Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1897-05-20

she ought To be, but can't"
mo, no, don't shink that. ;
said Smith She's the best of girls
There was a pause. Smith brok
in.
i Are you going to sello& my ad
vice, Topsham 20
mo. certainly not. love tn
girl. She loves me. If | can
marry her, ! shall do no good. It'i
the knowing her and Ioxiug he
that has kept me straight.
So old Smith took his departure
of eourse it was soon all over tn,
barracks that the rivals had beer
cioseted together, and general in
terest in the affair was intensified
This reached climax when, on the
evening after the interview above
recorded. Bob Topsham rushed in.
to the mess room, his face flushed
and his eyes sparkling with anger,
and roared out:
Where's Smith Where is he
By - I'll cal. him out. Any of
you fellows seen him p:
"old Smith," drawled out lam
guild junior; che applied for a
week 5 leave this afternoon, and
went off by the fivs o'clock train to
town"
HAS he, tkeughs The double
faced cad.
Everyone looked up at this un-
usual cbul!ition af wrath. and there
was general chorus Of why 2"
Because he's gone off with
Oracle Clough. But I'll be even
with him, or my names not Bob
Topsham.''
Up the steps of Lori Crsy's resi-
dence in Bryantown square Smith
went. a day or two after the events
recorded. The words 'Hopshire
Regiment on his card arocured
-hian-iasta=s aa,saiz==.ssss pres.
ence of nobleman who was visible
to not one person in Il dozen who
called. and he found himself with a
tall, dark man, suitably eushrined
IN lofty, dark study.
"Ha Mr.. Smith ?" said Lord
Cray. rising delighted 20 see you,
sir; and yet-yet I'm always rather
in tremble when anyone from the
regiment calls, on account of that
scapegrace son of mine"
1t is with reference to him that |
have come, said Smith.
Then, before you begin please,
tell me if / am to prepare myself
for bad news, said Lord Cray.
well. my lord, it need not be
bad, replied Smith. That is. it
depends on the way you look at it. >
HIN, depends upon me, does it ?
ask his lordship.
He's in love with a GIRL said
old Smith.
That's a regular epidemic with
him, Mr.. Smith,, said Lord Cray.
But, if she's lady and all right,
don't care. Nothing will steady
him till he marries, and, if she is
as said, she-ahem-of a suitable
position-of course. Mr.. Smith,
we must be little exclusive-wby,
1t is the very best thing that he can
! do
well, my lord, you see, there is
the difficulty said Old Smith.
She's a lady by birth and educa-
ton, but from pressure of family
circumstances. she has been obliged
to get her living in a millinery
shop
'Milliner's shop" exclaimed Lord
Cray. That is indeed, a difficulty.
The best of birth and education
hardly balances the shop, does it
Ell: Confound him And the mat
ter's gone so far that you have come
to see me about it. OF course.
you're great friend of his. | be-
lieve that they call you old Smith
in the regiment, don't they p
Yes, 1 take great deal of in
terest in him and the girl, replied
Smith, and I've taken the liberty
not only TO speak to him pretty
plainly, but have had the girl re.
moved.
Then you've constituted your
self the young lady's protector, Mr..
Smith, said his lordsbip. But, il
the cause of the evil is rem owed,
why bother any more about it
Why sir, Robert has been in love. a
score OF times, to my knowledge,
yet he has survived eachcase. Why