312
THE WEST SHORE.
worn aoated two womon mother mid daughter Mrs.
Hull and Hnnili, or Hiilly; for this was a part of tlin
world whom tlin latter modification had not as yet been
effaced aa a viiltnrity by tlin march of intellect The
owner of thn name waa the youn wnmnn by whose,
mean Mr. Darton purosed to put bii mid to his bachelor
condition on tlin approaching day.
Behind thorn, in the contro of thn room, tho table was
spread fur uper, certain whiffs of air Imlmi with fat
vnxirH, which ever nnd nnon entered from tlin kitchen,
denoting its preparation there
"Tlin nnw gown lm won going to send you stays nlxmt
on thn way likn himself," Sally's mother was saying.
" Yea, not (minlied, I durn any," cried Sully indo
(M'lidi'iitly. " Iord, I Hhouldu't lm mnaxed if it didn't
coinn at nil! Young men make such kind promises when
they am near yon, and forget 'em when they go awny.
Hut hn doesn't intend it an a wedding droas - ho given it
to nin merely aa a dresa to wear when I likn a traveling
droaa in what it would lm culled in great circles. Como
arly or coinn lute, it don't much matter, aa I hnve, a
ilrean of my own to full back nioii. It in nearly night"
" Kight o'clock, and neither dreHa nor mini," said Mrs.
Hull.
. " Mother, if you think to tantalize me by talking likn
that you arn much iniHlaken. I-ot him bn as late as he
will -or Hlay away altogether -1 don't earn," aniil Sally.
Hut a tender, minute quaver in thn neu'iition showed that
thorn wan aomethiiig forced in that statement
Mr. Hall perceived it, and drily olmervnd that she
waa not no sum aliout Hally not curing. " Hut perhapa
you don't earn no much aa I do, after all," alio aaid.
" For I see what you don't, that it ia a Rood and flnuritdi.
ing match for ye; a very honorahln offer in Mr. Ditrton.
And I think I son a kind huahand in him. Ho pray God
'twill go miiooth nnd wind up well."
.Sally would not liitn to misgivings. Of oouran it
would go smoothly, aim naaortal " How yon arn up and
down, mother!" she went on. "At thia moment, what
ever hinder him, wn arn not no anxiona to aeo him aa he
ia Ui lm hem, ami hia thought runa on licforn him and
settle down iiH.n na likn thn stir in thn oast Hark!"
aim exclaimed, with a breath of relief, her eyes spark
ling. " I heard something. Yea, here they are!"
The next moment her mother's alower ear also dis
tinguiahed thn familiar reverlieralion occasional by foot
alrim clamlaring up thn root of thn aycamor.
" Yea, it aouiidii likn them at last," aim said. " Well,
it ia not mi very lata after all. considering thn distance,"'
Thn fiaitfall coaaed, and they roan, expecting a knock.
Tim door of the room waa gently oened, and there ap
Nmd, not tlin pair of traveler with whom wn Imve
already madn acquaintance, but a paln-fncod man in the
flarb (,f txtrcm overty-almost in raga.
U-k'OI' 'l i tr"",P' Kr'OUi nw!" 'Mii,, Sn,,y "Ming
H ia check and eynmrbit were deep concave, rather
it might In, from natural wcakuena of conatitution than
irregular living, though them wern indications that he
had I M no careful life. He gnitod at thn two women
fixedly for a moment; then with an alwahod, humiliated
demeanor. dn.pa. lm glanco U Uio floor ami ank into
chair without uttering a word.
Sally waa in Wa!.eof her mother, who had remained
.landing by the fim. Mm now tried to discern the vinitor
acroMi (he candle.
. " mo1",.r'M Ry fmiillv, turning Wk to
Mr. Hall, "it ia Phil, from Australia!'"
M ra. Hall .Upland grew pain, and a fit of coughing
nod the man with thn raggisl doth,. To c.me hom
Lo U. . " alio .aid. "Oh, Philip, are you IP"
ICO
like
" No, no, mother," replied he impatiently, as soon as
hn could speak.
" Hut. for God's sake, how da you come here and
just now, too?"
"Well, I nra noro, sam lue man. -now it is I
hardlv know. I've come home, mother, because I was
driven to it Things were against me out there, and
went from bad to worse.
" Then whv didn't vou let us know? You've not writ
a linn for the last two or three yoars."
The son admitted sadly that he had not Ha said
that hn had hoped and thought he might fetch up aorain.
and bn able to send good news. Then he had been
obliged to abandon that hope, Bnd hnd finally come home
from sheer necessity previous to making a new start
"Yes, thiiiL's are very bad with me," he repeated, per
ceiving their commiserating glances at his clothes.
They brought him nearer thn hre, took his hat from
his thin hand, which was so small and smooth as to show
that his attempts to fetch up again had not been in a
manual direction. His mother resumed her inquiries,
and dubiously asked if he had chosen to come that par
ticnlar night for any special reason.
For no reason, be told her. His arrival had been
quite Bt random. Then Philip Hall looked round the
room and saw for the first time that the table was laid
somewhat luxuriously, and for a larger number than
tliomsolves, and that an air of festivity pervaded their
dress. He asked quickly what was going on.
" Sally is going to be mnrried in a day or two," replied
the mother; and she explained how Mr. Darton, Sally's
intended husband, was coming there that night with the
bridesman, Mr. Johns, and other dotails. " W thought
it must be their step when we heard you," said Mrs. Hall.
The sendy wanderer looked again on thn floor. "I
Ben I snn," hn murmured. " Why, indeed, should I
liavn come to-night! Such folk as I are not wanted here
at theso times, naturally. And I have no business here,
spoiling other people's happiness."
" Phil," said his mother, with a tear in her eye, "you
are welcome to this homo as long as it is mine. We will
make thn lmst of a bad job; and I hope vou are not seri
ously ill? I think yon had better go to bed at once."
" Well, l aiiall be out of the way there, said the son
wonrily. " Having ruined myself, don't lot me ruin you
by lning soon in these togs, for heaven's sake. I would
rather go and jump into the river than be seen here.
Hut havo yon anything I can drink? I am confoundedly
thirsty with my long tramp."
" Yes, yes; we will bring something up stairs to you,"
said Sully, with griof in her face.
"Ay, that will do nicely. But, Sally and mother"
He stopped, and they waited. " Mother, I have uot told
you all," he resumed slowly, still looking on the floor
lietweon his knoes. "Sad as what you see of me is,
there's worse behind. I am not the only one in this
mnsa. Would to heaven I were! But I have a wif as
destitute as I."
" A wife?" said hia mother.
" Unhappily."
" A wifof Yes, that is the way with sons! "
"And liesides " said he.
" Heaides! Oh, Philip, surely"
" I have two little children."
" JVifo ami children!" whirred Mrs. Hall to herself.
" I .oor little things!" said Sally involuntarily.
His mother turned again to him. "I suppose these
holpless beings are left in Australia?"
" So. They are in England"
1 1" ""'.J cnn on,v ''"P0 vou've loft in a respect
able place.