Year: 1877

friend, but there nad Oeen no escape
for him, and now he had returned to
renew the conflict or die.


Here he was as hardly off as before,


for there was no use trying to read or
divert himself in any way. Some &C.
tual pan must be devised and put in
to immediate execution and as he
walked his room, and threw open all
the windows TO give himself as much
relief as possible, he reviewed the cir
cumstances which mad placed him in
this unpleasant position.


A little more than year ago the
first stroke had fallen upon him as he
was enjoying his pipe in the twilight.
| The postman's ring had not hitherto
annoyed him, and he gave it no
thought as he went to the closet for
his tobacco pouch, and quietly said,
"Come in," in response to a knock
which moment later hal Jared his
door. But his mood changed as he
read the letter which was put into his
hands.


On breaking the envelope dainty
nvte, with dark lines of grief on the
edges and delicate tracery in feminine
hand within, futtered into his lap,
while heavy, darkly written sheet
Topped bold on the floor. He read
first bit from one, then from the
other, in some confusion and dismay.
The glst of both was that Horace
Francis, an old friend of his fathers
had lately deceased and left Mr.. Bull
bo in charge of his daughter Marys
property until she should attain her
majority.


Hearing the fine reports of your
business capacity, and having been so
we'll beloved of your father, select
you of all other men IN the world,
Bulbo," the dying man had written.-
The fortune was large aud had many
cumbersome details but Mr. Bulbo
tor the sake of the trust, and with a
certain pride in the appreciation of his
ability, gladly undertook to discharge
the obligation. The lady had for
warded her fathers letter, and begged
that all communications be held with
her lawyer, as she hardly felt like
meeting strangers at present. Mr..
Bulbo had acquiesced, and for a year
now had, with much trouble to him
self, taken conscientious charge of the
property, often being obliged to ne
glect his own business but had never
seen the lady, their communication
having been entirely through TIE law.
YER Now, in his own room, as he
thought of the reasons, he dashed his
hands into his dressing-gown pockets,
and fairly howled in the midst of
which ebullition he rushed into the
closet, threw the letters on the floor,
and piled boxes, boots, books, every
thing he could get hold of, over them.


All !! he, Bulbo George Washing
ton Bulbo Ia man most scrupulous
on such points, could not stangle that
shadowless monster What if he
was poor? If he had b:en rich he
would have done the same--he, who
had come and gone in this famous
city Of Brookley for ten years, tread
ing his quiet path of life uncriticised.
He had never used his modest wit
against any one more than to give a
harmless thrust at a fellow sufferer for
the benefit of his pretty, much-abused
companion at some amiable "teatight,
where ones friends are served up hot
with the fragrant urn, and their favor
ite foibles form an appetizing sauce
for the tempting rasher Why die
this come upon him 7 He was pur
sued night and day the very air was
full of whispers even haunted in bis
own chambers ; no secret place where
he could escape. YES" every one
said, 'he will marry her." ''See how
he looks after the property" That's
a nice nest.egg for him, and no moth
er-in-law." "Observe how the sly
rogue keeps the rest away-lucky
dog" Then to him: "When will
the happy event come off, eh, Bulbo?"
Clapping him OH the shoulder, 81 say
you were born with gold spoon In
your mouth" Protestations were of
no avail his most sincere acts were
against him. 1t vas fairly unendu
rable. Something must be done -
He had thought Of suicide, but that
would never do, for then the voiceful
torment would bring upon his mani
mate body and proclaim in far-reach.
ing tones, "He proposed, and she jllt-
ed him. No, no Mr. Bulbo fever
ishly paced his room, looking here and