The Washington weekly post. (Washington, D.C.) 1878-1916, 1899-02-14

him Either could answer any question:
Mr. Broxdaiie might think needful Il
ask. az also Dean Alperton. and. HI
might add. the Bishop Of Rutland. whit
had known him nearly all his life.
As | always told YOU. dear Mrs Brox
date" finished Mr.. sidney, who wa:
nothing IL not straightforward" though
] have little money, / have heaps Of
friends"
Indeed you have" answered the good
lady, and they are better than money.
1T Is very kind Of you to say So he
laughed. 'Still. IL heaven had beer
pleased TO give me the choice i fancy
should have preferred money"
There you 20" said Mrs. Broxdaile
merrily. You are ius1 like all the men.
Il assure you | am .ot," returned MI
Sidney with more truth than his mother
in-law-to-he supposed. Nevertheless,
hope you will write soon and inform Mr..
Broxdaile there Is for me but one woman
in the world, and that is-his sweet
daughter"
He'd best see you first, and then he'll
be as much pleased as / am"
To which opinion the speaker adhered
with such persistence that Mr.. Sidney 5
heart often misgave him as to what the
result might prove to be. He grew so ur-
easy, in fact, that at last his fears found
expression in such sentences as:
Il cannot tell what / dread, but / do
wish that interview were over, as ! new
er wished anything before in my life."
Or: 20 darling. If we could only walk
quietly to church one morning and re-
turn man and wifer' Or: ''Supposing
your father should not like me, and re-
fuse his CONSENT Dearest, If We were
but married and the matter beyond re-
call"
To which, and many similar remarks
Mrs. Broxdaile would reply:
There is no need to be uneasy; Mr..
Broxdaile will like you, never fear" And
Eva: Father is the best father in all
the world. He has never refused me any
thing"
Which was quite true; but then she
had never asked before for a husband,
and this was probably the reason that, as
the time of Mr.. Broxdaile's return drew
near mother and daughter became SO pal
pably nervous. Mr.. Sidney shook in his
shoes, and referred more than once TO
the good old days" when valiant knights
were wont TO carry off their ladye-loves
All unconscious Of the surprise awaiting
him. Mr. Broxdaile, eager 10 see his fam
lily as soon as possible, left the Cunard
boat at Queenstown and travelled, via
Dublin, to London. where he arrived tired
but happy one evening when Mr.. Sydney
was "basking" in that bliss he had never
enjoyed till made free Of the Leinster
Terrace drawing-room.
YVhap Mr Rraydaife departed for Amer
lea he sailed from Liverpool; therefore
Mrs. Broxdaile made sure he would re-
tTTn by the same route. Had she not felt
so positive about this matter Mr.. Sidney
might not have been summing himself in
the eyes of his beloved when the self
made man suddenly appeared before his
astonished family.
Talk of "a skeleton at a feast" of Ban
quo's ghost. of apparitions! Why, any
number Of specters could not have pro-
duced greater CONSERVATION than the
sight Of poor Mr. Broxdaile, who, enter
Ing his own drawing-room. sure of cor
dial welcome was greeted by a Shrek
from his wife and the sight of an al
most fainting daughter, supported by a
total stranger.
1t is often said matters arrange them
this axiom, matters did arrange the
dreaded explanation that night with
Mrs. Broxdaile was the first to speak.
"Lor'! how you did brighten me, Ben"
she exclaimed.
80 it seems!' Ben answered, grimly.
why could you not have sent line or
/ telegram"
This TINA NJ prnv5a{ia rooda M yapI.-
perhaps he was thinking quite as well
lid not
Terrifying the poor child, too,'
Evans wanted 10 announce me, but ]
thought l would give you a pleasant sur
prise. 1t was inconsiderate, perhaps"
There was such dry irony about this
remark that Mr.. Sidney felt as though
ced water We're running down his spine
He had placed Eva in an easy chair, and,
feeling his presence might, under the cir
be considered de trop, would
have modestly retired had not Mrs Brox-
iaile interposed with: Pray don't go, Mr.
Sidney. Ben, this is gentleman we have
become acquainted with since you went
away"
Mr. Broxdaile bowed, Mr.. Sidney bowed
and timidly put out his hand, which the
ne did not take it.
Il am sorry to have intruded on fami-
" meeting" said the charming fellow
Thank you; but my return was. as you
see, quite unexpected"
Il really must be going" declared Mr..
Sidney, as Mr. Broxdaile moved across
he room TO speak to his daughter.
Mrs. Broxdaile raised a warning finger,
md intimated by grimace that her lord
and master had a very bad pain in his
emper," but she only said aloud:
We'll, if you must be off-good-night. /
hope it won't be long before We see you
igain"-a speech meant more for the
benefit of Mr.. Broxdaile than her depart |
ng guest.
The conversation which ensued that
hight after Eva, with a nervous headache, |
had sought her room, need not be set
Town. Ii can quite as we'll be imagined
IS described. Suffice it 10 say that, after
L series Of equivocatiOns, Mr.. Broxdaile
managed to extract the naked
ruth from his wife
He'd question the dead out of their
graves" she subsequently declared to Mr.. |
Sidney. He ought 10 have been a law
'er. that's what he ought 10 nave been" |
statement which did not greatly COM
Crt the disheartened lover who knew he |
\ ould soon be under the harrow HIM |
elf.
Mr.. Broxdaile did not say much 10 his |
wife, but what he did say was TO the |
clint. Re would see Mr. Sidney
AND / could not get another word out
4 him. l know no more than that |
'iano." referring 10 Erard's chef d'oeuvre, |
what he mas in his mind" commented |
drs Broydaile.
Mr., Sidney thought he knew, but i'm |
tated the "se.f-made" ones reticenee.
The momentous interview, however, |
a. sed over quietly. Mr. Broxdaile did |
ot storm or reproach or express aston |
aspirant for Miss Eva's |
and would have felt more satisfied had |
e done any of ths three.
With one ieg crossed over the others, /
Is elbows resting on the arms OF an |
asy chair, and the finger-tips of his right !
and lightly touching The tips OF his |
eft-his favoriie attitude when lat atten- |
lon"-he listened 10 all Mr. Sidney had |
o tell. and reserved his decision.
In London it is tolersbly easy 10 get TO /
row most things without calling in the |