The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-01-10

neither of us being the masters of the
establishment"
And then. after another pause. he
broke out regretfully: 'Ah! Master
Charlie, Master Charlie, what pity
thee'rt thee aunt's nephew, and can
not marry her theeself. That would
be a gran way out of the difficulty,
indeed, if it wasn't for the table OF
affinities." >e
Really, John,'' I smiled, even if I
wasn't within the forbidden degrees i
could hardly bring myself, at my age,
to marry an old lady of Is"
Then thee'd deserve to lose the prop
erty for sticking to such a mere trifie,
Master Charlie retorted the old man,
with severity. But there! there! That
being impossible, it's wasting our time
to discuss it. We nun think, Master
Charlie-we mum think what can be
done. I'll give the matter my atten-
ton; and thee nun give 1t thine. In
the mean time," he added, keep ABBOTT
the hose, Master Charlie, and if the
Major calls, doan't on any account
leave him alone with thee aunt
With this caution and another warm
ing shake of his bald head, he retired
to attend to his household duties.
The Major did call that afternoon,
and carried out Johns advice. taking
care to be present in the drawing-roOm
all the time. Very glad, too, felt that
l had not neglected this precautiOn.
For from the way the Major kept look
ing toward me, as if he wished me at
Jericho, and from the various attempts
my aunt made to ge me out of the
room by transparent subterfuges-to
which l declined to tumble-I began
to feel that the danger Of which John
had warned me was very present and
real, and found myself wondering
that I had hitherto been so completely
and culpably blind in the matter
When the Major at length took his
leave, l was sufficiently polite to ac-
company him to the front door. We
shook hands. Our respective manners
We're civility Itself. But 1 think he
saw that I smoked his game And I
detected lurking defiance in his eye
as he babe me adieu
That night, when John brought me
my whisky and soda into the smoke
room he asked me:
We'll. Master Charlie, what did thee
make of the Majors manner toward
mistress?"
II didn't like the looks of things" I
admitted
"And hast thee thought of any dodge
to outwit the Major, Master Charlie?"
II can't say have. Have you,
John?"
Il amt sure Good night, Master
Charlie"
Next morning he came to me again,
this time with a very long, frave face.
In his hand he held an open letter.
There, Master Charlie" he said,
I've been and done what I new done
before. This letter be for my mistress,
but 1 see it was from the Major, and l
opened it,"
It say! You shouldn't have done
that" demonstrated
Should or shouldn't, I did," retorted
John. half defiantly. And I'm glad 1
did, too. The Major offers thy aunt
marriage in this letter, and he's going
to call for his answer this afternoon"
"Phew." 1 whistled, in great dismay.
What's to be done now?"
Master Charlie" cried out old John,
very earnestly, thee aunt must be got
away this very morning, before the Ma
jor comes"
But how's that to be done?"
81 think it can be managed" said
John, with a knowing wag Of his bald
head. Fortunately the doctors com
ing this morning to see the mistress
about her eyes. He's a reel friend to
the family, is the doctor; and I doot he
disfavors the Majors designs near as
much as you or 1 do. Now, if you'd
cor i'm G,~cf II, VII
fide to him the exact state of the case,
who knows but what he'd find the con-
dition of the mistress eyes so very crit
zeal that he'd order her up to London to
see a specialist this very day?"
"Umph! Sharp work indeed, John.
But I'll sound the doctor and see
whether he will help US in the way pro-
posed said, after a brief reflection.
I did so. The doctor, a charming old
fellow. who had known me ever since l
was born, was divided between concern
and amusement when he heard what 1
had to tell him.
Hem! Internal adventurer!. I've
been afraid of this for months And
your aunt is in such a foolish, weak
minded state that she would probably
yield to him. Hem. She must see a
specialist about her eyes shortly And
why not now? Yes, Charlie, yes. I'll
do you and her this service, my lad
for. indeed, it will be a kindness to her
to save her from the Major. I'll see if
1 cant frighten her into starting for
town at an hour or twos notice.
1 was waiting for him in the hall
when he came down after seeing my
aunt
I've been as urgent as I could" he
said, with shrug of his shoulders.
But she declares it is impossible for
her to go to-day. However, met John
on the stairs, and tipped him the hint.
He'll induce her to go If anybody can.
Good old John. He has ruled her so
long that he can make her do very
much what he likes. 1 think he's talk
ing to her now. You go and add your
persuasions."
I ran up to the morning-room; there
found John lecturing my aunt.
Il can't let thee run the risk of blind
ness, mistress. l tell thee, can't per-
nit it,
But day or two can make no differ
ence John, and"
The doctor said every hour would
make a difference, and reckon he
ought to know
He considers it most urgent that you
should lose no time, aunt" I struck in.
Il tell you l won't go to-day" pro-
tested my old relative, peevishly. TO
morrow, if l must, but not to-day"
John, however, was equal to the occa-
sion. He did not condescend to further
argument He took the high hand