Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1898-03-24

| SHY IL lIldC is uOl IL pretty Way III
which to welcome an old friend! Why,
Burns, YOU look struck with consterna-
tior! just as though 1 had caught you
in some wickadness! What ails you,
man alivey
"1l en- you have not heard ---?"
the major commenced; but he lost his
voice before he could conclude the
question.
Heard what. confound you Il was
going to say). what do you meau?"
ooh, Fulioy Fuljoy! old fellow.
what brought you down here to-day?"
cried the major
We'll! upon my soul and honor, if
that is not pretty question to ask
me! What brought me down here?
My legs to be sure! or, rather, my
horses! But if you want to know
what motive brought me down here,
why, that's longer story! My brave
Fulke and NY pretty Daney could not
live longer without me, even though
they had each others company. So,
what do they do but write pretty.
short. peremptory order for me to come
down to them-the little despotS!-
there il u.s." said the captain. laughing.
and thrusting into the majors hand
the note written by Fulke, which he
had just drawn from his pocket.
Major Burns ran his eyes over it.
and recognized it as the one which
Fulke must have written from his
prison. though it dated from the isle,
and contained 10 hint of the late trag-
ic events. The major groaned deeply as
he returned it to the happy, uncon-
scious old man.
Yes, you see, young tyrants. must
have me down directly! couldn't live
without me! Lord! Lord! how l
have spoiled those children. to be sure!
Well! l should have come down by
the boat yesterday morning, only. you
see. happy accident, of which l am
not yet at liberty to speak, detained
me and made me lose my train! and
also enlarged my family party and de-
termined me to come down by road.
But no more of that at present! Can
you tell me where can pick up a safe
boat to take me up to the island to-
night? Fo". assure you, never was a
bridegroom more anxious to greet his
bride than | am to embrace my little
Daney"
''Um-um-m-e" groaned the major, in
reply.
what the foul fiend q was going to
say is the matter with you:"
"Um-m-m Z! Captain, my boat is at
the wharf! will take you to the isle"
said the major. in tragic tone.
'"Thank you! thank you, heartily. old
friend. But can you take our whole
party? | have a lady. a lady's maid,
and Il gentleman with me! Can you
take us alp
"Um- UNI um-me! yes!' groaned the
major.
.'Thank you. aylin! But. 1 say! what
the mischief ails you? GU look dread
fully ill?'
Il am in PAIN gaspcd the major.
"Where?' anxiously inquired the
captain.
Here. in the region of the heart"
said Major Burns, laying his hand up
on lis vest.
"Ob. nothing but wind! Come into
the Wheatsheafs and take a mint ju-
lep"
"No. no! it is too deep for that: it
will do no good! will 90 and get the
boat in readiness! Pray heaven some
body else may tell him before l see
him again" muttnred the miserable
littI: man to himself.
Burns looks queer! I am afraid lie
has been drinking hard, and is just re-
covering from its effects" said the CAP
tain, as he took his way back to the
inn.
He stopped at the bar for moment
to give orders for tea to be prepared
for the lady, aud While he stood there,
these words, passing between two men
who were drinking together at the
other end of the bar. reached his ears:
''Oh, he did it! there is no doubt
about it in the world! No one else
could have got into her chamber! And
if he didn't do it himself, what else
was he doing? For, as to that lame
story of his being asleep in the arm
chair his sing-1oom-faugh! that
IS an insult to our common sense! Who
the devil ever heard of bridegroom
going to sleep in his chair the very
first night he brought his bride home?
Tell that to the marines, if you like!
but not to an intelligent jury-at least,
| if l We're on it!'
NO" was the reply, ''for even the
! magistrates couldn't help laughing
when that came out-laughing in the
sir! there must be some better de-
Tense than that got up, or he'll swing
| for it,
Hush! by George there's the cap
| tain himself. and he has heard every
wore; we. have said!' exclaimed the
first speaker, in Il whisper. that, never
tl,eless reached the captains cars as
distinctly as any other portion OF the
| cOnvC rSatiOn. /.
| He was startled ana surprised. and
! made vaguely anxious about-hc knew
| not what! He felt impelled to go and
ask .hc mel what they were talking
Of hut to do this he thought would be
rude and unjustifiahlc 7 he CONVERSE
ton was evidently intended for his
ears. :nd besides. good gracious! there
were other brides and bridegrooms in
this world than the young pair his
partially deI.icd! Why. then. should
everything that was said particularly
CONCERN Colonel all Mrs. Tulke Gre
vile? And the captain smiled in
wardly 1T his own fond cgotism.
Again. Tie bridegroom here spoken OF
WAS somehow or other in fault, and so.
of course. could 40: have been his boy.
reasoned the captain: but. reason us