Evening star., 1901-07-13

any good against the bridge OF "A mans
nose, they shall be at your country's SER
vice For the rest, bills of lading and ex-
changes at thirty days are more in my
line"
"Ah." said the young Scot, twl-iirg an
almost invisible mustache, commerce L
know little of. / was bred to the profession
of arms. My good father taught me the
sword and the pistol according to the
practice OF the best modern schools. Ser
geant Mcpherson, his orderly, gave me in
struction in the ssber and bayones. i was
| intended for commission In the nth my
fathers old regiment. when a pecuniary
loss, the result of an unfortunate snecula-
ton broke my poor fathers heart and
sent me out to seek my fortune with no
more than Robin Fleming's sword and my
right armi'
Poor capital to start on" said the En-
glishman in his bluff manner. as he eX-
amined the article in question, now you
do not happen to write good round
The Scot started and laid his hand on
his sword hilt.
Sir" he cried. your avocations do rot
permit you to understand how great an Ia
suit you offer to gentleman!
oh" said the other, Il aont know at
all that you would have suited. Our mana
ger down at Barcelona Is very particular
man, but then l would have said a good
word for you. and being the owners sor-"
Say no more of the matter, l beg Of
you said the Scot. haughtily. L have
not yet been reduced to the necessity OF
choosing a mercantile career"
And that is a most fortunate thing fer
you!' quoth the Englishman with the ut
most gravity.
For me, l care nothing for money" said
Rollo Blair "Eh, what is this"
He wheeled round quickly in response to
a tap upon his arm. and the Englishman
looking at him keenly though apparently
intently regarding the opposite walD saw
him turn visibly paler.
The landlord was at Master Rollo Blair's
elbow with the reckoning written out upon
long sheet of paper. A couple of serving
men, who were probably privy to the eN-
travagant total, stood staggering and whisp-
ering in a neighborng archway. The Gal
Logan and his companions sat crossing
their legs and gossiping watchfully, dart
ing inquistive glances under their bruws
at their late adversary, to see how he
would bear himself. Only that noble gen.
tleman, the old Castillian, slipped his
chocolate unmoved, and. with the perfec-
tion of good manners, stared at the fire.
From red to white and from white back
again to kind of greenish paleness went
and same the hues of the young man s
complexion. The son of the house of Blair
of Blair was manfestly unhappy. He put
his hand in one pocket He clapped an
other. His purse was not in either.
"Perchance 'tis in your honor's equip
shall 1 call your body servant to bring
it?''
It was a face of bitter chagrin that Rollo
Blair of Blair lifted to the Englishman,
study of fly upon the wall. He beckoned
him a little apart with look of inimitable
chagrin.
sir he said, will you buy from me
silver-hilted sword? 1t was my grand
fathers, and he fought well with it at Kill
liecrankie. 1t is the sole article of value
possess.
Here kind of sob came into his voice.
God knows, l would rather sell my right
hand," he said, brusquely.
How came you to run up such a bill,
having no efforts?" said the Englishman.
looking at him coolly, and taking no notice
of the young mans offer of his weapon,
which he continued to hold by the scab-
bard.
Il can hardly TELL" said the Scot, hang
ing his head ''but only two nights ago
outfaced me first at the cards and then at
the drinking of wine. So L was compelled
to order in better and better to be upsides
with him."
There is no meaner ambition, especially
on an empty purse said the Englishman
not moving from the angle of wall upon
which he leaned.
Curse me that ever l troubled myself
to appeal to a cold-livered Englishmanw
cried the young man. Il will go to the
Castilian over yonder. He looks as if he
might have the bowels of man At least
he will not palm off a gentleman in distress
with moral precepts culled from last weeks
sermonr
The Englishman leaped forward and
CldppeU TIE nOlDedQeO scot the SlOul-
der. With the other hand he drew a we'll
filled wallet, with a mercantile calendar
slipped into the band, from his pocket
There, he said, heartily, 'let me be
your banker. 'Tis worth a score of reck-
onings to hear Scotsman speak disre-
sspectfuly of sermons My name is John
Mortimer-
''Of the Mortimers of Plas Gwvnedd in
Caernarvonshire? Why, my grandmother
was of that" Rollo Blair was beginning
genealogical disquisition with great
eagerness when the Englishman stopped
him.
NO" he said, "at least, not that know
of. My father made mousetraps before he
took to cotton spinning, and | never so
much as heard whether l had any grand
father. am plain John Mortimer of Choir
ley, at your service.
And you will not accept of my swords?''
said the Scot. | assure you it is worth
enough to discharge my small liabilities
twice over.
Swords are not legal tender in the wine
business said The other smiling, nor vet
when l go home with knowledge of lam
guages to help sell my fathers gray cloth
You are as welcome as my brother to the
loan, he added, and l promise you /
Will accept repayment as gladly from you
as from him.
You make the matter easier indeed"
said Roilo Blair, recovering his spirits with
a bound Here, landlord, can you change
this gold ounce? Or is the matter too great
a one for your petty venta?"
The young man had been standing a
little back in the shadow of one of the
arches, in which We're empty managers and
the rings of head-stalls so that he could
not observe the passing of the English
mans purse from hand to hand.
Your servant. senor!' said the innkeep-
er no Spanlard, but French Jew of Rem
s1llon. What can / have the honor of
ordering for your excellencies' supper?''
Order yourself out of my sightr' cried
the Scot, imperiously. I'VE are going ND to
the monastery to dine with my uncle, the
abbott
The padrone Of the venta fell back a
couple of steps, and the two serving men
ceased to grin, and, instead, bowed most
obsequiously.
He is a nephew Of the abbot-perhaps
(who knows) his SON. There will be fine
doings out of this nights work if he tells
Don Baltasar all, as he doubtless will"
This was the whispered comment of one
seIvitor in the ear of his master Said the
other:
Speak him fair, padrone, for the love
Of God! For if the monks are adverse,
we are sped. Our pipe is as good as out.
And perchance yet worse thing may
happen!'
And he leaned over till his lips almost
touched mine hosts ear.
latt