A Telescopic View

The cub having gone off to Switzerland to look for Monsie (and to propose to her), I informed William tbat it was iny intention to return to town without delay. So William said, "Then I ghall come and stay with you. " I let hiiu come. I knew why he wanted to come. He wanted to come because he wanted to pay calis at the Jungle and see Miss Ethel Mainwaring. William, therefore, accompanied me, and it soon becama clear to me that his visit was to be one of Borne duration. However, as he spent most of his time hoveriug between Lorü's and the Jungle - partaking of many meals at the latter address - his stay did not put mo to much expense, whioh was gratifying, as my incorue, though quite sufficient for one single gentlenaan, will not stand being divided between two single gentlemen. I havo of ten remarked to the casbier of the London-German that it is strange how badly off most writers on Guanee are - the irony of fate, I presume - but his sole reply is, "I zubboze it is begos they bragtiss vot they breaoh," and pays little regard to my wistful gi anees in the direction of his strongbox. The foregoing sentences are supposed to represent a period of rathermore than three weeks. Í was making soine humorous reniarks about a company which had been starled to insure yönug married men against twins when there came two slow knocks at the door - two lifeless knocks, two abjectly miserable knocks. Mr. Charles Johnson, theclerk, knew who it was. He is in love himself with a young lady in a Fleet street teashop and sympathizes with the cub. As gently, therefore, as a trained nurse did Mr. JohnsoQ open the door, and it was with an air of the deepest condolence that he ushered Master John Mainwaring into my presence. "Oh, how are your" I cried cheerfully. "Ripping; thanks," he replied, in a tone such as condemned rnurderers would nse in reply to Mr. Billington's greeting. Then he flung himself into a chair and laughed bitterly. "I wish I were dead - dead!" he then remarked. This was getting serious. Here was a young gentleman, aged 28, possessed of independent means, splendid health and all those other things which make life worth living, don't you know, wishing be were no more - wishing he were a coW corpse. I knew, of conrse. Getting up, I marched into Charles Johnson's scullery office to find that blushing youth deep in a penny booklet, entitled "Wooed, Won and Wed ; or, True Love Triumphs O'er All. " I gave Mr. Johnson some directious, and presently he carne in with two steaks, a monutain of vegetables and a large bottle of Lord Bass. "Now, Mainwaring, " I said, "I'U say grace to save time, and you set to. " He demurred at first, but finally allowed himself to be persuaded. The scène that followed fairly beggars deBcription. When the cub had finished, I said, as he lit his pipe : "So she won't have you?" To my surprise, he did not do or say anything violent, but went on lightiug his pipe. I was inwardly congratulating myself on the success of the measures I had taken in order to disperse the cub 's funérea) ideas, when he suddenly remarked: "This is my last pipe. " "Going to train for something, then?" "This is the last pipe I shall ever smoke. " "You'll find it difflcult to give up tobacco so suddenly. " He puffed solemnly for a few moments, and then, poiuting with the Btern of his brier to the cleared decks, he said : "I have eaten my last meal. " Itnowstruckmo that there was something moro than mere training in the cub's self abnegation. There was that in his cpld blooded speeches which chilled me, which produced a curious sensation in my scalp, which would doubtless have caused my hair to stand on end had the quantity there been sufficient to undorgo the process. I gazed at hiru with a paling face. Por quite three minutes he said nothing, but smoked steadily. Peeling thoroughly uncomfortable, I took up my peu and began to writo. I had hardly covered a line, however, when the cub observed in au offhand tone: "In short, I am going tokill myself." "Nonsenso!" I was determined not to take hira seriously, you sec. "Yes," he continued. "Either with this" - drawing a little white bottle labelad poisou from his waistcoat pocket - "this" - pxoducing a razor from the dspths of the lnside breasfc pocket of his coat - "or this" - whipping, withadexterity that would have done credit to Mr. Mnskelyne, a tiny revolver out of nome other part of his appurol. "You are well providcd," Isaidchaffngly, although I feit nervous at being in such close proxiniity to so deadly an outfit. "Yes, " he said, toyiDg with the revolver, "I ana goiug to mnko sure of it. I shall fir.it swallow the poison, theu cut nay throat aud then snoot myself through the brain. " He tried the edge of the razor on his finger, and, uncorking the bottle, sniffed at its contenta with an evident relish. I turned cold to my finger tips. Great heavens! Was itall adream? I rubbed my eyes and gazed at the cub. No, it was grim reality, every bit of it. The girl had refused him, and so he had concluded that the best way out of his misery was to comrnit suicide. The tobáceo began to hiss aud burn in the bottom of his pipe bowl. His last snioke was drawing to a close. And then - I threw him my pouch. "More ?baucy?" He placed it politely on the edge of the desk. "No, thanks - filiishcd now." And he rose from his chair and walked to the window. "I should just like to take a last look at the sim shining on the trees. ' ' I suppose I moved, for he wheeled around like lightning. "]f you attempt to interfere with me, " he said, with the same unnatural calm in his voice and manner, "I'll shoot you first, Worm, and myself afterward. öo pray be careful. " "Put it off for a few minutes," I begged him. "I want to talk to you. Just teil me what has happeued. " "I'rü not in any particular hurry," he observed, reseating himself, "and I have no objection to telling you what has happened. But nothing you can say will alter my determination. This thing must be - I say must be. " And he patted the pocket which containod the poisou. "Well, go ahead," I urged him. "Just teil me what you did af ter you left us so suddeuly in the Doone valley. " "No need to detail the journey," he muttered; "just a sheep walk - every one goes the same way. I made tracks for Southampton, caught the night boat to Havre, went on to Koueu, thence to Paris, Paris to Geneva, and there I was. ' ' "And then, of conrse, you took Mousie - I beg pardon, Miss Rathbone - by surprise, proposed to her all in a heap, and got rejected, as was quite natural. Yon can 't rush a thing like that." "I did not meet Miss Rathbone, " said the cub coldly, "and I did not propose to her. Getting to Geneva veas one thing, but finding her was quite another. People go to Geneva and make excursions all round the shops. I found out the hotel at which she was stopping, and tried to get rooms there myself, but it ; was full up. This was why I constantly missed her - she was always going off somewhere, and whenever I followed her she always caught the train or boat that I just missed. So, although I dodged about for a fortnight, I didn't meet her once. The amount of money I spent chasing about and making inquiries and tipping people was something appalling, but of course I didn't mind that." "Well, " I said, "I don't see why yon should kill yonrself because you missed her in Switzerland. " "Let me go on," said the cub stern]y, "and then yon'll understand why. Just as I was thinking of giving it up and coming home I heard that she and her party had gone to Chamouni, with the intention of ascending Mout Blanc. Of course - just my luck - I was a train and a coach behind, as you go to Cluses by train and then coach on to Chamouni. When I finally got there, I was told that the party I was in search of had starled up some hours before. I asked whether it wouJdn't be possible to catch them up, but the great fooi of a guide I was talking to just laughed and made a face. Then he told me that I could watch them through a telescope, but as for catching them up that was impossible. Well," continued the cub, "I paid my money aud the telescope chap put me on to them at once. He said they were nearly 4,000 feet above the valley, but I could see them as plainly as if they were only 50 yards away. Thore were flve or six people. Just as I had got my eyes on Mousie a great fat Johnnie who was walking a few yards behind her actually vrent up, and - and"- The cub paused. "Goon," I said. "What did he dor" "Why" - with heavingchest and glaring eyes - "ho put his arm inside hers and began talking and laughing as if he'd known her all her life!" "And what did she do?" "Talked and laughed back." "Well?" "Well, isn't that enough? She's engaged to him - that'sclear. I carne slap home and here I am. It's all over. In five minutes I shall be dead!" I started from my chair. "There must besome mistake," I exclaimed. "The man you saw was evidently a relative. " "I kuow all the members of her family, " said the cub, "and there's no man like that in it. No; she's engaged. I don't care to livo any longer. " "Look here. Jack," I said desperate)y, "let me make some inquines. I give you my solemn word of honor that I won 't say any thing about your - er - intentions. Let me go to your place and try to find out the truth of the matter. Trust me not to give you away. " The sun shono out gayly just then. Perhaps the cub thought it a pity to leave it so suddenly. At any rate he eaid; "I won't do anything till you comeback - I swear it. Now go!" So off I went post haste to the Jungle, and vh(u I returned with the news that a rclativs the cub had never heard of had suddenly returned he was williug to live long enough to try his luck and succeeded. - Exchange.