The Indianapolis journal., 1903-06-21


one.
One day. however. about a month after
his arrival. Graham had his first chance of
being alone with her. DR.. Murphy had gone
on business to London. and so left the field
for few hours clear
Graham promptly seized his opportunity.
took her for a long walk. and wooed her
in the robust fashion of our forefathers.
1t was daring direct and masterful, and
1t seemed to suit the temperament of this
wholesome and athletic girl They missed
tea that afternoon, and only returned in
time to dress for dinner. But during the
interval between lunch and dinner. Graham
to use gold-digging paralance, had pegged
out his claim and was ready for the license.
That is. Miss Evelyn Howard had consent
ed to become Mrs. Graham Travers.
That night they changed their seats to a
small round table in one of the distant
corners. which had only room for three.
The three were Evelyn. her brother, and
Graham Travers. BY this move the COM
pany knew that DIR. Reginald Murphy was
ousted from the canoe.
The doctor returned too late that night
to know his doom. But next morning when
he found himself at solitary table he al
most lost his reason; he choked over his
outlet and looked in such a demoniacal
fashion at the lucky rival who had so boldly
jumped his claim that Graham, who was
watching him, could not keep from laugh
ing.
That laugh maddened the man out of all
sense of propriety. Rising from his chair
he stalked over to the round table and
said harshly to Evelyn:
May 1 ask the meaning of this insult,
Miss Howard?"
What insult, sir?" asked Graham.
quietly.
II did not address you, sir" fiercely re-
torted the doctor; then he added: why
have you left my table. Miss Howard?'
rs it your table, DR.. Murphy" again
asked Graham, in response to a glance from
Evelyn. rs the table yours, as we'll as
the smoking-room and the newspapers, DR.
Murphy? Are we also your private proper
ty that we cannot change our seats as we
please without your permission?''
You cad! You shall pay for this" splut-
tered the doctor in fury. glaring wildly al
Graham, who laughed again. a derisive
laugh in which the brother of Evelyn joined
softly. The lady kept her glances on her
plate, but looked rather pale and disturbed
For moment the company thought the
doctor was about to spring on Graham
Then, suddenly. he uttered a hoarse cry and
fell to the carpet In fit.
Ill
For the next fortnight DR.. Murphy was
confined to his bed. and, as generally the
servants rejoiced during his absence
Graham Travers made the utmost of this
time of peace, and advanced very far along
the fiowery meads of paradise. The engage
ment was now announced, and the marriage
settled to take place q month after the cor.
onation. Every day, and well nigh every
hour OF each day, the lovers were together
and the residents had come to regard Their
being always together as the proper order
of affairs. The sick man upstairs was for
gotten.
On the fifteenth day DR.. Murphy appeared
at lunch with iurid glitter in his protrud
ing eyes and hectic spots on his cheeks. H,
looked as If he had been very bad, ant
ought not to have risen yet, for his legs
trembled visibly as he tottered across the
dining hall. There was no disguise about
his age now, in spite of hair washes ant
other artificial attempts to cover time. Tha
| tell-tale neck. which the highest collar
could not hide, betrayed him.
He was a vindictive old man and dis
played his spite in the foolish and childish
manner which might have been expected
from his selfshness and want of tact H,
passed Evelyn in the hall with a ston,
He favored Graham, however, with tn,
most venomous of scowls, and snarled ou
a low oath which was overheard by NOR,
than the object at which it was cast
you had better be on your guard will
that lunatic, Travers," observed one OF tn,
hearers. "He looks dangerous and-irre
sponsible."
"Tn not consult him respecting my
| health. you may depend" replied Graham
| with a careless laugh.
Two days after this the doctor left the no
tel and bestowed his pleasant company anc
patronage upon the residents of a boarding
house in the vicinity. His loss was not re-
gretted by any one, while 1t was a positiv,
relief to the lovers.
| But IL he no longer marred their felicity
| inside he still continued to interfere will
their open-air walks. Wherever they wen
he appeared to shadow them, passing then
| with evil looks when they sat- and follow
| ing them when they walked. To annoy
| them as much as he possibly could seemed
| to be the leading aim of this monomaniac.
| But they were happy in spite of this. and
as they had resolved to go to London fol
the marriage they endured the infictior
| good-naturedly.
Two days before they meant to leave
| Clifton, Graham made a journey to the
metropolis to see his lawyers about set
| Elements and secure rooms. He told Evelyr
| the train he would return by in the after
noon, and made an appointment to mee
her the Suspension bridge instead of al
| the station in Bristol.
He was first on the spot and that she
might see him when she arrived he tool
| up his position in the center. Here, light
| ing a cigar. he gave himself up to medita
| tions sweet, while he leant over the sid,