Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1904-07-20

y
and some clothes, If you will I'll meet
her tomorrow in fairly respectable
guise; but l don't dare trust myself
after l see her. l want to bring her
here to the consulate, and l want you
to tell her-here, before me-what
manner of man | am.
He opened the soiled shirt, and from
! the inside unpinned few bills.
Il made this working with the ma
tives on one Of the plantations. It's
the passage money back. l want you
to send her back to the States. VIII
youw
The consul was lost in thought COR
some time. The other waited patient
ly.
"See here" said the consul at length.
II stand in pretty well with Toro and
his cabinet. 1 think 1 can get you a
place on the railroad the government
is building"
Brant held out deprecating hand.
"Rum and the coast have played a
merry game with me-" he sad mean
ingly. You'd better send her back
first. Then I'd like to try again"
The consul suddenly seized Brant's
hand.
"I'll do my best for you," he prom
Used.
Antigua behaved herself the follow
ing day. AT sunset, Brant and the
consul stood on the beach, watching
the great bulk Of the Southern Cross
| glide to her mornings through the
| CLASSY water. The palms stood out
| sharply against sky Of red and gold,
| and far to the east dim little stars
were struggling to peep out of the pale
blue sky.
| Both men stood silently on the shore:
| Brant calm and straight, his eyes on
the unruff1ed bay; the consul, with one
hand holding his hat, the other nerv-
ously pulling his mustache.
Presently the gig was lowered from
| the steamers side with much scream
ing of the davit- blocks. Without a
word the consul walked back to his
little shack and entered the room that
served him as Office.
| Some moments later he heard the
tread Of footsteps on the veranda and
a girls light laughter. The consul rose
and involuntarily squared his shout
ders.
| Brant entered and with him was
dark-eyed, laughing girl. The consul
experienced a sudden overwhelming
sense Of helplessness.
| He was vaguely aware that Brant
was speaking words Of Introduction;
vaguely aware that he had taken
soft little hand in his own. and that he
was looking into pair Of happy, I'M
| clouded eyes. Then there was strain
ed silence until Brant coughed nerv-
| ously. The consul cleared his throat,
redeemed to the roots Of his hair and
| began:
| Miss Kent, I want to say a few
words to you about Mr.. Brant and
and-er-this coast. I fear you have
been deceived, or at least that matters
have been more or less overdrawn to
YOU"
The girls eyes grew wide with
troubled, questioning look. Grayson
set his teeth.
"He has deceived you brutally," the
consul blurted out. "You must go
back to the States"
II don't understand you. We are to
be married here. l shall stay" said
the girl bravely.
Il tell you he has deceived you,"
said the consul sayagely. "You must
| go back"
The big eyes grew frightened. Her
lip quiyered. Then she caught one Of
Brant's hands in both her own.
Robert" she cried, 'what does 1t
mean? No matter what has happened,
1 shall stay with you. He doesn't
speak the truth"
The consul felt himself weakening.
He devoutly wished the earth might
open and swallow him.
''If it's the yellow fever and the
earthquakes, Robert--they told me
about them on the boat-I'm not
afraid Of them. Let me stay" she
pleaded.
Then the consul hedged miserably.
81 see our little ruse has failed, Mr..
Brant," he said pleasantly. II think
despite the fever and the earthquakes
you had better let her stay. If you'll
pardon me, III take the diligence over
to the plantations and fetch the En-
glish parson."
There is no account of the wedding
in the consular reports from Antigua;
nor Is there any record Of the rein
statement of one Robert Brant, Ameri-
can citizen and erstwhile beach
comber. But then, consular reports are
limited affairs.-Utica Globe.
He Wasn't "Dear.n
Madam! Won't you take this seat?,
sx,<S i,,n6 L. ~