His Prerogative.

Free Lance, Volume III, Issue 152, 30 May 1903, Page 17

His Prerogative.

THEY weie lifelong fnends, sitting silently together in Chestei's den, a place to which Benson often came tor the feeling of familiar comfort it afforded. "My dear boy," finally observed Cheater, rising and lighting his pipe, "the time has come, as the walrus said, to talk of many things." Rex Benson wrote his name on the frosty window before he spoke. Visions of a face came to him from the pattern of the frost, and the thought arose m his mind of one delirious moment when she had clung to him and had kissed him, leaving him love-mad. No one could blame Chester for wishing to keep so dear a possession. He was right to cling to her, and hold her back from everyone. "Oh, Dick'" he exlaimed passionately at last, "I love her so'" "So do I," Dick said, in a, deliberate way. "That is the trouble. She's my sister, in whom I take a conscientious, fatherly pride. I want her to be happy." "Well?" "Well, it comes to this, Rex," Dick filled his pipe again and lit it in silence, as if he wished time to weigh his thoughts before he spoke them, "I am ir the deuce of a position. lam expected to play the philosopher, and dispose of a member of my house to her advantage in marriage. I know you claim to be literary. I hope you are We have read all you ever published, which if you will pardon my liberty, is not very much or very good. But we have watched you, and hoped for you, and have felt a personal interest in you, all of us, especially father while he lived. But let me ask you, if you were suddenly stricken with poverty, would you not be utterly helpless? Could you earn a living and support a wife?" Rex was still at the window. Jinally, he turned. "I think "he began slowly then paused. Dick braced himself for the blow he felt was coming "I think, with all respect to you," he continued, in a low, even voice "I will withhold mv answer f o your question." He was moving slowly towards the door, and his hands were in his pockets. "Good-bye, Dick!" he said. "Rex 1 " It was Dicks turn now to feel the stiner of the lash. "Rex'" he cried aeain. "Where are you going? "To the devil," Rex answered. "Waif" Rex shook his head. "No," said he Then suddenly, he came close to Dick, so close that Dick could see the dancing fire in. his blue eyes. "Do you care to know wiw? he inquired,'in a strained voice. "I don't mind telling yon that. For a duffer like me my love for Alice is a mystery even to myself. It is enough to say that H is honest and honourable It has kept me decent, Dick, that love has, if it has left no noticeable outw-ard mark on me There, that's all. Good-bye'" Dick sprang between his friend and the door, and a darkness came quickly into Rex's blue eyes. "Rex," said Dick, his voice trembling with emotion, "we can't part like this. Won't you answer my question, and give me "a a show ? My God. man, I only ■want to do what is right ' You know that." Rex smiled sadly. "Yes," he murmured "I know you do My dear fellow doubtless you harve. Who knows?" "Then," exclaimed Dick imploringly, "won't you " "No 1" roared Rex, so suddenly that Dick stepped back against the door. "That is m^ own affair, and, bv thunder if we were in the street. I would tell' you why I'll be d d if I'll answer you!" . "You had better say it now, right here'" Dick retorted, himself not without heat by this time. "After such a demonstration friendship need not enter in. Go on '" "Well, then, it's because your question was too infernally impudent for a gentleman to answer. What right under heaven have you or any man o ask me how I would live if my moncv was gone? On my wife, do you suppose? Another man would knock you down for a lesser insult than that'"

"Boy 9!" called a gentle voice. "Boys, may I come in? Rex' Dick'" Quick steps were heard inside. Then the door swung open sufficiently +o disclose a face, out of which glared two angry blue eyes. "Oh, Rer!" cried Miss Alice Chester, "what is the matter? I was reading the paper, and saw the good news that your play was a success, and was so wild to congratulate you that I came U p. I—l'mI — I'm afraid I am not wanted: and really, I'm afraid of you, Rex. Don't look at me so'" A voice from the depths of the room said "Let her in, Rex'"

(By R. R. Richardson.) ' What w ere you boys doing as I came upstairs'" insisted Alice. "It sounded like fighting." Dick, the pictuie of discomfiture, was speechless m unutterable concern. "Why," said Benson, forcing a smile that distorted a veiy much swoollen upper hp— "well, you see, Alice— why, yes, you know — the play, that's the thing. We were rehearsing a scene. Theie is a duel in the third act, Alice, so Dick and I — just for fun of course. — ichearsed it. We took turns playing the hero Perhaps Iwas a little too strenuous with poor Don Manuel. Did I hurt you, Diek 0 " Rex turned to the impromptu Don Manuel, stretching out his hand, a rw inkle of curious wickedness in his blue eyes. The situation was not without, its humorous side. Dick burst, out laughing, and quickly grasped the hand. "Bless you no. you dear old hero! he cried. "That's all right," Heat: retorted. "And when you can lei co of my hand 311 st grab that middle finger and pull the ioint into place. It's ooit " "Oh 1 " Alice exclaimed, with a tenden- compassion. "Let me co and get a bandage, and an arnica bottle. Poor old Rex ' How it must, hurt you '" "What about that i>lay p " demanded Dick grimly. when Alice was gone on her errand of me<rcv. "Your sister will tell you about it after I am gone." "Ts it your plav 9 Did you write it P" "Ask Alice." "I ask you, msteid." "And I won't tell. Do you want to fight asainP" "Here pomes the Red Cross Ambulance" sa.id AHcp arriving once mm ° "Now le+'s bind him un and staunch his wounds and then we'll all erive three cheers for the la+est su^oe^sfnl plavwnght. One' Two' Three 1 " — "Munsevs."