New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-04-21


! and mans sssp vas heard On The I raw 1 y,
Outsido. the window. ke~
Mr. Gay and Lady Hancock exchange
looks, and Sir John caught the glance as
passed between them. He felt his brai
reel, and the realities Of life seemed to fai
him. There was something-he did nc
know what-between his wife and this low
vulgar, insolent attorney; there was
mystery on hand, at his very doors, in hi
own house, and be had no clue as to wha
1t all meant. His eyes grew 90 wild tina
his wife trembled and shrank visibly whel
he strobe to&ard her and seized her arm
roughly.
a hollow voice. "Am to believe that thu
very heaven itself is lie ~ $50
| Il can not tell you anything, John, dear,
said Lady Hancock, trembling.
A loud knock came to the door, the dog
Cursed foolr' said Mr.. Gay, and made
as though he would leave the room; but
| Sir John barred the way.
"Now we will see the comedy to the end, ,
he sand. ION your life. dare not stir ~ !
"Be advised, Sir john" said Mr.. Gay
earnestly; 'don't seek to know. Let the
words Of q man of business have some
them be obscure"
Thanks for your friendly counsel, il
comes too Late" was Sir Johns reply, made
in forced, unnatural voice. "Oh, here
comes the mystery r he added, as the door
was flung open and the servant announced
"Mr. Pedroue;" while Gay, muttering,
"Qaen Deus ruh perdere," sat down in a
chair, with his thumbs in his waist coat arm
holes, and his fingers beating the devils
tattoo on his ample chest.
Lady Hancock looked simply scared T;
and then q small, dark, disreputable man
came into the room, and bowed low to the
trio gazing at him with such varied express
siOns.
II fear to disturb honorable company"
he said, in broken English; "but perhaps
lord and lady will forgive poor man looks
ing for wife. Wife here. Poor man seek
her-want her-must have her, with hon
orable company permit. Lady know Pc
drone speak true; Gay know Pedrone
speak true. Wife here. Pedrone want
wife"
what is the meaning of all this p asked
Sir John. This vagabond says you both
know. 1t seems to me that l have gone
mad since this morning. Speak, Lucy !!
Gay, what is ii? 2"
d.. "Sir John. l warned you not to look into
this matter" said Gay, still hard to work on
the devils tattoo. ''You would have done
better to have let my lady and me manage
it betweenius. My lady, what had we better
dot" He turned to Lady Hancock in his
stride toward him, caught him by the
throat.
do you dare to speak to Lady Hancock
as confederate. and in my presence!" he
said; but Gay shook him off, though the
baronet was . powerful man enough.
Don't make q fool of yourself, Sir john"
he said, with Indifference. Don't cry, Lad Y
Hancock; see nothing else for 1.-THE truth
must come out"
Eyes, yes; the truth-my wife !" said Pc
drone.
sit will kill her " sobbed Lady Hancock,
''If it does" The attorney shrugged his
shoulders and rang the bell. Tell Miss
want to speak to her." he said
when the servant came. Nov, Sir John;
don't make q bad job into worse one by
your absurd passion" he continued, speak
ing with the same odd kind of authority he
had used before, as one who knew what he
was about.
1--WE done my best for you all, and at
some cost, as Lady Hancock knows. Powers
above, man! have some faith in your fellow
men, and don't think no one but yourself
either wise or honest! You ALLEVIATE your
best friehds-yOu do, indeed, Sir JOhn-by
yOur suspicious and tempers; and you must
not take it i'll that l take this liberty of
speaking to yOu.'
All the while Mr.. Gay had been holding
Sir Johns hands, and standing so that he
kept him from seeing Lady Hancock or
Pedrone; and his words and action took the
,aronet so completely by surprise that, for
he moment, he was mute and passive.
nnrinO this I cd
aid in low, rapid whisper, Take Mer-
on's name-it will be worth your while"
"How much :" said PedrOne.
1.-TWO thousand
"Done "
"At the word "done" came in Annabella
hancock. She did not scream or faint, but
he walked straight up to where Pedrone
TODD, and looked him full in the face.
"YOu here again :" she said, scornfully,
With that strange courage which sometimes
comes to timid creatures when they are
airly at bay.
He gave her a look of intelligence. Eyes.
ny lady," he said, with a low bow; 81 have
ONE for my wife,"
"Shall we send for Mertonl" said Lady
wanting to arrest her sisters at
ention; but she never needed, nor took her
yes off the man.
"And your wife will not go with you,"
he answered. You may do your worst;
he refuses
"Annabella, perhaps you will tell me
THAT all this means, said Sir John, shaking
# Gays hands, and stalking up to the |
rOup.
SIT means, Sir John" began Gay, but |
ir John stopped him.
"If you say another word will kick you |
ut of this house," he said. Now, Anna
ella"
81 am this mans. wife," said Miss Han
Ock, land he has come to claim me-"
A dead silence fell among them all, broken |
My by Gays quietly whistling walking |
l the Zoo" between his teeth.
"Am l mad, or are your cried her |
rother, looking at Annabella wildly. i
Not you. l have been-I am" said the
,iserable girl. "But it is better to have it
ut at once, instead of dragging other peo-
lie into my sin. Every one has been good |
} me. Mr.. Gay has tried to protect me, so
as Lucy; even my maid has offered to
ersonate the wife to give me time and
} much freedom. But am tired; l will
rave it all. The child is dead, and he-he
to be bought OF by money! You can do
ow as you think best, John, my part is
pne." 7
She gave deep sigh, and sank back into
chair, fainting. When they tried to re-
ore her they could not She was dead
be had gone to rest at last, and by her
cath had brought her brothers forgive
ass and her own ASSORTMENT.
And then the story came out, the old, sad !
DRY of lOw-born scamp, with temporary
ash purse, aping the manners and circum-
ances Of gentleman getting acquainted
it'll weak, impressiOnable girl, seducing
,r into secret marriage on an absurd
ca of political danger if it became known
, was here and in the end, when too late,
% fatal truth becoming known, to be Ell
need only at great cost and an incessant
rrOr, with perpetual danger of the un-