The Broken Engagement

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume V, Issue 1347, 8 June 1905, Page 4

The Broken Engagement

Aulhorof;-;... "The Lost HoireßS," " Vivift," ; "Eudota,':' etc.

■ ; CHAPTER VII (Gontinuod) , Harry BlewittuiafJe.' a circular bow to the assembled company, and then,, addresiugtheuiistresaofthe bouse, said: " Mrs Morris, I: hope yoii will permit mo to oxplaiuihorqiisou of my present intrusion. ' The fact is, that tho omnibus driver who brought my friend Joseph up to thecity wont back to Streathaui with a cook acd bull story: of the furious young madman,: Joseph Morris, who was seized upon the moment ho got out of tho 'bus. This story .was heard by Miss Lyte's footman, and in this manner, readied tho ears of Miss Lyle..herself, who, believing that ;■ some great injustice must have, boen perpetrated, ordered her horses and drove to town, She did mo tho honour lo call at my lodgings and request mo to attend her hither. ..Her requestshad. all the force of coininand«, and I.caMe.hither with ploasure, especially as I happen to ppsspss the key of Morris'insanity. But first permit me to roloase my friend." . And, aftor. depositing Helen Lylo in an armchair, Blewitt a : penknife, from his pookoVopencd.it-and advanced toward Joseph Morris, andbeforo the astonished company suspected his -'intention he had cut the cords that bound tho captive, mid set bim upon his fe.pt,. / "What, ai'o.you about?" cried the doctor.. '• He is triad I" cried Mr John ,) " Furious 1" cried Mrs Molly, 11 He'll do mischief T enid the doctor. " He'll hurt sbmo;oho I" said Mr John. "He'll, drown'himself poor fellow!" ■' wept; Mrs Molly.' '■■■ ■ "E'llbreak'halipur'cads, and-set the • 'ouseon fice!'.'■'.Shrieked-.Miss Robinson, doubling the uproar, .while.everyone shrank away lo distant parts of tho room to. get lis far as possible from tho letloose mad-. man. " He'll do. nothing; of the sort, Tho ,only harm he is likely todo-vou will bo to prosecute the'whole lot of you fpv assault, and afterwards sue,you for slander IMr Morris, your nephew, is no/np moro mad. than you orl"'.;'.':.: '■■-...-.'■' " You know nothingobout it; sir! Ho is as tnad as a March hare!' . " oa the contrary I ;kbow- all about it, aslwill soon prove, to. you. It is now just ten'o'clock," said Blewitt, taking put and consulting his' watch, "consequently, it is just twenly : foui?hours since this time last evening, 'when Joseph Morris and myself , were. coming out of Mr. Spurgeon's; chapel, after hearing.; that reverend gontleman's. terrific sermon upon lying.. Upon.that occasion I laid a sort of wager with my friend Morristhatho could not speak, the 'truth;, even in answer 16 customary questtons,:for one day,.without being turned off:by. ;hia uncle; discharged by his employers, -:■ and discarded ay his swtethoart,;. and'., furthermore that ho could not continue to speak it for a week without getting into the., lunatic, 'asylum, Joseph Morris, ..was. not -this our compact?"^.;;, •'•' " Yes," said Joseph, "'it was,'' " The experiment has succoeded beyond my utmost expectations, for I find my. friend has spoken the truth in answer. lo ; tho Bimple common questions of the day j. for jrist fifteen hours, and tho worst I predicted has happened,to liira. Joseph Morris, speak 'now and answer for your- '. « It "' : '^X'.CX- ." Yes," said Joseph,!' in answer to the . simplest and most commonplace questions I havo inildiy -answdred the truth, only sincesevenp'clockiliis morning, and J havo subjected to -.extranet lesi nnd dograding outrage. ,Uncln," ho continued, turning to old John;-"If you will recall tho scene of the mornihgj you will find it was very different ;irbm that which tho fears of yourself and my aunt: imagined - and dosoribed, Tiio worst I said was that I should not break my hears if you both should - dio—-V ;.■■.'■.: " Yes, Joseph,'but you 'see, I thought by your sayingtbafyou meant a good deal more,"; ■■'"..'■■.' " That mi iicoaiiso you wore not accustomed to hearing tho simple truth," " Well, well, my. boy, now I understand it all, I am sure i bog your pardon." "No;• say.ydufprgi.vome,uncle! That is all I require." "Yory,well, then, havo it your own way! lam so glad that you: aro neither ungratoful. nor mad-which is the same as-saying that you aro neither heartless no brainless,: than I am willing either to grant you my., j-ar'doh or to beg yours!" Baidthe old man,, extending his hand to Joseph, who seized it.and shook it warmly, '.' Miss Robinson,-1 havo no othor defence to ,mako to your accusation- tka.i this —tliutiyou appealed to my judgment as to the piopri.et;' of your dress, and 1 gave my opinion in all sincerity." " You hold your tougiie!" retorted tho abigail, :';.. "Mr, Black, as to your statement, that ■ I drove custonorii from your shup, I havo only to explain liiiiti did so by telling them tho truth as to the worthless quality and exaggerated prices of your goods. If this truth-tolling; has you, you havs your rouiedy in a suit of damages against inc; though I soar'cely think you will'civro to make the matter so public!"- " fdu.are beneath my notice, sir!''said Black, turning away. " And_you,'' said J'osoph, turning to tho tramp, "I told you nO unpleasant truths; I did hot hurt yOiirfollirigs, or injure your business, and I scarcely, expected to 'find you among; my aceosers." "Lord bless your lifo, sir, but you guv me a crown; .and if wan't a jnst causo for me thinking:yon out.of your lunacies, I don't know : what was. Howscvtr I'm glad Iwns. miftiken; and. as you did know what you was of yen you guv. me ;th'6.e ; '-bwni- all. I wish is that you may yourself bo crownod with joy, and here's my hand upon; it!" said, the tramp, .' : " Thaniryou!' And now, Elizabeth 8011, . as the charge that you have'mado ngainst .mo is the--most -serious of oil, I call upon .' you.'at least to modify it, The most offensive .lahguago that I used to yon in answer lo'an. observation that you liiado was simply to the effect that you wero neither a perfect. beauty nor a perfect angel—was it not?" "'Yes';:butthat.. .was oil one as calling me a.horrid fright and a regular devil." ' " Noj it is not ;|jit is only your habit of recklessi assertion and inaccurate language'that-makes you say or thick so. You need not boa fright because you are riot a beauty, nor a — ■" ~ ."Now;. Mr Morris, you needn't try to mako'it :up with me, becauso I won't do '.'.'; »»!■■■■ ■ :'-,-' '."'Hoiiveu' forbid! And all fiat I bog ot .you now.is, that you will to mote sincere with ono .yon.liko better, than evet you wero.with mo!" said Joseph, taking th'e hand of Lizzy and placing it in that o[ Henry Blewitt. "And;now, Helen—dear Helen! who

', '.-■:■'.',.: "BY "■■■:■:, ; Mrs.E,D.E.N,ythworth'.

took me up when allotliors had abandoned me—what shall I s>iy to you ?' "Why, to nio, nothiopfnow andhoro; but to your friends you may say that, as for sponking the truth for a day they find voted you to bo a madmau, they bad better appoint mo as your keeper," TUK KND,