Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1898-04-14
At the Last r1Oment.
BY W. PETIT RIDGE.

start for South Africa. It is des-
perate struggle while it lasts, and the
uniformed men have an exceedingly
warm time of it, but they have al
ways conquered before, and this en-
courages and gives them enthusiasm.
Mr.. John Beste-the name was on the
leather label of his single portman-
teau-Mr. John Beste, down in good
time before the real tussle began,
looked on with interest. He was a
tall, reserved-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 off," said John
Beste. "a short mother was stepping
on tiptoe to kiss 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 first-class COM
partment and laughed little bitterly
at his grumbled soliloquy. A light
touch on his arm made him wheel
round. The sound of soft voice
made him flush.
''Mr. Beste!'
''NIiss Langham! Are you here to
say good bye to me?"
''That was the idea, ''said the young
woman, brightly. 81 suppose there
are others. How long before your
train goes?"
''Only twenty minutes, Miss Lang
ham,"
"Only twenty minutes? am
sorry that you are going so quickly.
And You will see Mr.. Charterhouse,
1 suppose?"--s stepped aside to
avoid a juggernaut trolley of luggage
-''as soon as you arrive?" she re-
sumed.
'I can't possibly 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,
sis not indispensable to my happi-
ness"
'I'm afraid that you are inclined to
be little unjust to her. You
don't know her as we'll as I do, Mr..
Beste."
"That is so. But Mrs. Langham
has made quite contidant of me dur
ing the time that have been here, and
and well, L think / understand
her,"
ST should like to know what you
talked about. 1t occurred to me at din
ner last night that"
"Upon my word, Miss Langham, ]
have half mind to tell YOU
''Half mind is plenty, Mr.. Beste. I
have 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,
wonder? Was the obiect?"
'It was of you" he said.
"And my aunt said?"
''Am 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.. John
Beste, shifting his rug from one arm
to the other and bending little closer
to the bewildering hat and the charm
ing face that it selfshly attempted to
hide, "Mrs. Langham was extremely
anxious that / should convey certain
information to Mr.. Charterhouse. AS
manager of Mr.. Charterhouse' valu-
able mine, Mrs. Langham seems to
have thought that should he va!u-
able-what shall I say?-a valuable
llow-conspirator.
''Go on,' she said, quickly and with
great concern.
81 wonder whether you can guess
what am going to say?"
II hope am not guessing rightly.
1t is too terribler'
"Mrs. Langham was good enough
to say that for anything could say to
my--my master, Mr.. Charterhouse,
that would assist the object she had
in view should be we'll repaid. This
was, of course, very generous of your
aunt"
go on, Mr.. Beste.
The time was flying. Passengers
were settling down in their compart-
ments, and at every window was a
bunch of heads. There were tears,
too, because some of those on the plat
form-parents saying goodby to sons
and wives saying adieu to husbands
were sufficiently oldfashioned to pos
Sess emotions.
s'And what I had to do was this i:
Mr. Charterhouse is, as you know, a
bachelor"
ttMr Charterhouse NAV be an old