, 1902-11-05

relatives on this night. but considered
1t an act OF courtesy to first speak
with your honorable self, lest there
he preparations such as you may deem
necessary for the occasion" The
governor drew a long breath and set
tied back in his chair.
Il believe there are none"
Very good" He tapped on the
floor with his cane. Then, to the
c%oloncl's still more profound astonish-
mcnt. the various portraits. n by
one. were seen to descend; first, came
a pompOus matron rustling down
from her frame. then several beruffled
men. and a slim-waistcd beauty. arm
in arm with the original immigrant
that came from England. The colonel
almost forgot both his amaZement and
his equity twitch as he smiled and
bowed.
You honor us. madame, and you.
my dear sir, many welcomes home
again. 1t really must be quite tire
some in those stiff frames: why. bless
my soul. here comes my own grand
mother at the age of eighteen; what
should a filial ~gray-headcd grandson
do. and what under heaven should h"
say?"
Meanwhile the asscmblage chat
tered gayly over topics of the last
generation, gossip long since de
caycd with its votaries, finance, poll
tics. whig and tory. until II might
have thought himself to be his own
grandfather.
All was cut short, however. by a
vigorous rap Of the governors cane.
we will now proceed" he said,
merely as a matter of FORM nod
ding roassuringly to the colonel, 80
address to our relative a few per-
%funCtory questions. First, YOU pro
fcssion was-cr?"
Law"
Good. Successful"
"NO."
Tho governor twisted up his watch
chain by W of expressing his dis.
satisfaction. and a shadow passed over
his brow.
"Ilavc you held ofice?"
mo"
"Amasscd a fo%rtunc?"
mo"
Written any books. or in any way
DISTINGUISHED yourself?"
II fear not"
The governor twisted his watch
chain into several complicated bow
knots. and his brow grew darker.
The Curleighs." he said. drawing
himso!! up h%aushtily, ARE not accus
toned to live thus"
Wretch" broke in a ferocious look
ing general, who had in his time beer
noted for doing nothing, Il car stand
anything but that" but the governor
withorcd him up with a look and
turned to the ~assemblage.
"Our relative scarcely seems to
have honorcd his family very highly.
The Curleighs are not wont to live
thus" his brow vas like the frown
of a thunder cloud.
"Wrctch!" reiterated the general.
grinding his teeth.
"Horrid crcaturc." exclaimed the
slim-waisted beauty.
"Out with him! out with HIM" cried
all at once. Shame on him! disown
him."
They pressed ~threateningly for
ward: but the governor raised his
hands for silence and again spoke:
Il understand then that your opin.
lon. after cool and deliberate weigh.
ing of the facts. is unfavorable to this
man. 1t seems to be unanimous"
There vas a mmrmur Of approval;
but it VAS III short by a woman's soft
voice. that came from the shadow OF
one of the far corners.
Il beg your honor's pardon" it said,
and everyone turned supposedly to
the speaker; the verdict is not unani-
nous, and you honor is a wretch,
and you. and you and you" to the
others.
All this was said in a cool and re-
strained but firm voice. and as the
speaker finished she stepped out into
the center or the group The assem-.
bly, instantly recognized her as this
colonel's wife. There was a decision
in the beautiful eyes that awed all
into an ahaShed silence; in the midst
of which she flung hNr arms about
the colonel's neck, and cast a defiant
glance at the governor.
Never mind what these cruel men
nay say to you. | know that a life
cannot have beef wasted that made
me so happy. Gould you or l care for
any honor without love? At any rate
| love you as though you were the
czar, or a senator, or anything big,
Just because-because l do"
The head nestled down upon his
shoulder. The colonel drew the fig
ure a little closer.
Now" he whispered. 81 think We
can dispense with the opinion of these
ladies and gentlemen"
The governor looked at his wife,
who stood near, and furtively wiped
one corner of his eye; the original
immigrant blew his nose at 4
prodigious rate; and the beauty
looked out of the window and pre-
tended not to see.
Perhaps" said the general, who
was a ~good-hcarted person, and, above
all, chivalrous, I'VE have been a bit
too severe"
Yes. yes" murmered several.
yes. yes" echoed the governor,
surreptitiously drying his eyes and
trying to look judicial, "the opinion
of the assembly is, l believe, that
We have been ton severe. in fact ia