, 1898-08-05
A FRIENDLY RUSE.

the dinner table. 1t had been rather a
quiet dinner, and he had had to do
nearly all the talking. Bradshaw open
ed the door, and Mr.. Garraway noticed
hat each avoided looking at the other.
Ernest Bradshaw closed the door and
came back to the table. He cracked a
walnut, and on opening it threw it INTO
the fire.
"Bad?" said Mr.. Garraway. He was
starting a cigar and he had refilled his
glass. He was perfectly at home with
the Bradshaws.
yes" said young Mr.. Bradshaw
violently. "Of course it's ,ad. Worst
of it is that you never Know until you
try"
Mr.. Garraway owed his success as a
solicitor mainly to knowing exactly
when not to do the wrong thing. Young
Bradshaw lighted a cigar and after n
few puffs let it go out. Then he stood
up with his back to the fret was his
f1re-and looked at Garraway.
II want to ask you something, Cara
way. Do you ever have people coming
to you to draw up deeds of separation"
Ohs ySS, lhNtts oitNh-
"Well, would You mind being of
some use to me-and to Eilen?'
why, certainly. I've known you
both-Mrs. Bradshaw especially--for a
long time. But you two don't want to
be separated? Why, man alive, you
haven't been married a year!"
"Garraway, look here. We have had
q row, a dispute, or whatever you like
to call it,"
"What I should call it," said Cara
way, rising and speaking with some as
cerbity, "would be a little disagreement
between two excellent young people who
ought to know BETTER"
Nevertheless, my dear Garraway'-
the young husbands lips quivored-
nevertheless we have agreed to part"
On tho piano in the drawing room up
stairs n few chords were struck and
the clear voice of Mrs. Bradshaw rang
out. Garraway, getting Oh i'll the thir-
ties, and sober man of law, found the
hand that held his cigar shaking for a
moment.
"You sec,' said Bradshaw; perfect.
ly jolly over it."
There was n sudden stop and n crash
on the piano. rs though the player could
keep it up no longer.
Look here, Bradshaw''-Mr. Cara
way passed his hand carefully over his
smooth, spare hair-'look here. Call at
my place Mt II tomorrow morning, and
I'll do what is wanted"
"Thank you, Garraway."
shall we go up stairs? l must ar
range with her"
The dcmure. precise little clock on
the m%antelpiece in Mr.. Garraway's
chambers struck IL o'clock. A small
boy entered with n card.
"Thank you, Judd. Show the lady
in, Mr.. GIBSON"
Mr.. Gibson withdrew his work to the
outer Office, stepping aside at tho door
to permit q slim, girlish figure to enter.
"How do you do, Mr.. Garraway? I'm
not late, am l? Ibid not know the place,
and I had II little difficulty. presume
you arc aware of the nature of my er-
RANDI said tho visitor.
1--WE often have little difficulties in
the law, Mrs. Bradshaw. If everything
worked smoothly, we would starve. l
had no chance of speaking to you last
night" said Mr.. Garraway, "exceptiDg
to ask you to call, but l had n brief
conversation with Bradshaw, and he
assured me that you had quite made up
your mind about the matter"
HE is, in this particular instance,
quite right" She put her lips together
and looked as determined as she could.
"And so l am to draw up the deed of
separation"
If you please"
"It's rather rough on me, went on
Mr.. Garraway, with an effort Mt humor.
"Why. it seems only yesterday that !
was his best man, and you and he went
away to Neuchatel, and we cheered you
as you left Victoria station. Do you re-
member?'
"Would you mind telling me, please,
when the document can be drawn"
"And do you remember your first din
ner after your return, and how jolly we
all were? Why, you were as comforta-
BILE as anything until n week or SO ago
weren't you?"
"What l propose to do" said the
stern young lady, with just the suspi-
cion of q catch in her voice, sis TO go
abroad with my unit for u year or two
and leave the house just as it stands for
Ernest to live in. He can get a house.
keeper, you see, and
"By Jovel" cried Mr.. Garraway
"That's not a bad idear'
"You think-you think it will work
all right. Mr.. Garraway?"
"Qh, l think sol I'll tell you why.
OF u you want Ernest to be com
Portable. don't you?"
There was u softening of her eyes,
"Oh, yesi It is only our one great
quarrel Of last week that is parting us.
and"-
~ know; 1 know. Now, look here,
Mrs. Bradshaw. l wouldn't take SO
much trouble If l were only your law
yer, but I'm your friend as well. am /
not?''
Dear Mr.. Garraway, we two have
always been good friends"
well will you allow me. then. as
IN old friend. to give you q little nd
vioel l should advise you to make up
this difference Of opinion with Ernest.
I'm told-of course I'm only q bachelor
but I'm told that all young couples
have their 4-arrels to begin with, and
thsy do ay-here again I~speak, Of
oourse, ~ . mere bachelor-that the
naking up is always the most delight
ful part Of it"
M. Gsrraway. l thought you would
se1us in that way, and II Il very good
~ ~, bat my mind was made mp be.