember, Mr..
Sinclair" he said, severely, that we
are hidden to avoid all appearance of
evil. Had you borne this in mind it
might have been we'll"
ooh! I see, it's only the appearance
of evil you mind, not the thing itself"
said Charlie, with unwise sarcasm, for
flush mounted up to Rev. Thomas
cheeks, and he said, Jelly: "You pur-
posely misunderstood me, Mr.. Sinclair,
and, as this conversation can serve no
end, 1 must request you to bring it to
q close and leave my house,
''NIay I not at least sec Rose and
say good-bye?" said the young man,
anXiously.
81 cannot permit it. I will explain
everything to my daughter. From your
-er-misplaced fippancy can see the
influence you might exercise over her
mind would not-er-be for good
Kindly consider our interview at q
close. My time is valuable, as have
to prepare for q visit to London;" and
Mr.. Dane rang the bell with decision.
With head very erect, and mind boil
ing with rage at the injustice meted out
to him, Charlie stallled out of the room,
only restraining himself by great eff
fort from the undignified measure of
slamming the door. But he had hardly
closed it when there was rustic Of
skirts, and from another doorway
emerged q slender. Authenticated crea-
ture, with tender blue eyes and skin
of cream and roses, who flung her arms
around his neck with a softly anxious
cry "Oh, is it bad news, Charlie? You
.6 16fe}; 50 angry"
"The very w6bfIst, dearest. He won't
allow me to justin fly myself. Says our
is at Ftan end, and has for
hidden me even to Ahsay good-by to you"
said her lover, hol{paing her closely.
GAS if I would let 5, you go like that! 1
told Sarah would answer the door, and
Aunt Agatha is :lsleep upstairs. Oh,
Charlie, what sha kll do without you?"
Don't try. Make bolt of it, and
come away witlel me. We shall be mar
aied before he qfan stop u.s."
mo, no. " couldn't do that. And
4herei is my md oney. We should lose that
if I married afigainst my fathers wishes.
No, we must Wyatt. only-only, Charlie,
you-you don't Nceally care much about
that woman, Mile, Alphonsine?" said
Rose, her fingers very busy with GER
tain button of his coat, her eyes down
cast, her voice fcather abashed.
"1vhy, you dear, foolish child, of
course don't SShe is old enough to be
INV mother, and hasn't anything real
about her excepts her language" said
Charlie. with a very reassuring laugh.
"oh, hush! go! Fathers coming
ont" cried Rose, in alarm. And snatch
ing a brief kiss, he allowed himself to
he hustled ouf,of the front door just as
Rev Thomas Emerged from his study
to tell Rose to pack his portmanteau
over night, and to have breakfast early
the next morning, as he was going up to
town by the first trair from slocum
Pogis.
There was no part of the year Mr..
Dane enjoyed more than his annual run
up to London for the May meetings. He
had wonderfully good taste in cook
cry for country parson, and never put
I'D at the cheap obstetrics patronized
by most Of his bret prem, where bacon
and eggs for breakfast, and soup, joint
and a tart for dining constituted the
staple fare, and this year he had been
recommended TO the 1otel BERT as hav-
ing an excellent cuisije. His expenses
were paid by an old @ly of his congre-
potion, so he neveiThal to worry him
self about q shilling kre or there, and
vben he sat down to inner, and had
nartaken of some bisqu soup and sole
a la soulise, he began t9eel that, after
NIL, there are consOlatias in this vale
of tears.
The hote'was very ful Already en-
4husiastic colonials wereoeginning to
arrive for the jubilee, anecould be dis
tinguished generally by te ultra new
ness of their clothes an'the curious
nuaIity of their voices. specimen
WAS sitting nearly opposite Mr.. Dane,
and was talking in hig key to an
other man. 5S
is the coming country ~, over here,
If yen get five per ffor?ur money
yet II or IS as easy as win Ing And,
Be for trade, you just come '.r to sgd
ney and We'll open your es for you.
oh. it takes a smart feGowut Of the
old country to- cheat an lstralian.
You may talk about youDerby, I
should lust like you to see cup run
Tor And the womenl-welA haven't
zen ss, = -rornan in London thart patch
on om Sydney girls"
81 wonder he ever came 10 be- e,,
n;ehted place as England, dd you?"
said quiet, gentlemanly maAho sat
eaio =. T, Dane. catching tt gen