Gulf Coast breeze., 1898-04-22
At the Last T1Oment.
ny W. pErT RIDGE.

battle OF WaterlOO tukes piuce ofciy
Saturday morning at the station OF
that name, when the special trains
start for South Africa. II is a 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 gooo
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
ut the South African sun.
"No one 10 see mo of, 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-
team in the corner OF tirss-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 Langhaml Are You here to
say good bye to me?'
"rhat 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?"- stepped aside to
avoid juggernaut trolley of luggage
-"as soon as you arriye?" she re-
sumed.
"I can't possibly avoidthat Is Mrs.
Langham here?'
my aunt does not know that | have
come down. Did you want to see her,
Mr.. Beste?"
"Her presence" he said, gravely,
sis not indispensable to my happi-
ness"
y "I'm afraid that you are inclined to
be little unjust to her. You
don't know her as we'll as do, Mr..
Beste."
"That is so. But Mrs. Langham
has made quite q confidant Of me dur.
ing the time that have been here, and
and well, 1 think l understand
her."
~ should like to know what you
talked about. 1t occurred to me at dim
ner last night that
Upon my word, Miss Langham, /
have half mind to tell you"
"Half mind is plenty, Mr.. Beste. L
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,
Iwonder? Was l the obiect?"
at was of you," he said.
"And my aunt said?"
cam 1 bouud to answer these ques.
tions, my lord?"
A baud 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 aud Miss Langham were
separated in the commotion.
"You are bound" said the young
Portia, returning, Ito 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 il seltishly attempted to
hide, "Mrs. Langham was extremely
anxious that should convey certain
information to Mr.. Charterhouse. As
manager Of Mr.. Charterhouse's valu-
able mine, Mrs. Langham seems to
have thought that should be valu-
able-what shall l say?-a valuable
fellow. .conspirator."
$50 on, she said, quickly and with
great concern.
'T wonder whether YOU can guess
what I am going to say?'
'T hope I am not guessing rightly.
It is too terrible"
"Mrs. Langham was good enough
to say that for anything i could say tc
my.-my master, Mr.. Charterhouse
that would assist the object she had
in view should be well repaid. Thi,
was, Of course, very generous of youl
aunt"
"Go on, Mr.. Beste." ;"