Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1898-03-31
Chapter xxvII.-Ccntinucd.)

VIII yOu.
Yes
BE sure you do it: it will not do to
let these chills run on. But now tell
What bride and groom?' inquired
the major, with his teeth audibly chat
tcring.
oh! I didn't hear their names: but
some bridegroom has been behaving
badly to his bride-doing something
for which he ought to be hanged. AS
far as l could gather from the CONVEX
Sation of the men in the bar-room of
the 'Wheatsheaf,' the delinquent
bridegroom had gone to sleep in his
armchair on te first night that he
brought his bride home: and if he real
~ did that. l think hanging is very
mild punishment for sush an insensi-
bile brute. Do you know anything
about it?''
Nothing whatever" answered the
major, with his teeth going like a pair
of castanets.
"Oh see here. you know. this won't
do! it will t'5I'n to Il congestive ague!
You must IKE something Immediate
ly! Miss Else. l dare say you have
some brandy in your travelling bag!
Will YOU be good enough to dispense
some of tat water of life to my
friend here::''
The femme-dc-chambre. With Ser
tainment avcc plaissir. MONSIEUR"
produced a fairy flask. which Major
Burns unhesitaiingly put to his lips.
You feel better. now" said the cap
tain.
Better" echoed the major.
"Ah. it was only the night air. Old
coveS like YOU and l should be careful
of ourselves. Aud now tell me. have
vow seen my little Daney since her
marriage?''
Il have not
{ Nor Fulke?"
Yes, l have seen Colonel Grevillc."
How long Since:''
-'On the day before yesterday
He was well?"
Yes"
And Daney was also WELL of
course?''
Il did not see her.
Bother. man! you inquired after
her. suppose? and can tell me how
she was"
The major did not reply.
And the captain suddenly turned on
him. saying:
See here. Major Burns? here is
something wrong! Is my little Daney
ill. that you do not reply?"
Upon my word and honor, l do not
know. 1 never heard she was ill; and
l have no reason to suppose that she
is. said the major, telling a literal
truth, but spiritual falsehood.
'Humph! I'm idgety, believe,".
commented the captain, settling him
self to cOmrOsure,
"All is well, Monsieur, 1 hope?" said
the lady, who had overheard part Of
the conversation.
ooh, yes, Madame! except that l
am an irritable old bachelor, heaven
help ME! And now observe, Madame!
how peacefully the little green wood
ed isle repOses upon the calm bosom of
the water, while the forest-fringed
shores of the mainland seem to encir
Gle the whole scene with an embrace!
Ten minutes more and we shall reach
that lovely isle, and your daughter
will be in your arms! Think of the
surprise and Joy for her,
Her daughter!
The captain had been betrayed ITO
speaking out the truth. Major Bur':s
heard and wondered, but did not ve;:-
ture to ask an explanation of Whist
appeared to him to be incXplicable
words.
The little boat sped onward. and
soon ran up into the tiny cove, the usu
al landing-place at the isle.
The captain sprang upon shore light
1y, as though he had been eighteen in
steal Of eighty -:landing out the mar
luise, leaving the maid to the civili-
ties o: the young lawyer
81 hope you will do us the pleasure
of coming up to the house and spend
Ing the evening, Major Burns said
the captail, without, however, the
accept the invitation.
Il must, I suppose" answered the
miserable little magistrate in sepul:"
chral tone. and to the infinite aston
fShmeEt of the old sailor, who again
1nuttered to himself:
Something quite wrong about
Burns! very wrong! can't think what's!
the matter with him! going crazy, I'm
:ifraid!
But the moemnt was too interesting
upon other accounts to allow the hon
8. est old mans mind to dwell upon the
supposed capriccs of his boon compan-
: ion; and so, taking the arm Of Mad
anne De Glacie within his own. lie re-
spcctfully conducted her toward the
house.
The evening was still beautiful in it's
:;;ssreen and dewy summer freshness;
tile moon was still flooding woods and
waters With her pure and radiant
light: the island was always quiet and
peaceful in the extreme, and especial
~ 5sb. ut night; but now it was more
thHh usually SO: an air of awful still
MSS and solemnity seemed to over
llang the scene; every one felt it's in
Hnence. The captain sought to break
tHe spell by calling out cheerfully to
IFS companions:
elbow astoniSn..d they will be to see
us! How little people ever know what
is;about to happel to them next"
'How little, indeed:' groaned the
major.
.:'rhere you are. again. YOU old kill
Joy! Ill tell YOU what, major, you are
suffering under a bad attack of indi-
gestion! you've been eating soft crabs
n and watermelOns and curds and whey,
gFs:tf1d deuce knows what else. and they
&, & have all fermented together. and filled