The record-union., 1898-04-18
AT The LAST MOMENT.

lot South Africa. 1t is a desperate
struggle while it lasts, and the uni
formed men have an exceedingly warm
time OF 1t, but they have always con-
Quereo before, and this encourages and
gives them enthusiasm. John Beste-
the name was on the leather label OF
MS single portmanteau-John Beste,
down In good time before the real tus-
sic began, looked on with interest. He
was a tall, reserved looking man, with
short beard and the brown complex
ION that comes to men who have looked
at the South African sun.
No one to see me off," 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 off,
he continued, argumentatively. Why
should there be?"
John Reste placed his portmanteau in
the corner of a frst-class compartment
and laughed a little bitterly at his
grumbled soliloquy. A light touch on
his arm made him wheel round. The
sound of a soft voice made him flush.
Mr.. Beste!"
Miss Langham! Are you here to
say good-by to me?'
woman, brightly. Il suppose there are
others. How long before your train
goes?"
About twenty minutes. Miss Lang
ham"
only twenty minutes 1 am sorry
that you are going so quickly. And
you will see Mr.. Charterhouse, I sup
pose"-she stepped aside to avoid a
juggernaut trolley of luggage-"as soon
as you arrived" she resumed.
L 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, gravely, lis
not indispensable to my happiness"
I'm afraid that you are inclined to
be a little unjust to her. You don't
know her as we'll as l do, Mr.. Beste."
That is So But Mrs. Langham has
made a confidant of me during the
time that l have been here, and-well,
think 1 understand her"
Tout comprehensive c'est tout par
doner," quoted the young lady.
Not in every case"
I should like to know what you
talked about. 1t occurred to me at din
ner last night
Upon my word, Miss Langham, I
have half a mind to tell you"
Half a mind is plenty, Mr.. Beste. L
have a special reason for wanting to
know Ny 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,
T 7 ho
1T was of you he said.
And my aunt said?"
Am I bound to answer these ques-
tons, my lord?"
A band of Jewish financial gentlemen
came along the crowded platform,
forming an encourage to some import
ant Individual in their center. With
the enterprise of their race, they forced
the other passengers aside, and John
Beste and Miss Langham were separ
ated 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 John Beste,
shifting his rug from one arm to the
other, and bending a little closer to
the bewildering hat and the charming
face that it selfshly attempted to hide,
Mrs. Langham was extremely anxious
that 1 should convey certain informa-
ton to Mr.. Charterhouse. AS manager
to Mr. Charterhouse's valuable mine,
Mrs. Langham seems to have thought
that I should be a valuable-what shall
I say?-a valuable fellow cOnspiratOr."
Go on" she said, quickly, and with
great concern.
L wonder whether you can guess
what I am going to say?"
I hope 1 am not guessing rightly.
1t is too terriblel"
Mrs. Langham was good enough to
say that for anything 1 could say to
my-my master, Mr.. Charterhouse, that
would assist the object she had in
view, I should be well repaid. This was,
of course very generous of your aunt
GO on, Mr.. Beste.''
The time was flying. Passengers were
settling down in their compartments,
and at every window was a bunch of
heads. There were tears, too, because
some of those on the platform-parents
saying good-by to sons, and wives say
ing adieu to husbands-were sufficiently
old-fashioned to possess emotion.
And what I had to do was this.
Mr.. Charterhouse is, as you know, a
bachelor"
Mr. Charterhouse may be an old
maid for all 1 know or care" she said,
holly.
And II was to use my influence
with Charterhouse-which is, I admit,
considerabl e-to induce him to come
over here to see Miss Langham."
And buy her, I suppose" she ex-
claimed, trembling with excitement but
not allowing her voice to raise itself.
ITO buy me, and to sign the agree
ment at St Georges, Hanover Square. -
Il think" he said alphabetically,
that your aunt is very anxious that
you should make a good marriage"
These good marriages are all bad
ones, declared Eva Langham, holly.
Mr.. Peste, you must help me. 1 can
not allow my aunt to make me appear
shameful and ridiculous in people S
eyes You must promise not to say
a word to Mr.. Charterhouse about me
1 don't know him, and I don't want to
know him"
He saw you once, think when
you were a girl at school,.
Il peg of you. Mr. Beste, to do this
for me. I shall marry-when L dc
marry-just whom 1 like, and 1 will
not consider any one whom 1 don't
like"
II am glad to hear you say So
Il should not dream of saying any
thing else"
I thought, from what your aunt said
that YOU UNDERSTOOD
Indeed. indeed, Mr.. Beste," she said