The Tupelo journal., 1902-12-19
to gayety did not produce the de-

pooh.
Seems all right to me-" replied
Allingham in a CHEEKY tone. "There's
something troubling you, Dick, apart
from the whisky. Come, out with it,
and let's see if / can help YOU"
Beresford was in that melancholy
pathy from the nearest available
source, and, encouraged by young
Allingham's friendly manner, he de-
cided to relate to thai gentleman the
incident in connection with Olive. He
therefore proceeded to do so after
some little hesitation, whilst the
other man listened with a half
amused expression.
"Well," said Beresford at length,
when the recital was concluded,
what do you think of the b~usiness?"
81 think you're a fool"
Thanks for your candor, but your
remark. whilst admirably forcible, is
hardly helpful. l want your advice,
not your objurgations."
advice! Great Scott, what's the
use of asking for advice? Isn't the
solution of the difficulty as plain as
the head walters hint for a tip when
he's given you an extra bad days
dinner? Write to the girl at once
or, better still, see her at once, and
make it up as the kids say"
"Allingham, l can't do it,"
"You won't, you mean"
Cant or won't, it's all the same.
When 1 was a boy l was thrashed for
ten days running because l refused to
admit hat / was in the wrong, and
l believe that the same old pride, or
whatever it is, sticks in me still"
Then the sooner you get it II of
you the better, for that kind of pride
causes more bother than half the
other vices that flesh is heir to. Any
how, I've given my opinion, and you
must take it or leave it, as u pawn
broking friends say"
I'm afraid" replied Beresford,
slowly, that | shall have to leave it."
The other man took up a newspa-
per and said no more, whilst Dick
Eeresford followed his example.
Languidly raising a copy of the Blade
from the floor, whittier it had fallen
from the sleepy hands of a fellow
member, he perused the columns of
that journal with anything but alb
sorbing interest.
His eyes roved listlessly from page
to page, and presently he lighted
upon that section of the newspaper
known as the agony Column"
Presently his gaze became glued to
the printed page, his heart beat like
a steam hammer, and he leaped from
his chair with a low cry of delight.
"Hallo!" exclaimed Allingham,
looking up sharply. whats the mat
ter?"
But Dick hardly heard the words,
and had he heard them he would not
have waited to answer his chum's
question, Racing in the direction of
the hatroom he flung himself into his
overcoat, and then rushed down the
club steps at breakneck speed.
A hanson crawling westward
swayed towards him. Dick jumped
in and shouted TO the driver to drive
like Jupiter" to the address he gave
him.
All the way Dick was hugging the
club copy of the Blade to his heart,
and was murmuring to himself in a
delirium of newborn happiness.
"The dear, sweet little girl" he
r1111ttnrnI ssha-- GOOD Ho-, 1-.-I 80
her to make the first overtures,
whilst I, like a stiff-necked ass, have
been hanging in the wind, too infer
nally proud to say a single word of
apology"
With these and similar reflections,
the young mar consumed the tedium
of the long drive, and when at length
the cab drew up at Olives door he
leaped out with alacrity and flung
the man half a sovereign.
Il expect 'e's backed a winner to-
day." thought the latter as he drove
off.
The maid servant who opened the
door in answer to Dicks summons
on the bell was a new arrival and did
not know him. When, therefore, she
inquired his name in order hat she
might convey it to her young mis-
tress, he said abruptly:
"Tell her simply that-er-there is
a gentleman who wishes to see her at
once"
This would give Olive a surprise, he
reflected, and would be a more in
teresting method of return than the
formal announcement of his name.
With swiftly beating heart he waited
in the spacious hall whilst the maid
departed, but he had not long to wait,
for, after a moments interval she
tripped back and said politely:
"Miss Bassett will see you if you
will step into the library, sir"
Beresford followed the servant to-
wards the in question, and the
girl, having thrown open the door
and said simply: "Here is the gen
tleman, MISS" retired to the base
ment. Olive, wondering whom her
unknown visitor might be, advanced
towards him, and then fell back a
step or two.
"Dick-Mr. B~eresford!" she
breathed.
my own darling!" he cried, as he
took her in his arms and covered her
soft cheek with kisses. "What Joy
it is to be with you again. Forgive
me for all my folly"
Olive could hardly speak for joy.
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