Los Angeles herald., 1907-08-04

I
the two pictures had been painted
for her and daughter, they
could not have been better ikenesses, though
the clothing and the form of wearing the hair
belonged to the past.
| Mr. Longwood looked at his wife as soon as
she recovered her self-possesson, as she did
in a moment, and Mrs. Longwood looked at
her husband. The visitors were too much en-
gagged in examining the portraits to notice
their host and his wife. Possibly the husband
made gesture or a sign to his wife: but not
a word was said in explanation of the sensa-
ton Bessie had produced.
| Mrs. Longwood adroity turned the CONVEX
satlon to the attempted robbery of the store;
and this was the topic for the next half hour
MIR. Longwood manifested more curiosity than
! on any former occasion in regard to Professor
Braslock, and desired to know something
more about, Bryan's physical condition.
The son detailed the various gymnastic ex-
ercises he had practiced for years before the
death of his father. and described the instruc-
ton In sparring he had received.
The gentleman was much interested, and so
was Monroe. The latter suggested that he
bad better take lessons in the science of self
Defense; but Bryan insisted that the lessons
and all the skill that could be obtained were
useless without the development of the body.
1t would not amount to much to have the
skill if he did not have the strength.
But Bryan, rather to the surprise of Mr..
Iongwood and his son, disparaged the spar
ring II a young man was an adept in hte
use of his fists he was tempted to be bully
and to indulge in fights that could be avoided.
| 1t was something like carrying pistol in ones
pocket. If he had it. he was tempted to use
it in slight emergencies, though it might on
some extraordinary occasion save his life He
was more likely to misuse the weapon than to
use it properly, and it was so with sparring.
"As you told me after your affair with Lam
! bert Stryker, you ran away rather than fight,
said MIR. Longwood
eyes, sir; that is Just what my father al
ways taught me to do" replied Bryan. Il
am satisfied from what | have seen of the
world, that he was right
| 81 suppose you were all born in Boston,
Mrs. Braslock" said Mrs. Longwood.
Bryan and Bessie were both born in Bos-
ton; but their father and l came from Eng
land" replied the widow.
Indeed" said the lady, gancing at her
husband. 81 was born in England. l lived
in London till was eighteen"
II was born in London, and so was my
husband" said Mrs. Brasock.
"Then the professor was an Englishman?,
observed Mr.. Longwood.
| "He was; but he was naturallZed as soon
as he could be. think he, was more Ameri-
can than many who were born here.
"Was he professor OF gymnastics IN Lon
mo, sir he never did any teaching till he
| came to Boston. But he never called himself
professor, and never liked to be called so
| by others"
"Where did he learn his art of self.defense,
and when did he cultivate his strength" ask
ed the host, who was putting these questions
with purpose. though the visitors did not
suspect it. ;,
widow, looking on the floor. as though these
| inquiries were not pleasant to her.
"Probably he was what they call sporting
man. though he was certainly nothing of that
kind in Boston" suggested Mr.. Longwood.
| eyes, sir; he was sporting man, but he
dropped everything of that nature when he
was married. which occurred Just before we
vent on board Of the steamer that brought us
| across the ocean," answered Mrs. Braslock
"He belonged to a very good family in Lon
Edon; but he worked first as porter in store
in this country, and it was all an accident
that he became teacher Of gymnastics and
sparring. My husbands father was in business
| as a ieweler in Piccadilly, and was very
wealthy at one time, though he lost half his
| fortune by the dishonesty of his partner" ex-
planned the widow, who gave these facts as
+, the dryest details of an old story.
| And she wondered at the curiosity of the
elegant lady and her husband
| To the good woman's establishment her
| dry facts seemed to produce very decided
sensation in the mind of the lady. She looked
at her husband in the most expressive manner;
"My father was leweler in Piccadilly and
| he lost half his fortune by the dishonesty of
his partner" she said, manifesting no little
feeling. "But his name was not Braslock
cannot understand how there could have
been jeweler of that name in Piccadlly,
when | never heard it mentioned before"
! Suddenly Mrs. Braslock became very much
excited. She could not control herself as her
hostess could. and it ended in her feeling
very faint
| Bryan was as much amazed as alarmed at
the appearance Of his mother, but Mrs Long
wood was as kind as she could be, and after
time the widow was entirely recovered from
the i'll turn