The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1910-04-01

you're not wanted. We can manage
Dur affairs without you. !"
BY Jove!' cried Tom, 'sif you
speak another word to my sister, Ill
pitch you over the cliff"
Blackmore began to laugh with an
exasperating contempt contempt
which exasperated Janet, though
Tom, too, had touched the same note
of the intolerable She sprang up
hastily, putting out her arm between
them. you are two men," she said,
shut Tom is not much more than a
boy, and you are quarreling about me
that wants nothing in the world so
much as to get away from both of
you. Do you hear me? would not
vex mother" Janet cried, "for all the
men in the world. oh, can't you see
that you are like two fools wrangling
over me?"
4Let him take himself OF, then,
said Tom.
"And let him hold his tongue, the
confounded young scamp" cried the
other, that dares to challenge me
when he knows could lick him with
in an inch of his life.
Tom was half mad with disappoint-
ment and humiliation. He was very
proud in his way, with the mingled
pride of the peasant and the nouveau
richie, the millionaire and the
(Scotch) clown. He had meant, after
he had had his fun" to have settled
down when his time came, and to
have married lady like his mother.
Without imagination, or sense, or
principle, or restraint of honor, he
had pursued the reckless career of his
mind, too precipitate and eager in
pursuit of pleasure to leave time to
think, even if he had been able to
think. The abominable treachery of
which he had intended to be guilty
had not touched his conscience, not
having appeared to his obtuse UNDER
standing as anything worse than
many lodges" which other fellows
adopted to get what they wanted.
And it was with rage and humilia-
ton unspeakable that he found him
self-he, the son of the man who had
married Lady Caroline Lindons, mar
ried in his turn to girl from little
Oxford shop, little shop girl, COM
mon little hirt, less than nobody, not
so good by ever SO many grades as
his mothers maid. To find that he
had married her when he meant only
to deceive her, and made her mistress
~ 10Ia l1r
Castle to Tom, and put her in the
place OF Lady Car, was gall and Bit
terness to him. His conscience had
given him little trouble, but his
wounded pride, his modification, his
humiliation were torture to him. He
had come out raging with these fur
ious pangs. eager to find something,
anything, with which he could fight
and assuage his burning wrath. To
pitch Charlie Blackmore over the
cliffs, even to be pitched over them
himself, and roll down the sharp
rocks and plunge in the cold sea be-
meath felt as though it would be a
relief from the gnawing and the rage
within.
Come on. then!" he cried, furious;
"Ill take no hiding from any man if
he were Goliath. Come on!n
"Mr. Charlie" cried Janet, putting
out her hand, "if it's true, you may
do one thing for me. One thing i ask
you to do as if you were the best
gentleman in the world, and I will
think you so if you will do it; leave
me to him and him to me. And good
by; and neither say you like us nor
hate us, but just go--oh, go! Do you
hear me?s she said, stamping her
foot. II ask you as a gentleman.
She had caught her brother by the
arm and held him while she waved
the other away.
That's strong argument" said
Blackmore. He was moved by what
she said, and also by common sense,
which told his suit was folly. IF
we're FOOLS, you're now, Miss Janet
Torrance" he said, with a laugh,
which is more than thought. What!
am to turn my back upon man
that's clenching his neives at me?
Well, maybe you're right There's
none in the county will think Charlie
Blackmore stands in fear of Tom Tor
rance. Yes, Missile, you shall have
your will. I'm good-by to
both him and you"
DO you think I'll let the fellow go
like that?" cried Tom, making a step
after him: but perhaps his fury fell
at the sight of the might and strength
of the retiring champion-perhaps it
was only the wretchedness in his mind
that fell from the burning to the
freezing point. He sat down gloom
lily, after having watched him disap-
pear, on the bench from which Charlie
Blackmore had risen.
II don't care what becomes of me,
JAM" he said. "I'm done. Nothing
that ever happens will be any good
to me now. I've choked that fellow
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