The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-02-07

"You are In devil of mess old fcllolD.
have, man? No, sir, I am teetotally op
posed to looking at thie tremendou,
question from any standpoint but prin
ciple, and until gag law goes into effect
or my tongue is paralyzed I'll lift my
voice against the outrages about to be
perpetrated in the name of love of coun
try"
| Apparently gag law of some sort
was at that moment applied to the
colonel's jaws, for they closed with a
snap as Oscar bent over him.
Oscar, who would no more have
thought of breaking in upon his mas
ter's oratory without adequate excuse
than of facing battery, was whisper
ing something into the colonel's ear
with an air of great importance. The
word Immediately came across his
thick lips with such emphasis as to be
distinctly audible to those nearest tine
head of the table.
Colonel Bascom put down his glass
Of claret with a thump that sent a
shower of ruby drops over the table,
10th, drew his napkin nervously across
his handsome mouth and pushed his
chair back from the table. His smile
was somewhat forced as he said:
Gentlemen, make yourselves entire
ly at home. 1have rather inopportune
caller who demands immediate audi
ence. I'll be back with you before you
have had time to discover how villain
GUS this claret is. Thatcher, tell the
boys about Ackermann and the donkey.
Oscar, you scamp, look at Mr.. Acker-
mann's empty glass;"
Oscar sprang forward with the wine
bottle in his hand, and the colonel pass
cd through the door leading Immediate
ly into his private study.
There he found his importunate visit
Or pacing the floor with his hands clasp
ed behind his back. He faced quickly
toward the opening door. The two men
greeted each other cordially.
"You are surprised to see me-" said
the visitor.
"a little, but awfully glad. What
made you so mysterious in your mes
sage?"
SIS she here?''
Here? Why, no, I'm not looking
for her. before tomorrow night. But
how in the deuce did you know 1 was
looking for her at all?" His visitor
flushed angrily.
II did not know it. You should have
told us. 1t would have spared both Mrs.
Northcote and myself most anxious
day and night His face expressed
vexation, Bascom's perplexity.
1T is no slight thing we have under
taken for pure love of you, Bascom, and
Of her, and we must be allowed to have !
supreme control i'll this matter, or you |
must relieve us entirely. Our task is
difficult enough without any such inter-
ference
The colonel dropped into chair and
neld fast by its two arms, as if putting
physical restraint upon himself.
MY dear Northcote, would you OBJ.
ect seriously to stop that gallop of
7ours just long enough to tell me what
you are talking about? Hang me if I
IAN extract one lucid idea out of it alp
Northcote seated himself violently in
he nearest chair.
Il am talking about Miss Bascom."
$50 am l."
Your sister, Miss Bascom.
1.-The devil you are! And you expect
d to find her here:'
The colonel sprang from his chair en-
rsetically. Northcoto faced him with
Popped jaw.
"Then she is not hereI"
Extraordinarily Tho colonel clutched
is we'll brushed lair with both ta,. d.,
What should she be doing Ecrc, Of ali" !,
laces on eartl." +
Nar1-.lr..ta s.. i .af.,ra the ..,es,;nn