Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1898-07-23
A DEBT OF HONOR.

1t was at Charing Cross station,
where | called to make some inquiries,
and knew her instantly, though she
was yelled. She recognized me also and
returned my greeting with warmth
which | hoped was not altogether due
to the fact that / was able to extricate
her from a human eddy in which she
was entangled. l forgot all about the
time table and turned back, delighted
that the rush of the preoccupied crowd
around us gave an excuse to keep her
little silk gloved hand upon my arm.
She had been seeing Cousin Phil and
his wife off, she said, and was now, l
| guessed, returning to the desolate house
i'll Bloomsbury square. The picture
called up by the thought was so poign-
ant that l proposed visit to West
minister abbey. She appeared shade
surprised-I certainly was myself-and
then agreed, with little sigh, which
plainly said, GAS we'll there as any
where else. F." But once she accepted my
companionship by stepping into the
hanson called she made, could see,
distinct effort to take interest i'll the
multicolored life swirling by.
1.-THE abbey is the first place one
thinks of visiting when one is away, "
she observed, land yet, when one is at
home, it is so near that one keeps defer
ring the visit from day to day, and 1
am leaving town tomorrow. Papa
meant She did not finish the SEN
tence, but added, 1T is so kind of you
to give your time -
Il am man of leisure, said dryly.
Papa was always i'll a hurry, " she
went on, and then stopped again. All
roads Of conversation led to her father,
and death had written "No thorough
fare" across every one.
Better wear out than rust out, said
l considerably, Though the best of us
but write their names ON water after
all. A very consoling reflection for the
idlers."
eyes, if everything ended here, " she
replied as the cab pulled up and the
great gray temple doomed above us.
If time be duration set out by meas
ure, my watch was of opinion that we
spent two hours here. My conscious
ness, however, has nothing definite to
say ON the matter, "the endurance of
all enduring things not being painful
| ly prominent. Neither do remember
having shone among the tombs. On one
thing at least | am quite clear. 1t is
when we came out L was decidedly
hungry; so, artfully plotting my charge
past restaurant, l suggested lunch.
Here again a lacuna occurs, for have
no distinct recollection of the earlier
stages Of the banquet save the other
fact that her mode of eating and drink
| ing forced me to make comparisons
which would have brought me slowly
to my senses had not the unforeseen,
which has such trick of happening,
done so with paralyzing promptitude.
Her little hunting watch had run
down, but the officious cuckoo belong
ing to the restaurant clock spoke so
plainly that the young girl almost
jumped from her chair.
"Oh, Mr. Patterson" she cried,
"what shall l do? L was to call upon
Mr.. Turnbull-he is my guardian, you
know-about papa's will at half past
| 2, and now it is quarter past. >"
"Where does he live:'' / asked
''In the city, she replied despairing
! ly, land, oh, he is so precise, and there
may be delays-you don't know him. "
/ did, having met him in his profess
sional capacity some years before, when
l was "a witness for the defense.
"Wel drive there at once! - cried
royalty, putting my hand in my pocket
while she fumbled for her glove Then
an awful fact struck me; my purse was
gone. suppose my CONSERVATION got
into my face, for l caught the eye of the
polyglot waiter fixed upon me- He was
tall, and, doubt not, swift of foot,
and as he smiled thinly | could see that
he had lost one front tooth and all his
illusions. put my hat ON and took it
off again. At another time in another
place, the incident would have been
merely laughable, but now, with her !
had been so blase, so mildly cynieall
Oh, it was unthinkablel l moved to-
ward the counter which was near the
door, Swallowed by the waiter, who was
mentally calling the police, and APP
preaching the lady in charge explained
the situation. She was German frau
of spotless morals, and she listened
calmly to my tale, the cold contempt of
a narrow, literal nature glinting in her
small eyes. The comedy Of the situa-
tion did not strike her She only saw
that had no money. "Dey pay. dose