The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1900-11-24
tutlons even the paper lays furled IS

buttons even the paper lay furlsd 81
Ibis side. ~
But presently Flora came to the res.
cue. She Slid into the silence with q
technicality asking Il John stu 4 took
his old inord mate arno unt of sugar.
Thence it was but step to the burn
ling question Of the d ay;: and in tones
a little shaken, she commented &, ted on the
interval since she had last made tea
FOR sthe prodi gal, and Ss congra tulated
him on his return. - d then ddress:-,
Ling Mr.. Nichols son, she con era .ulate6
him also in manner that teted hit
Ss;Il-hum or; a nd from that launched into
tie. tale Of Johns misadyentures, not
without some suitable suppressions.
Gradually Alexander Joined; = between
them whether he would or not, they
forced a word or two from J John, and
these tell tremul ously, and spoke SO
aeloquently Of mind oppressed with
dread, that Mr.. Nicholson relented. At
length even he contributed question;
and before the meal was at an end all
four were talking even freely. :.
Prayers followed, with the servants
gaping at this newcomer whom no one
had admitted; and after prayers there
came that moment on the clock. which
was the signal for Mr.. Nj holson's de-
.parture. =
"John," said he, ''of course, you will
stay here. Be very careful not to excit g
Maria, if Miss Mackenzie thinks it de-
sirable that you should see her. Il Alex
ander, I wish to speak with you alone.''
And then, when they were both in the
back room: - y Oh need not come to the
>ofice today" said he; "you can stay
and amuse your brother, and / think
it would be, respectful to call on Uncle
Greig. And by the Bye (this spoken
with a certain-dare we say ?-bash7
fulness), 1T agree to concede the prin4
ciple :ofSans allowance; and will con-
suit with Doctor Durie, who is quite a
nlanlof the, world and has sons of his
own, as to the amount. And, my fine
fellow, you may consider yourself in
luck" he added, smiling.
j Thank you" said Alexander.
Before noon a detective had restored
to John his money, and brought
news, sad enough in truth, but
perhaps the least sad possible. Alan
had been found in his own house in Re-
gents Terrace, under care Of the ter-
rifed butler. He was quite mad, and
instead of going to prison had gone
to Morningside Asylum. The murder
ed man, it appeared, was an evicted
tenant who had for nearly a year pur-
sued his. late landlord with threats and
insults; and beyond this, the cause and
details of the tragedy were lost.
When Mr.. Nicholson returned from
dinner they were able to put a dispatch
into his hands: John V. Nicholson,
Randolph Crescent, Edinburgh.-Kirk-
man has disappeared; police looking.
for him. All understood. Keep mind
quite easy.-Austin.'' Having had this
explained to- him, the old gentleman
took down the cellar key and departed
for two bottles of the 1920 port. Uncle
Greig sdined there that day, and cousin
z Robina, and, by an odd chance, Mr..
MaceWen; and the presence Sofs these
strangers, relieved what might have
been otherwise a somewha at strained.
relation. Ere they departed, the fam.
lily was welded once more into fai1
senhlanee of unity. '.s%5-% 2 y sly 81 $tg
In the end of April John led Flora
to the altar, if altar that may be
called which was indeed the drawing
room mantel-piece in Mr.. Nicholson's
house, with the Reverend DR.. EDurie
posted on the hearth -rugrin the guise
of Hymen's priest. $50 = /. j. i
The last I saw Of them, on a recent
visit to the north, was at a dinner-party
in the house of my old friend ,Gellatly.
Macbride; and after we had, in classic
phrase, s'rejoined the ladies' I had an
opportunity to overhear~ Flora con
versing with another married, woman
on the much canYassed matter of a
husband tobacco. t'Oh, yes! said she;
II only allow Mr.. Nicholson four cigars
a day.; Three he smokes at fixed
times after a meal, you know, my
dear; and the fourth he can take when
he likes with any friend ..+ E:.s =
"Bravo!'' thought I to myself; this
is the wife for my friend John!"> 4
/. a.. g THE END. -. .+,.. -