The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1868-10-02

) Thus playing on his terror and misery, and
| intensifying the seli-reproaches of the old
clerk with the cruelest sarcasm. he brought
him into state OF abjeciness, which lei
the miserable man an easy prey In hi, hands
Then Munlon struck keen and bitter bar
! gain. Ito would keep tho dcialcation q
secret from the 6rm on ono condition. The
, condition was the possession OF KATE.
i. How soon the bargain was ratified by
the unhappy girl herseli, . had TO supply Of
my own knowledge, for hero her story
broke down.in utter grief; but knew her for
gentle, winning ways, her absorbing love
her father, anil her selcsacrifice on all oc.
casions where he was concerned, could
understand tho sharpness Of tho struggle
before she yielded. Not until her father
had told her how fully he was compromis.
ed did she consent to part with her own
happiness In order to save him from a
felon's doom. Then she gave up all hope
In o fair future, and accepted tho nnn she
hatetl, her fathers enemy and tyrapt, as
her promised husband.
i Here her pitiful tale endetl. How
was to comfort her? / could not tell her
that the note was destroyed, a her father
thought that ! held It, though by what
means Il had escaped or what had been
burnt In its place ! failed to guess. For
though the money itself was safe, tho re-.
ceipt yet remained In Murdon's hands, and
any attempt at an reimbursement would
only bring down detection on her father 8
head. I could only murmur some com.
inonplaces Of sympathy and consolation,
assure her that hoped yet to foil Murdon,
re.establish her fathers peace Of mind
And SO left her.
That evening again sought out Wylde,
and found him at his usual haunt, and IN
his usual state. Diploma tically, and with
much circumlocu,ion, worked the con.
versaiion round to the subject ofthe mon.
ey, and my genllen,an's claims upon his "a:
iher in.law. Mr.. Wyldes present mood
was less violent than ordinary, but more
bitterly Respondent. -,
"What's the use in trusting to that old
bufier7" he asked dejectedly. was once
led to believe he would come down with
round SIM ifI applied to his lawyers. !
went, and saw yellow.faced scoundrel-
a loaihsome hound with a paunch. lie
threatened to set the bailiffs on me if !
came again. lie knew where to have me,
tho menial. never troubled his degraded
sight again."
"When was that ?"
THAT was-Let me see. Thirteen
months ago ON tho first Of this month. Hah,
no matter. lie knew my weak point. a
mnlison be OF his caiiif soul. was in diff
cultes at that time; am in difficulties now.
lf you had halfa crown upon you-"
IL have much moro than half crown
upon me. and you shall have It u you will
give me an acknowledgement" l return.
ed.
I'LL give YOU" said Mr.. wyldo
gracefully, ''my solemn ] OU on a sum
above a sovereign. A gen,leman's o U,
presume, is as sacred as Ibis bond"
Exactly 20. But must have receipt
in FULL"
"You mny havo, Mr.. Dunning, my ncccp.
lance. if you like. at three, six, or nine
months. prc:nPposing that tho sum is ut
least fivcr."
"rhe magnificent sir ~ y.-sis;sy 9Th |
which he delivered his conditions tickied
mo. ......
"supposing ! could accommodate you
with ten fivcrs," I answered, "would you
antetla,e tho receipt !"
al would do anything, sir. honorable and
accommodating. lwould give you mort
gage OH my personal or freehold property,
or lien on my next half.yeur's salary
whichever you like. But what do you
mean ?"
Before replying. called for moro re.
ireshment, and helped him copiousiy yet
iudiciously. "Look here, Wylde," ] said,
I'll have a reason in this, Of c6urse-a mo-
tive. I want TO prove to certain parties,
who shall be nameless, that my income q
couple Of years ago amounted 10 cer'nin
sum-call il r in algebra an unknown
quantity. Now if I get receipt from You
Tor an advance, dating about eighteen
months back, have documentary evidence
which can exhibit, and provo my position
at that time. Do you seaf'
III see." chuckled Wyldc. "Liko the
arrears Of unpaid income tnx, only more
valuable. being a gcntlemans bona fids re'
eeipt. Sly dog"
''The money you shall have down-now.
Will YOU give me an antedate receiptr
"What's the sum 2"
"Five hundred pounds"
Mr.. Wilde unset his glass. sBring forth
the bond" he cried lieroically. u'll sign
/, il !, wero dated five hundred years hack"
produced the receipt, previously pre-,
pared on one Of the firms loose forms, anu
The bank.note number o., ,463. The latter
MIR. .Wyled eyed s,spiciously, questioning
its genuinencss. But upon my showing
him that the receipt was merely for tl'Is
note, with the number specified, and that
unless the note was good the acknowledge
ment wonld bo vuluclcsr, he abated his dis.
trust, merely remarking that he should
never believe his luck until ho had cash.
cd the fmsy."
But he affixed his signature without fur
ther pretest.-And on my expressing de'
sire to have the names Ola couple of wit.
nesses to the document, Mr.. Wylde, 70.
lieved at the demand as cvrroborutive OF
the genuineness Of the note, summoned tho
landlord and waiter, who added their names
with cheerful alacrity, pleased at being
called on to witness 30 tremendous
transaction.
"And now," said Mr.. Wylde, when Il
was conclu uded. "l shall quit an uugralefi'l
country, and seek 10 plant the standard OF
art In the far West. When have arquir-
ed the colossal fortune which awaits the
true artist 10 that moro enterprising cline,
] shall punctually discharge this debt, Mr..
Dunning, which ! persist In regarding ~
mere temporary obligation"
i Nv.
i The possession oftho true receipt was
an important step gained; the next and
moro difficult ono was to obtain aud de-
troy tho forced acknowledgement. To.
Il wards that attainment now directed my
energies.
knew il could be concealed in no draw
er or desk accessible to the firm Il was
too valuable to be allowed to slip out Of
Murlon's private keeping. It was likely
enough kept under lock and key In his own
desk. Watching my opportunity, I ab.
stracted his bunch Of keys one day when be
was engaged In the private room Of tho 6rm.
having left them in ono Of bis drawers