The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1869-08-07

ett0u8 CONCENTRATION IN carrying out any purpose
he undertook. He set himself to reclaim his
wife, and for years exhausted every means to
break her of the fearful habit, but without sue
cess. At last his home had become place of
torment to him, and he himself got reserved, and
low, and miserable. Matters had been like this
for q long time after his marriage, and his wife
was drinking herself to death, in spite of every
thing and every body, when Stephen Whitfield,
wearied with his lot, came down to Aldford for
little change, on q summer visit, the first he
had paid since he settled in London. He came
across Marion Lee.
He had left her girl he found her in the
perfect beauty of ripe womanheod. I am not
surprised he was fascinated by her. No one
would be who has looked upon her face. In short,
he fell in love with her, madly, desperately Ma
rion, pleased with her power over him, affected
to laugh at his passion, haunting him with its
uselessness and aimlessness, and the ties that
bound him elsewhere, yet receiving his atten-
tions, and drawing him on with her wiles, until
she had reused all the mans nature into burning
excitement. Until, at last, he poured into her
ear all his wild fondness for her, aud besought
her to fly with him-anywhere away from the
curse of his unhappy home. How Marion laugh
ed in her cold, aggravating way! She asked him
if he thought her fool, that she should be will
ing to share her fortune with those of poor
man. And she told him that he must be very
mad to think of it-that she intended for herself
something very much better than he would ever
be able to offer. Mad he must have been, for
nothing daunted him-not her taunts, nor her
smiles, nor her rebuffs. They only served to
draw him on.
CHOW if get rich, Marion-rioher than ever
you could desire, he said, eagerly. Say, Marion,
would you come with me thenr
1T might have been, cannot tell that, tired
OF his earnestness, and satisfied with the flame
she had aroused in his bis heart, Marion was glad
of an easy way of terminating an acquaintance
that was getting irksome. It might have been,
say, but believe it was cold blackness of heart
without any palliation or excuse, that led her to
say Yes He made her swear it solemnly, and
loft her.
"Stephen Whitfield returned to London an al
tered man, with one stern, sole purpose before
him, that shut out all others for this world and
tho next. He would get rich.
"There are two roads to riches. There is an
uphill road that is long and toilsome, and where
on many faint by the way. There Is a down
ward and q nearer road, that is swift and easy,
with ruin at its end. By-ways there are to both
rosds-which meet. Stephen stifed the cries OF
conscience with Iarion's name, and steeled his
heart against oil right for her, as he would have
bartered his very soul for her false sake and set
his face TO 60 the quickest road-to make haste
to be rich.
ut was months before the opportunity came
but the devils workmen are seldom out of en-
ployment long together for want of tools-and it
came ct last.
"Mr. Jackson, the stockbroker with whom Ste.
phen Whitfield was employed. received com.
mission to purchase $4,000 worth of Russian
bonds for a client in the country. It so happen
cd this commission came by letter during the abb
sence of Mr.. jackson. Stephen, being trusted
confdentially to manage all matters for his en-
ployer, made out the contract notes for the pur-
chase. and on forwarding them to the client, in
due course received check for the amount,
which, being payable 10 order and crossed, could
not be paid into bank till Mr.. Jackson's return
Meantime, Stephen had purchased the bonds
for account and being negotiable by bearer had
Immediately gone again on Change, disposed
of them for money through another broker and
kept the proceeds. Mr.. Jackson returned that
day, and found entries in all the books of the pur-
chase in due form, and . memorandum that the
bonds had been sent of that morning accompan.
led BY the usual registered letter receipt Steph-
on had indeed sent registered letter to the client
that morning, but 1t contained nothing more than
the usual notification that the bonds would be
forwarded as soon as the transfers were made
out, which he stated would be in the course of a
week. Having thus secured clear week before
his fraud would be discovered, Stephen Whitfield
begged and obtained few days leave OF absence
for the avowed purpose of seeing relative in the
north on the point Of death, and started for Aid
ford. There he went straight to Marion Lee
''She laughed while be raved out his passion,
and poured into her ear the story of his theft in
torrent Of wild words
II am come back, Marion Stephen said at
last, rich. have sacrificed character and peace
of mind, and perilled my soul for you. I have
kept my part Of the contract. Keep yours. Re-
deem your oath, and come with me. Our pass
age is taken for America
marion Lee was at her wits end. She had
never intended to keep the promise she made
simply to rid herself Of q man who was getting
troublesome. More-she had of late lavished her
| charms with such success on a wealthy squire
that she expected shortly to be made his wife,
Seeing nothing else to do, she told Stephen she
was engaged to another, and smiled sweetly in
his face as she told it.
"'Marion,' he said, very pale, his thin lips set
close together, this is no time for trifing-it is
all too late. Feel my pulse and say il it beats
| fast
"He controlled himself by powerful effort,
and was outwardly very calm and quiet though
| pale as ashes
"'No, Stephen. she said, little frightened
now.
"Do you think am likely to be in earnest in
what shall say
"She could not doubt it,
"Then listen. Ican't go back. 1t is to late
my part of the price Is paid. This man, be he
squire or duke, I'll shoot like dog if you set
eyes on him more He produced small revol-
YER from his coat pocket Ihave practiced shoot
ing he continued, 1t ia useful abroad, sometimes
elsewhere. Now, listen, yet once more, and Judge
how earnest am likely to be, because am calm.
We arc alone. You do not leave this place till