The daily crescent., 1851-11-08

ourselves and our children from one day to another,
and i we can't geti by fair work we must get it
which way we can"
"But dishonest ways are like false friends, my
good Mrs. Vennell -
DO MT call me good; what l am I am; m no
hyPoeri,ei",
more hope Of you"
Mrs. Vennell shook her head, and could not be
brought to admit that there was any hope Of her
but on the whole, in spite of this disavowal Of
amendment, Lucy's opinion of her was improved
by these late opportunities Of observation and she
inclined to think, from several obscure hints she
had dropped, that her husband lived by some dis
honest practices, in which the wife took her part
more or less, though not without certain regrets
and longings after better state. What Vennelrs
occupation was she did not know; his wife said,
in answer to her inquiries that he "iobbed about"
but she had never yet happened to see him.
After some further conversation she took her
leave, impressed with the idea that the woman was
more than usually uneasy and despondng, and that
it was not like the dependency arising from want
Of the appreciation of but like the darkness
OF spirit clouded by troubled conscience. The
skirted on the opposite side BY dead wall Of no
great height, which divided it from church yard
one of these church-yards in the heart of the me-
tropolis. about which SO much has lalely been
written: As Lucy walked up the lane, man
passed her, in company with deformed lad, who
dressed like a laborer, and she looked back after
him. wondering if it was Vennell. As she turned
her head he turned too, and their eyes met for
moment; but the boy rseled about so distressingIy
spectacle. Her thoughts good deal occupied with
the state of the woman she had left she had reached
the neghborhOod of her own home before she dis.
covered that her bag was left behind. 1t was
toieraby capacious one, which she usually took
with her on these expeditions, as it would carry
nv nj thor Ia ftapu
wished to distribute and as it happened on the
present occasion, it contained about five pounds of
money, most of it belonging to the society. The
loss OF IT, therefore, would be serious and although
1t was already late, and would involve her not be.
ing home at the usual dinner hour, she thought,
considering where the thing was left, it would b.
better to return for 1t Immediately; she retraced
her steps as rapidly as she could, entered the door
OF the house, which, for the convenience OF its
rlous Inhabitants, stood always open, and groped
her way, for it was now quite dark, towards Ven-
nell's room, the door of which was ajar.
What signifies I" said man, as Lucy, hearing
his voice, paused moment, hesitating whether TO
go forward" what signifies! | told you they
wanted one for The lecture this evening, and there
wasn't no time to stand shilIy.shaly. Set on the
water to boil"
as you got em afore :"
cause only got the order this morning, and it
arn't so easy, woman. There a rumpus last
night out at Isington, where them doctors was,
and they was nigh taken; and that's why they sent
to me. Make haste with the water, will you
They'll be here afore Pm ready"
Just as he said these words, and Lucy, having
no notion to what their conversation alluded, was
about TO advance into the room-whether it was
chance, or whether he heard some sound that
awakened his suspicious, Vennel turned his head
and saw her standing in the passage. To rush out,
seize her by the arm, drag her into the room and
close the door, was the workof an instant
=" Don't scream !" said the woman, dartng for
wards and laying her hand on Lucy's mouth
don't scream, and you shan't be hurt"
Lucy did not scream, but she answered with a
trembling voice: I" / came back for my bag"
know what you came back for" said the
man saw you watching me in the lane Just
now"
/ Hush o' said the woman T" she did leave her
bag here. Let her go, John-she came for no
harm"
But the man stood sulleny grasping her arm.
Sit down there y he said, thrustng her towards
a caair-" Sit you down there say. Make your
self at home since you are here"
Terrified into silence, she obeyed and he went
behind herr the woman followed him, and presently
she heard struggle, but words. An ndescri
bable fear that some mischief was preparing for her
made her turn her head, and she did so her eye
fell upon the bed, over which sheet was spread
but under the sheet there lay form that made her
blood turn cold, for she felt certain that it was
corpse. At the same time the woman was holding
the mans arm, and endeavorng to wrest some
thing out of his hand the room was lighted only
by one dim candle, which shed its gloomy CLEANS
upon this scene of horrors.
NO, John !" said the woman" no, not if I die
for it! She's come to see me, and brought me
things through all my sickness" But the man
did not seem disposed to relinquish his purpose,
whatever it was; when suddenly his wife made a
thrust at him with all her strength, and threw him
backwards on the bed ot .r4D|
&c nm ~ ahs cpied IN T,uov- r,,p ,,,,l;r0 .
gesture with her hand towards the door. =" Turn
the key this way, and you've soul to be saved,
never tell what you've seen this night"
The fugitive heard the last words as she fled
along the passage into the lane; but the man was
after her, and she was not six yards in advance of
him when she heard the sound Of wheels, and a
hackney-coach passed. "Savs me-save me! %
she cried in frantic voice but either the driver
did not hear her. or he thought it drunken
squabble which did not call for his interference as
he drove forward but the interruption seemed to
have changed Vennells purpose, for she presently
reached the end OF the lane unpursued, and making
all the speed she could till she found herself in
less dangerous neighborhood, she stepped into a
coach, and arrived at home long after dinner time
| more dead than alive. Mr.. Spencer, she was
| informed, had been at home, but was gone out tc
the lecture, very much surprised, and somewhat
alarmed at her absence. Exhausted and distressed
she went to bed, and waited his return At eleven
O'Clock he came home, very tired, for he had beer
out nearly the whole of the preceding night. Hi,
first words were words Of displeasure: "Why had
she not been at home at dinner-time 2"
"Tell me, Gerald' she answered." where wert
you all last nightl'
"What is that to you I" he asked.
| It's as much to me as it il to YOU to know
| where I've been this afternoon %
81 beg your pardon, Lucy, was out on bust
ness' ~
"But want to know what busness,'
My dear little wife, men have often busines,
| they cannot trust women with"
"On this occasion, Gerald, beseech you trus
me! never before made any inquiries about you
midnight excursions with O'Grady, but now hav,
very strong motives for doing so.'
"What motives! I"
Motives that concern your safety"
My safety, Lucy !' he rejoned in some alarm
"where is there any danger I" t
"You were at Islington last night. Gerald y,
Mr.. Spencer, who had been sitting by The fir
warming his feet, rose and walked TO the bed
| side.
"Who told you, Lucy, Ihope you have no
been induced by any ridiculous jealousy to spv in
to my business II you have shall be very angry
It's a thing could not put up with in wife, how
ever much loved hers
see Pm right" she said, sitting up in bed an
confronting him, with pale and hageard counts
nance. " hoped was not; have been pravin
that my suspicious might be unfouned. You know
man called Vennell, Gerald,"
"vennell! What do you mean?''
man that lives at the back of St. s.
Church. He's a murderer %
"Nonsense! see your mistake. But what il
the world has brought You In contact with Ven
nell!"
| UThora,s M ba 7 ..u ,,o,, 4.