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


 ner. "Knocked my head against dark door," replied the captain, made my nose bleed" As Batchelor was making ready for bed there came to his room Dickie Bedford in a state of great de- jection. He put a hand into each waistcoat pocket and looked at Batch elor. "So you wanted to fight for her, too, did you, sir?" asks Bedford. "We11, I say she ain't worth it." What do you mean, Dicl1?' asked Batch. q mean" replied the butler. "that she's been humbuggin' everyb ody. Look here, srl" and out of his clinched fist he throws a paper down upon the table and disappears.
 Of course 1t was very wrong for MT. Batchelor to read that letter which was from Elizabeth and addressed to Mir. Drencher, the medical man. It had fallen from MT. Drencher's pocket as . he was getting Into his carriage after patching up Captain Clarence's nose, and Bedford had picked 1t up and read it. Batchelor knew as well as any thing that Bedford's reading of such letter was no excuse for him to do the same thing. But Batchelor argued with himself In that utterly false and sophistical manner in which we always argue with ourselves when we are determined to do something we know we ought not Besides, 1t was only a fragment of letter-just one of the pages. She called the medical man Ed wardl" Agonyl and-then thousand furies -she alluded to Batcheior as a vain old man; "an old nun, as you call him." she had written. And she had added that when she had boxed the Captains ears she had seen poor MT. Batch hiding be- hind the lilac bush, too scared to come into the room until the servants had arrived. Oh, 1t was bitter pill for MT Batchelor to swallow that intercepted let ter. Oh, yes, Bedford was right Eliza beth was a heartless girl and was in love with that red-heaoed little doctor
 Well, perhaps 1t was for the best. 'sOld mufP is rather hard to be borne but per haps not so hard as Mrs. Prior for sir," said Bedford when he brought up MT. Batchelors hot water the next morn ing. ''Yes, Dick, I have swallowed it," groaned Batchelor from the bed. T don't think she cares much for that other one either." suggested Dick, "she Is only a. fooling him as she is us, sir; that's what think" Was Bedford right? Certainly Miss Bessie had pretty plainly intimated to Batch that she encouraged the idea that she and the medical man were in love for no other reason than to make Lady Baker and Mrs Bennington think that, her affections being engaged 1t would not be dangerous to have the gov erness around the house.
 Making the best of the situation, Batch elor was as gay as if he knew no care at the breakfast table, but remarked that he should run up to town that morning. You will be back to dinner. of course?' asks Lovel. 'Well, mo-" "Oh, but you must Smithe, Brown, Robinson and those other fellows are to be here, you know" Then Batchelor thought. well, why should I run away after all? I won't I will be here not only to dinner. but to luncheon and Dr. Drencher is coming to luncheon" At luncheon Batch was perfectly civil to Drencher.
 So completely had that letter cured him that when Drencher left the table to go and visit the gardner's child, who was i'll. Batcheicr saw him cast a long and lam guishing look upon Miss Prior without feeling a single angry emotion. Bessie went out on the lawn to look after tho children and Mrs. Bennington says to Lady Baker: Now, who was right?" ''You thought there was an affair between Miss Prior and tho medical sentlsman?' says Batch smiling. My dear madam it was no secret" "Oh," cries Lady Baker wassing her old head toward Batch. ~there were others sfhitten in the aame direction" "If you mean me, Lady Baker" replied Batchelor, T am burnt child. One of your charming sex tilted me years ago and once is quite enough. thank you" DO you know that once Mrs. Bennington actually thought that the soverness was setting her cap for our Frederick says her ladyship. ''The idea! AS if anyone could succeed that angel!' And Lady Baker cast up her eyes to the simperins picture of Cecilia hanging above the silent harp.
 Indeed, don't envy her." says Batch slor. What do you mean?" cries Bon nington. ''Do you mean to sAy that my Frederick would not make any woman happy? Why everybody knows that when his wife was alive he bore her bad tenn per-excuse me Lady Baker-with won derful fortitude and patience" That's right; abuse my departed angel!' shrieks Lady Baker. and the battles of the moth- CTS in Putney was on. DO you hear that, Clarence?' cried Lady Baker, appealing to the captain who had just then entered the room
 You are talking loud enough but I'm blessed if i can understand a syllable" replied the captain. You wretched boy you've been smoking,' said the mother Smoking! I should say have, and drinking, too. Give me some more claret Been to the Five Bells with some friends of mine. Here's your health old boy" and the shalsy captain pledges Batcheor in a glass as full as the con dition of the deeanter would allow we had a row yesterday, didn't we? No, 1t was the sugar baker. No hard feelings. Precious little Lady Baker, respected ma, and Mrs B.. respected-ea figure out her relationship-but precious little caret fl,a Id dice laava in tha decafltOl hev oid