Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1898-03-18

At the Last moment.


generally understood that the real
battle of Wat rloo takes pluce every
Saturday morning at the station Of
that name. when the special trains
start for South Africa. II is a des-
.,aaxats struggle while il lasts, and the
uniformed men nave an evceaufngfv
warm time of it. but thev have al
ways conquered before, and this eu-
courages and gives them enthusiasm.
Mr. John Bes 'e--the name was on the
leather label of his single portman-
teau-Mr. John Beste, down in COOL
time before the real tussle began.
looked on with interest. He was a
tall. res esaryed-lookinc man. with n
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 tlptoe to kiss burly youth, and
the sight gave him thoughts. "Of
course there is no one to see me of, :"
he continued, argumentalvely. why
should there be?"
Mr.. John Beste placed his portman-
teau in the corner of iirst-class COM
partment and laughed little bitterly
at his grumbled soliloquy. A light
touch on his arm made him wheel
round; 1he sound OF soft voice
made MN nusn.
MT. Beste
Miss Langhaml Are you hese to
'"y IN SDoa oye 70 '91' !g ,,n
.,,,l n"' 9,.I ms9 tne ie "a - u eno S1aae .i',.s
Mo'nall, niio uIly' supposo NC Z
tne;n %o o.n suens;, o" i0"s Oeioi' 'o"'
w a,r So. ,,.
ham :"
"On1v twortv m;nutes9 am
.orrv that vou are go;ng so on;ckJv
And Won will see Mr. Sharterhonse
7 sunnose9"-sbe stepned aside To
avoid q ;nggsrnant trolley of lu0gaoe
- s:as soon as vou or,iye9n she re-.
so,,ed
1f,..,,.,. 1f n
1a,' .an ,".o@,, poSslo'y "'o'' 'na'' 10 -"i >
lam i-asn.sSIn"IiieiSe...,..,..4, s.sI n"I iieie.
my @ a,lu' 9oeS noe @ nos KNOW ,. .n"' ~, hase t,
e9lng NJ pa;, uoMn D'u YOU ""A' u 'ee nei'
4u :; ,a'','..., i'es'e' ), ii ,
o. ie. r eso.loe' 5:'.,l n s"s e'~se,S' 80;
10 no' iu"i'peH9"o'e 10 my naPpi-
ness,
I'm afraid that you are inclined to
be little unjust TO het. You
9on KNOW her as Wen as L do' WI
beste.
''1hat is so. But Mrs. Langham
has made quite confidaut of me uur-
ing the time that have been here, and
aud well, think l understand
her,"
81 should like to know what YOU
talked about. 1t occurred to me ut din
ner last night that
"Upon nv word. Miss Langham, l
have half mind to tell you.''
"Half mind is uleuty. Mr.. Beste. l
have n speeiaI reason for wanting to
know. NV dear aunt has not always
the best tact in the world"
"That. he said. drvlv. Occurred
to me"
"Was it of me that she WAS talking.
wonder? Wa, / the o5ieot?"
"Jt was of Won. he said.
"And INV amt said?"
cam bound to answer these uues-
lions. nv lord?'
A band of Hebrew financial gentle
men came along the crowded platform.
forming an entourape To some imuor-
tant individual in their cent e. With
tbe enternrise of their race thew forced
the other passengers aside. and Mr..
John Beste and Miss Lanqham were
senaroted in the commotion,
s.you ore bound " said the voupq
Portia returning. ..to answer nh the
questions that are nut TO Won for tbe
next f;fteen Minutes
"Mrs Ionpbam - said Mr. John
Beste shifting his rug from one ann
TO the other and bending little closer
To tbe bawilderinQ hat and the charm
inc face that Il selfishly attem,ted to
hide "AIrs. Lauqbam was extremely
anxious that should convey certain
information to Mr.. Chart -rhouse. As
mauaoer of Mr.. Charterhouse's yalu-
able mine Mrs. Tanobam seems 10
have Thought that should be ya,u.
able-what shall | say?-a valuable
fellow.conspirator"
500 ON. !" she said. quickly aud with
great concern.
81 wonder whether YOU can guess
what am going to say?"
81 hope | am not guessing rightly
1t is too terriblep'
"Mrs. Langham was good enough
to say that for anything could say TO
my-my master.f Mr.. Charterholse,
that would assist the object she had
in view 1 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 comp art
ments, and az every window was a
bunch of heads. There were tears.
too, because some of those on the plat
form-parents saying goodby to sons