The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1898-04-22

Saturday morning at the station of
that name, when the special trains
start for South Africa. II Is dcs-
perate struggle while 10 lasts, aud the
uniformed men have an exceedingly
warm time Of il, but they have ale
ways conquered before, aud this eu-
courages and gives them enthusiasm
Mr. John Beste-the name was on the
leather label Of his single portmau-
teau-Mr John Beste, down in good
time before the real tussle began,
looked on with interest. He was a
tall, reseryed-looking man, with a
short beard and the brown complexion
that comes TO men who have looked
at the South African sun.
"No one to see me OIL, said John
Beste. "a short mother was stepping
on tIptoe to kiss a burly youth, and
the sight gave him thoughts. "Of
course there is no one to see me of, "
he continued, argumentatively. "Why
should there be?"
Mr.. John Beste placed his portman-
teau in the corner of frst-cIass COM
partment and laughed a little bitterly
at his grumbled solloquy. A light
touch on his arm made him wheel
round. The sound of a soft voice
made him flush.
''Mr. BesteW
'NIiss Langhaml Are you here to
say good bye to me?"
"That was the idea, said the young
woman, brightly II suppose there
are others. How long before your
train goes?"
"Only twenty minutes, Miss Lang
ham.
comfy twenty minutes? I am
sorry that you are going so quickly.
And you will see Mr.. Charterhouse,
I suppose?"-she stepped aside to
avoid juggernaut trolley of luggage
las soon as you arriye?" she re-
sumed.
81 can't possibly avoid that. Is Mrs.
Langham here?"
/ MY aunt does not know that I have
come down. Did you want to see her,
Mr. Beste?"
"Her presence" he said, grayely,
'is not indispensable to my happi-
ness.
'Tm afraid that you are inclined to
be a little unjust to her. You
don't know her as we'll as 1 do, Mr..
Beste.
'That is so. But Mrs. Langham
has made quite a confdant of me dur
ing the time that have been here, and
and well, think. 1 understand
her."
4 should like to know what you
talked about. 1t occurred to meat din
ner last night that"
Upon my word, Miss Langham, ]
have half mind to tell you.
"Half mind is plenty, Mr.. Beste. ]
have a special reason for wanting to
know. My dear aunt has not always
the best tact in the world"
'"That," he said, dryly, occurred
to me.
''Was it of me that she was talking,
I wonder? Was I the object?"
cit was of you," he said.
"And my aunt said?"
'Am I bound to answer these ques
tions, my lord?"
A band Of Hebrew financial gentle.
men came along the crowded platform,
forming an encourage to some impor
tant individual in their centre. With
the enterprise of their race, they forced
the other passengers aside, and Mr.
John Beste and Miss Langham were
separated in the commotion.
''You are bound, said the young
Portia, returning, "to answer all the
questions that are put to you for the
next fifteen minutes"
'Mrs. Langham," said Mr.. JOIN
Beste, shifting his rug from one arm
to the other and bending a little close
to the bewildering hat and the charm
ing face that it selfshly attempted tx
hide, "Mrs. Langham was extremel,
anxious that I should convey certain
information to Mr.. Charterhouse. Al
manager of Mr.. Charterhouse's valu
able mine, Mrs. Langham seems t,
have thought that 1 should be valu
, able--what shall say?-a yaluabl
fellow conspirator.
go on, she said, quickly and wit
great concern.
''I wonder whether you can CUES
what am going to say?"
ST hope lam not guessing rightly
1t is too terrible"
'Mrs. Langham was good enoug
to say that for anything could say t
my-my master, Mr.. Charterhouse
that would assist the object she ha
in view I should be we'll repaid. Thi
was, of course, very generous of you
aunt.
, NF