The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1897-02-06
VOL. XXXu.--NO. 15.

MOnJmorencySmyth Kindly attend to
your own affairs or you will repent this
impertinent interference.
Rage made the little man speechless for
a moment, and his face grew purple after
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 a step.
I'm give you proof = 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 TRUTH
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
Fannings clasp. Montmorency -Smyth
gave hysterical shout Of JOY. Then he
turned to face us again:
Art forever!' he proclaimed ''Art
has triumphedr'
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 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 arc as it descended Three or
four men leaped forward with warning cries,
Tanning was fairly in the line of danger
one or two upraised arms partly broke the
force Of the blow if they could not ward it
off; but Fanning, unconscious of the peril,
went down in his tracks under so crushing
an onset that it seemed impossible he could
survive it. Irushed toward the PROSTATE
figure, but some one was there before me,
and. as I bent over him, Miss Yunella was
or 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, a look
Of the deepest anxiety on his countenance.
:. 'Twould be well follower his head to
the floor, he said, with much solicitude,
but the girl merely clasped her arm more
tightly about Tanning S neck.
Get a doctor, quickr' she urged.
There my be hope yet. Oh, my darling!
my darling!'
Montmorency-Sm Smith groaned.
''Ye gods! ye gods! Remember the
pledger' he cried.
Il have given you no pledge, but now
give him one This has ended all my
doubts | am his, his, | tell you, and 1
only pray he may revive enough for me to
tell him 50. - And with that her arm
lightened 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 a wink.
There was nothing heroic about Montmo-
rency-Smyth, now. With an oath he
dashed his tail hat upon the stage, and
despairingly ground his head against a
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 5 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 a glancing blow" he ex
planned II might have jumped up in
jihy, 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"
Eyes, that's SC" said the wounded
one. 'Giye him dollar for me, will
you?'
Within week there was quiet cere-
mony, which Mrs Landers. the contralto,
the tenor, and 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 forgiveness.