The Washington weekly post. (Washington, D.C.) 1878-1916, 1900-10-30

fore she had brought herself 20 take ths
fteI,-there was so much pain In her voice.
As she laid her hand on his arm ne saw
that she vas much distressed. and vas
trembling.
Are you mis- frienu - she asked in that
low, thrilling voice. with the note OF pain
In 1t.
HIS true friend. and yours" he an
sWered with such earnestness as had se.-
dom been heard In the speech Of Jack
kingdom.
And you don't think he ala wrong
on, tell me that YOU don't think he has .
she had elasped both hands on his arm,
ana ne could see a white face upturned 10
MS In the darkness. Ii was a moment
when the conyentionalities slip out OF
lie and one forgets they were ever here.
lie laid his own hand on the two trem-
bling little hands.
think he has done rIght-the best and
uuekt thing a man could do" he said
Win an answering thrill IL his voice He
ieit tnat II Lawrence had not decided 10
run away with this girl he would have
been TOO contemplate for human notice.
On, she cried. with happy little sigh
OF relief and yet with tears In her voice.
100, Il am so glad 10 hear you say that.
can be Drawer about il now-and can
defend him better. Poor fellow, he has
been 30 bitterly abused. And how glad /
VIII be If can make some kind of little
house into a home for him"
He Is a man TO be envied." said King
don with such fervOr that he astonished
himself Kingdom. who had gone thus far
through life Jesting at many things! And
ka
dark lawn would soon be over: and with
a thrill of regret. he said: He Is waiting
Tor as at the gate In the wall See, there
he is nowg'
For Lawrence waiting in the road out
side The wall, had heard them coming,
and had opened the gate and come for
ward TO meet them. Kingdom released
the hand on his arm and CONSIDERABLY
Turned around and looked the other way
My darling" whispered the lover. with
MS arms around her. don't be frighten-
ed. In little while"
And then Kingdom heard faint shrek.
and looked around in time to see the girl
tear herself away and catch at a tree
trunk for support, while Lawrence
sroaned and struck his brow with his
elenehed fist.
What's the natter" cried Kingdom.
catching Lawrence's shoulder, and shak-
ing him because he did not answer soon
enough. What's the matter? Is any
thing wrong? What are you acting like a
COMPOUNDED idiot for?"
''Oh, Notwithstanding much" replied
Lawrence. breaking into a mirthless
laugh. IT'S all right, Jack. You meant
well. but-but you've stolen the wrong
girl"
The horror of the situation was upon
him, and he staggered into a lawn seat
that was near at hand; but In a moment
he was up and at the side of the weeping
girl.
please don't think / would have
wronged you Intentionally, or given you
moments pain" he said, with imploring
earnestness. 1T was ali mistake"
She lifted her head and turned the dim
little face toward them.
Il thought you had come TO take me 10
Tom" she cried with an eager culver in
her voice. Papa is so angry with him.
and won't let him come home. and | told
Tom l would stay with him and let the
others go 10 Europe without me. He
wrote me note this morning that re
would send friend up for me tonight to
take me where he was, and now I've miss
ed him, and Wen go away tomorrow, and
he'll be left all alone. Oh. poor poor,
Tom!'
Don't be so troubled" implored Jack.
bending over her in his eagerness 10
scothe her. 'Ill take you back 10 the
house for little while, until / find where
Tom is. and then I'll take you to him
myself"
They were both beside her now, so
moved with sympathy that they paid no
heed 10 two voices coming along the road
outside, accompanied by the dancing light
of a lantern.
80, you were about to take me at my
word, were we, you young dog?" cried one
OF the voices, which was big and bluff. and
which yet trembled. well, we came very
near making shipwreck that time-aw-
fully near, boy. Open the gate, ladr'
The gate swung open; the light of the
lantern blazed suddenly in and betrayed
three startled conspirators turning dis
mayed faces upon the old man. But new
smiles wreathed his jovial visage.
Hello, Gertier' he cried jubilantly.
with his arm in young Toms. "Out on a
still hunt for this scrapegrace, were We?
He told me how you were going to say
with him while Nellie and deserted him.
But We needn't worry any more. Gertie.
We've had a long talk together, Tom and
me. and it's all fixed up He wasn't all TO
biame-not by long sight. Were better
friends than ever
Tom had his arm around his sister, and
the lantern showed him TO be a very
good-looking cub in that position The
old man looked on radiantly, and trying
10 rub his hands together, rubbed the
handle of the lantern with both hands
instead. Lawrence, in the midst of his
was suddenly seized with an in
spiration.
Mr.. Derwent," he said politely. .Iet
me introduce my friend. Mr. Kingdom
Glad TO see you. both of you" cried
the old man, shaking hands with both at
once. Glad you didn't pay any attention
to my III of ugly temper. Lawrence. You
see, ! was wild about Tom-nothing but
my children. you know-and a man. can be
hurt through his children mighty soon
Glad you took II like a man. and came
out to help Gertie find Tom"
Now. / feel like a hound" reasoned
Kingdom with himself Il wonder now
Frank feels"
fidHA ha9 aiESauS StdENcu ioENdEQ.
"Mr, Derwent," he was beginning pain
fully. 81 must make a confession
''Oh, nonsense" cried the old man with
mpulsive warmth. mo time for con-
LESSONS now. Who cares for confessions.
Come on up to the house" he went or
neOherently. clustering here and there
With the lantern in a happy, aimless way
Come on; Wen make an evening of H.
Nellle's there, you know. Give me your
,rm, Tom. Here. Lawrence. you carry the
antern on ahead. Come on, Mr.. Kingdom,
you follow right after me-"
Kingdom stood still for a moment look
ng down into the face that was Ike
lower in the fiekering rays of the Ian
ern
shall / go?'' he asked. and the tone
lsked a question that lay deeper than the
words.
And presently she took his arm and
hey followed on after the dancing light
II the lamp.
Copyright 1899. Daily Story Publishing Company
When Boston Was the afsdsfH Athens.