The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-29

at the Incubus works. brought up the rear with couple of candles. which he was about to deposit on the new riano.
 Whoa, therep cried Billy; "remem- Ter Miss Vida's Broadwood. It was never bought for stand for your dirty brass lamp posts. It has fancy candelabra of its own, wan on each side. Wait till I get newspapern'
 The candles at last found q resting place on side table and Billy con tinued to do the honors. "Ye are on your way to the mansion but since ye did us the obligement to look in, ye will partake. So bein' as 'tis likely that ye may be late for supper up wonder at the castle, and the kitchen fire out. But dhrop of barley water now, or cowld coffee, will hurt no man at no time of night"
 By this time. chiefly from the in- stinct of obedience, old Dick was in kind of tremulotfs state, half alarm, half apology.
 MT. Kahn,' he said, q hope that ye will take no offence. You have been a good friend to me and mine. And Billy means well. He is my old mate, and in sense him an me are partners in our little lass upstairs"
 "I quite understand" said James Kahn, helping himself literally to all the goodlXg provisions-those promised by Billy. and also to the bread. cheese, and cold meat which Dick had un- earthed from Vida's receptacles.
 Kahn let his wealth and position drop away with the instantaneousness of a man who, after years of foreign tongue, begins to speak his own 1an- guage. Indeed, he felt more at home with these two working men, there in the heart of the night. and having just escaped a very definite peril, than at 8 great function in the dining room Of Gorm Castle.
 Moreover, he had no intention of backing out of his offer. And as soon as might be he put his proposal upon a business basis. If Vida would accept him he would settle ten thousand pounds upon her on the day of her marriage He would put Dick Fin nan into cottage of his own, and would arrange their menage In any way that Vida might wish. No one could do fairer than that. Only, hay ing regard to his present arrangements with MT. Romer in the way of busi- ness, the master of Gorm Castle was not to be told until after the marriage and at such time as he James Kahn should decide to be best for the break ing of the news.
 "Witnesses?" Why, as many as they liked-publication of intention in the journals of his country; registrars parsons--a bishop if they wished it. everything of the surest loyalist, and most binding. It was not that of which ne was afraid. The consent of Miss Vida-ah-Bryan.
 Miss Vida Bryan without the .ah if you pleasew interrupted Billy, who was in mood to raise difficulties. But for all this pleasant feeling, they were definitely at standstill.
 It was agreed by all parties that nothing could be done with out the lady. Dick when applied to, could sned no light on the condition of that half of his daughters heart for which he was paterrally responsible
 Tt might be Mir Morris" Cat this James Kahn quivered with desire to sheath the Serb knife in the broad back of Vic Morris). "or again, it might not. MT. Morris generally talked with him about pit work. but ne had not been there for some time. Then there was that young Calmont, the doctors lad, him that was working about the drawing offices"
 "Pshaw," said Kahn, dismissing with a wave of his hand poor Phil alto gether
 But" continued Dick, "as for MT. Kahn, I cant say how Vida took it; put aS InySeil, hdu never tiou6it Of such thing It has come upon me like blow.'
 Well" said Billy, cheerfully, what of that. old 'un? The foreign gentle man is not asking you to marry him. I vote that we call down the little colleen herself"
 That's talking" said James Kahn, but his heart beat quickly all the same He was within a single stride
 
 lions. He saw also the girl, who he had ended by loving according to his kind. The future depended upon that little light thins-a girls word, a girls fancy, a girls liking.
 The three men passed curious quarter of an hour while they waited for Vida to come down. On the table d copy of The Border Advertiser spread broadly out, sustained the two tall candlesticks which Billy Bryan had so hastily and unworthily compared to lamp-posts.
 James Kahn. visibly i'll at ease, all lowed his eyes to wander here and there about the little parlor. taking fin the dado which Vida had painted with a running pattern of rowan branches and red berries. He noticed the new piano and for a moment it seemed as if he were about to ask a question. In
  seemed certainly the gift of favored lover, and it grieved the foresight of James Kahn that he had not thought of 1t before.
 Billy also regarded the piano, but with a proudly parental look, which, if Kahn had paid the slightest attention to. would have told it's tale. Dick Fin nan, almost superstitious in his devo- ton to constituted authority watched James Kahn furtiyely.
 The three men, silent and watchful, presently heard light steps on the floor above on the landing, coming down the stair. The door opened and Vida appeared, in simple dressing gown of old-fashioned oatmeal cloth. with a lining of pale blue showing at throat and cuffs. She had made the gown herself, and was no little proud of her work The three men were now stand ing up.
 "You wished me to come down?' she said simply, resting one hand on the back of chair.
 Yes" stammered Dick. That Is to say, MT. Kahn wished it-he has some- thing to ask you"
 Take your time, little girl.' inter rupted Billy. Don't let anybody fius- ter you, not if he was boss of the Trinity House itself!'
 MT. Kahn made us wonderful offer" said Dick quaveringly. He has been wonderfully kind to me. Without Mir. Kahn l should have been working for a days wage
 But at this point James Kahn, seeing the frmness growing into obstinacy about the girls mouth, broke in.
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