The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1898-01-15

be lighter matter to get rid of this i'm
Fortunate youth in an hour time than 20
have discussion with him on the street.
The fat into which the boy noisly
stumbled was well and prettily furnished;
seemed almost to show the touch of fem
mime hand in its arrangement of flowers and
knick -knacks. One small electric light
glowed at the side of the room. The boy
turned all the others fully on. They
showed CHASTITY white against the dull, rosy
light which was coming family in through
the curtains.
The visitor had strolled across to the
fireplace and stood there, moodily looking
at some of the photographs ranged on the
shelf He had picked up one and was
examining it. He set it down sharply and
turned to his young host.
Now he said, lis the time for for
malities-for introductions. In Il prOsaic
world we must be careful of the conven-
lions, you know. | am Richard Eel
gate he bowed ii little ironically ga
man of whom his acquaintance (and they
are numerous) have but little good to say,
when they choose to speak Of him at all;
and of whom his friends (if he happened
to possess any would probably speak with
an ill-placed pity. A poor rogue, in fact,
who has but one merit-that he gives
dulIer rogues something to talk about
s'Oh, come, you know you re running
yourself down, replied the other. You
must be out of sorts-have drink. My
name, you know, is Roughton-Bailey
Roughton.
well, Mr. Bailey Roughton, give me
something in which to drink your health.
Snug place you have here-and all to
yourself, Ell q
oh, yes-all to myself, Of course,
replied Roughton, pouring out whiskey
with an unsteady hand, and glancing to-
ward door at the end Of the room
"Come-here you are. Cheer yourself
up bit
Richard E'elgate took the glass with ii
laugh. and drank deeply. Contempt for
himself-contemp for this boy-pricked
him to recklessneSs. He filled the glass
again and again. Even urged the boy to the
drinking of mad toasts. ''I'll give the
Young idiot lesson, he thought, brutal
| ". ..One of the lessons they taught ne
wears ago. We're travelling the same
road my stupid Bailey Roughton, he
muttered, looking at him-''only I'm
little further on the journey than you.
Presently the boy fell into heavy
slumber with his head among the glasses
on the table Richard Felgate, whose
face was flushed, stood up and steadied
himself with hand on the back of chair.
He laughed in his throat, and then-with
shaking hand-began I" pour some more
whiskey into his glass.
4 sound at the other end of the room
caused him to look up with start. He sat
down the bottle and drew himself up. with
his hands gripping the chair back. The
door which evidently led from another
room, had opened and figure stood there.
in long loose robe. framed startling
against the darkness behind-the figure of
a young girl.
In all his after life it is probable that
Richard Felgate never quite effected the
recollection Of that moment: never quite
lost the impression of the girl. a> he saw
her then. She had stopped, with one
hand on the door knob and the other hold
inc her gown at the throat; they looked at
each other for one long moment across the
drunken boy
Swiftly. still locking at him. she crossed
the room and bent over the boy He
SIeepily. and laid down his head again.
She looked at Richard Felgate with such
Il scorn in her young face that his reckless
eyes fell little, and he tumhled unea>ily
with his chair back
What is the matter with my brother.
sir:
You see. he replied in Il low voice.
without looking at her.
Yes. see, she said slowly. And
you--you are. suppose, Il triend--s--
"A mere chance acquaintance. IL
did not know. Will vou-wilI YOU let me
COZ? His tones were hurried: he tried
saya"ely to oct hold of his easy self-pos
session: to face this oirl with = lest and
treat the foolish matter Iobtlv But her
glance was disonieting.
Yes. 90 by all means, - she said. turn
inc AWAY from him and tann;no her slim
fingers imnatieptlv on the fable
Near the door he hesitated for mo
ment and glanced toward her: noting. in a
dull way. how pure and white and still was
her profile, how soft were the strands of
brown hair which curIed closed against her
neck
..Wo,t ,or lot ma ..v .>ha boo,n.
hut she checked him on;cLl,
SAY notbino b4g SIP
lie oneued the door SOFTLY and n,.sod
out and not down INFO tba .,,oot faal;n~
he,tnn and sohorod and bnmhlad Ia
was in mood 70 onrso tho f'ta mh;oh haJ