The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-03-06

very smoothly with this wealthy plum
ger No mental wear and tear, no
strong emotions, no undue preponder-
ance Of mind over matter to wear him
out. He looked younger at forty than
many a man who has 10 live by his wits
look at twenty
"Ah. well.' thought |, "better to wear
out than TO rust ont. Better anything
than to be indebted for wealth and lux
urv 10 wife one could not love
CHAPTER Y.
On the Tuesday I returned to town
to my work. I could not afford to be
absent any longer; but promised Colo
mel Heavystone 10 run down again 10
him on Thursday or Friday. A sudden
intimacy had sprung ny between this
heavy swell and myself. l had become
quite fond of him. He was so good na-
tured and easy.going, and very amusing,
without the slightest intention of being
so.
| was soon in possession of his whole
family history. His father had made a
large fortune in trade, and had brought mp
his son with one ebieet in life-to marry
a girl with handle to her name. And
that his son had accomplished. He had
married Lady Caroline O'Shea, the fifth
daughter of penniless Irish earl. His
wife was some years older than himself,
Colonel Heavystone informed me; and
from remarks he let fall, l gathered that
the marriage had not been superlative-
ly happy one, and that Lady Caroline
had been very jealous-not wholly with
out cause, l should say She had been
dead now some months, and he wore this
very deep mourning for her and for his
father, who had die6 within few weeks
of Lady Caroline. "And now-aw-
they call me the orphan" he said POM
| pouslv. as if it were title that conferred
great distinction upon him, "for Lady
Caroline was much more like mother
than a wife to me; and now l am going
to leave the-th" (he was a heaev dra-
goon them. "You see, Lima is growing
up, and don't want to Re beset by aunts
any longer. | mean 10 get rid of Lady
Barbara altogether, and be master in my
own house--at last" And he heaved n
made to marry his wife's family as we'll
as his wife, and now that death had freed
him from the one, he intended to free
himself from the other.
The following Sunday, when | return
ed TO see Colonel Heavystone at his spe-
cial request, found him still groaning
over his enforced imprisonment. He
was in a confidential mood, and evident
ly anxious to disburden himself of some
secret.
Its awfully good natured of you to
come down here" he said; at must be
doosidly slow for you. Have you been
TO Cowes yet?''
NO, haven't replied, Il shall go
there next week"
''Got lot of friends there?" he asked.
ayes, a good many; but I am not 60
ing to stay at Cowcs. am going ON ia
Nentnor SO see my Gnncee.'
He made curious grimace.
"Going to be married-eh?"
"Well, l hope to be some day." / re-
piled; and then briefly related to him
how was situated in regard to my faith
er, but carefully suppressing Cherries
name and history.
He listened attentively, and when
had finished speaking, he said:
Look here, old boy, don't you go and
do anything rash-aw. I did once, and
it is just hanging milestone round ones
neck, can tell you. 1t is rather funny
that I should tell you-aw-who I've
only known a few days-something that
I've never told to any other fellaw, but
I've taken fancy to you U'm an awful
ly rum beggar about taking fancies), and
-aw-I should like to stop you making
an ass of yourself, if I could. When ]
was nineteen I married the prettiest lit
tie girl you ever saw in your life-bar
none; but she was only ballet-gir and
didn't dare tell the governor. had a
liberal allowance, and she continued on
the stage, and We just kept our marriage
a secret The -th were at Colchester
then, and used to run to run up to town
whenever l could. Before we had been
married a year quite, my wife had lit
! AL rr1r1 11e ohO hot fafh
er set his heart upon my marrying Lady
Caroline OShea. He tried it on with
two other earl's daughters, and got aw.
fully snubbed for his pains; but old
Mallyragg was as poor as church
mouse, and jumped at me. Well, Brand
what to do, / did not know. / was in a
most confounded fix. ] didn't dare say
/ no-aw-to the governor, so f-aw-
asked for breathing time to think it over
, got long leave and went abroad. Wher
came back my poor little wife was dy
, ing'--and his voice changed, poor fel
low, at this point of his narrative-''o
Inflammation of the lungs. She died ir
! my arms, poor child, on the 23d of De
cember, 18--. Then what to do with the
little one puzzled me awfully. I wa
over head and ears in debt. l knew
should have to marry Lady Caroline af
| ter all, and one woman seems prett,
much the same as another when you've
lost the one you've cared about, so
: coud not keep baby with me- but wher'
i to put her l didn't know. Suddenly
remembered an awfully good littlt
French woman who used to work for MI
my mother, and who lived at Brompton
On Christmas Eve, the day after Clair,
died, popped Cherie GOOD Heaven
? how my heart leapt at the name) "into
/ large open basket, wrapped her up snui
+ and warm, and drove with her to tn,
1 corner of the street where Madame lived
1t was an out of the way place, and tn
street was quite deserted. 1 walked VI
I to the door with the basket in my arms
l pulled violently at the bell, and de