The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-12-05

, he in confoundedly awkward position? !? A lady had been attacked-the lady-and he had not come to the rescue. Her inso- lent enemy had been overthrown and he had not done it. Well, as he had not charged at the proper moment and the battle was over, he just walked a turn
 in the shrubbery and then stalked ma
 3estically in through one of the long,
 French windows with "what-what is the
 disturbance2" Bedford was threatening
 Bulkley with the poker and the giant
 seemed loath to close with his small but
 plucky antagonist "You git out of the
 way" says Bulkley to the intruder you
 git out of tho way" This was a little
 too much even for stout, middle-aged
 man to bear and Batcheior hit out at
 the big footrnan and doubled him up with
 a blow In the stomach. Miss Prior
 laughed, but Bedford asked angriiy.
 ''Who asked you to put your foot in
 here7" "Leave the room" shouted
 Batchelor to the company in general, not
 thinking of any more appropriate re-
 mark. Elizabeth cast look which was a
 mixture of scorn and amusement upon
 Batchelor and with some kind and svi-
 dently sincere words of thanks to Bed
 ford for his chivalry went away. Bulkley
 and Bedford followed. Now remained
 only the captain, to whom turned Batch
 elor in a rage and demanded what he
 meant by it and if he had anything to say
 against the character of Miss Prior
 "Well, whats that to your screamed
 the captain. But, seeing Batchelor look
 dangerous again, he went on: No,
 don't know anything against her. Ever
 so many years ago used to go with Tom
 Papillion and Burlington and two or three
 other fellows to the theatre Dolphin had
 it. We used to so behind the scenes, ana
 own had a row with Bellenden. Good
 sort, Bellenden. She was all right. But we had row. you know, and she left, you know. and I, haven't seen her be- fore for ever so long. Oh, no, there's fiotf-
 ing against Bellenden. She was always good sort. Whoever said there was any thing against her. anyhow? What's all this row about, I'd like to known Batch elor was perfectly sure that Captain Ciar ence would reveal to the two old tyrants of the household, Lady Baker and Mrs. Bennington, the fact that Bessie had once been dancer on the spansled stage, but he sternly told the captain that if he said a word to that effect he might expect personal reinstatement. Well, thought | Batchelor, Elizabeth will probably have to leave here, but she will leave as my wife have four hundred year outright, two hundred more from my literary work. and the rent of the lower part of the house in Bloomsbury square, say, eight hun dred. Two can get along on that with | economy. But while he was thus think 1 ing over matters and rather snuddering after all, at the thought of those little Priors and their mother. comes Tn Eliza l beth.
 My dear MT. Batcnelor," she says, ''you spoke in haste. To a man bred as l you have been what can I be? You love i ease and elegance and have not too | much, I dare say, to supply these for one. Why cucumber yourself with me and-and the expense of household? [ {, shall always regard and esteem you as l the best friend ever had. shall prop ably have to go away from here. I ! shall go to my mother Batchelor was l 1ust beginning to protest that Elizabeth l must marry him and that right away l when Lady Baker came in ana interrupt ed the little private chat.
 Mercy, child, what have you done to l yourself?" cried Lady Baker. when sh q
 saw Captain Clarence that night at din-