The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-02-07

mess or the deVlls own continuing
And the house full Of menl Do you sup
pose-can it be possible-that she ha
heard about Jessie2"
"What about her?"
II am looking for her home-here. ;
| ooh, you are! How could Miss Bas
com know anything about her wher
neither Mrs. Northcote nor I have beer
honored with your confdence?"
| THAT is true-true What au ass
am Of course not. I say, Hillary,
never could think lucidly on an empty
stomach. Aren't you hungry after your
IA mile ride?''
GIVE had nothing since an early
breakfast, butt
The colonel possessed the happy fac
ulty Of pushing disagreeables into the
background of his mind, there to await
more convenient season.
He smiled cheerfully into his friend $
gloomy face and said:
st is bad enough, old fellow, but
starving won't mend it. I've got IS
men sitting in my dining room, wait
AhS AL AilC w COtllO DuJh anu luCluGuud1-
ly wishing you with the devil. Well
talk this snarl over after they have gone.
I've got my hands full. I'm going to
tell them about JESSIE
Northoote fairly gasped:
"You are? How will they take it7''
"How they will take it you can judge
for yourself; some of them kindly, I
hope-not all, though. Come
He opened the door leading into the
dining room with a suddenness that
left no alternative. Northcote had to
follow.
oscar, another chair, there, at my
right. Gentlemen, some Of you may re.
member my dear friend, DR.. Hillary
Northcote. All Of you know him by
reputation. When he moved to Mack
county, Apologize county was the loser.
At least the undertaker's business Ian
guished. A happy chance has brought
him to me today. Northoote, down
with you and try to get even with these
fellows"
Inwardly marveling at the self con-
troll Of the man, Northcote accepted the
situation with sigh of relief and smil.
ed at the men. He had ridden far and
was both tired and hungry. 1t would
certainly "be impossible to talk that
matter over with Bascom' until his
guests were gone.
The dinner progressed along familiar
lines to the point where it was custom
airy for Oscar to place boxes Of cigars,
ash receivers and matches on the table,
stripped Of everything but flowers and
decanters. Mr.. Potts was wondering if
his story about getting lost in the Maine
woods would bear telling again, Thatch-
er was wondering if Mrs. Thatcher |
would smell the wine OH his breath,
Northcote was wondering at what time
Of day these fellows would take their !
departure, when suddenly Colonel Bas-
com stood up and drew all eyes upon
himself. His gaze wandered deliberate
ly over the entire group my friends"
he said land I see none here whom I
need hesitate to call friend, we will fin.
ish our evening in state. am going to
let you smoke for this time only in my
drawing room-a room seldom used
since my dear old mother left it. I have
something there to show you and to
tell you"
There was scraping of chairs in uni
son and q somewhat subdued adjourn.
ment in direction Of the stately room,
whose rich hangings and handsome old
furniture seemed far too good even for
their temporary occupancy. They found
it alight in every corner. Sconces be-
tween the windows held wax candles to
supplement the numerous oil lamps. 1t
was made apparent to the most careless
observer among them as soon as they
entered the room what the colonel had
to show them.
On an easel, placed SO that each man
on entering the room must necessarily
observe it, was portrait Evidently
both portrait and easel were recent addi-
lions to the fading glories of the old
Bascom parlor. The one cleaned with
polished freshness; the other, framed
in heavy gilt Of the most modern pat
FERN, was as evidently just from under
he hands of the Trainer.
For some reason the colonel fingered
quite little while behind his guests
Northcote had been among the first to
inter. He started at sight of the por-
raft, but walked resolutely up to it.
The others followed his example.
From out the glittering gilt frame
here looked pair of soft girlish brown
yes that seemed to appeal directly to
very man there Straight black brows,
by broad white forehead
tamped with purity and intellect,
rowned the lovely eyes. With no at
empt to follow the prevailing crazo for :
uge bandeaux the painted maiden's
air fell away from her pure brow in
nipple bands of heavy richness. It
'as the picture Of very young and
cry beautiful woman.
When Bascom finally entered the
pom, the portrait was the center of a