River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1874-07-31

frame of the man-at the strong, hard
lines in his face.
Between forty and fifty, should
"Thirty-six, yesterday. I was twen-
ty-four the day / was sentenced: a
pleasant way of celebrating ones birth
day, wasn't it? There was a lot of
stuff in the papers about my youth ;
and my being so hardened. Did they
think | was going to beg for mercy p
not IL I've been out here twelve Years
now, and escaped twice and been caught
again but I'll try it once more, some
time"
"You ought not to tell me that, said
the doctor, smiling.
"Why not? They watch me all the
time anyway. just give me some water
will you? Thanks. Well, / ought TO
commence with my name, suppose. 1t
is Edward Tracy. / was the second
son OF Northumberland squire, who
had Just enough money TO keen up the
place for my brother, and no more. A
fine old place it was, and the only happv
days / can look back TO were spent
there. That was when / was a boy
home for the holidays, eager about
cricket and football, and to whom a
gun and the range of the rabbit-warren
were perfect happiness. After awhile
it was unpleasant enough NY brother
"a lazy, good-looking fellow, who
knew how to ride and TO shoot. and only
that-was the idol of my mother and
sisters. All deferred to him except lit
tie Mary, my pet, who used to follow
me around like a kitten. Poor little
giri / wonder if she ever thinks of me
now. Younger sons in a poor family
have hard time of it. / only wonder
more don't go to the bad than do
Brought up as gentlemen they are then
thrown on their own resources, to live
by their wits, either in some beggerly
profession, or as hangers-on where
there are any rich relations. They must
put up with being snubbed and thrown
over, whenever they come in the way
made use of and then cast aside: at
least, such was my experience. I was
proud and passionate, and so felt these
things more than others, dare say. |
wanted TO go into the army, but my
father said he couldn't afford it
e would be always getting into debt, .
, etc.-and so / was apprenticed to a
London barrister-a great, pompous
man, whom | cordially detested before
month was out. He had way of
> aggravating me whenever we came
: in contact that used to make me
{ long for an excuse to pitch bin down
, stairs. | believe in presentments. ]
! knew that man would injure me soma
| day | saw more trickery and under
2 hand dealing while in that office than ]
Y had ever seen in my life before. Mr..
Pierson was man of tact, not talent.
D He had gained several good cases
D which made his reputation, and he had
S a way of making people believe that il
2 black was not just white, it was Ger
. tainly gray, which proved very usefu
to him.
l | was about twenty-five when went
into Kent for a few weeks, partly on
: business for Mr.. Pierson, and partly To
I visit an uncle of mine. Am ] firing
4 you, sir, with this long story?"
Not atall, Tracy; go on"
All started at the unfamiliar name
which the doctor slightly emphasized
His breath came quickly, and his voice
was husky when he spoke again:
'Would you think, now, that a man
could hear his own name so seldom that
when it was spoken as You spoke to me
it could make the past come back likea
great wave, almost blotting out the
present? | haven't heard my name for
more than ten years" he went on mus.
ingly. 81 don't wonder it sounds
strange to me. II was in the summer
when l went to Kent the time for fall
ing in love, as it is called, and, OF
course, did it. ] don't wonder at N.Y.
SELF even now, when / remember all
that has passed. We were thrown very
much together. Lucy was an or
poan, living with rich maiden aunt,
whose place adjOined my uncle's. I
had always a fondness for playing the
part of protector; and she was cling
ing, dependent little thing, with long
golden curls and a delicate pink-and-
white daisy face. l had never cared
for any girl before, and from the first /
loved her madly. It's the old, old
story, and needn't make fool of my
self again 10y telling it to you. Before
| went back TO town we had exchanged
rings, and she had promised to love me
through eternity. A lengthy eternity
it proved
Our engagement was to remain a
secret until | should become great
lawyer, and then / was to claim her.
This was Lucy's idea. / wanted to
speak 10 her aunt, but she begged me
not, giving a dozen different reasons for
my silence. Ibelieve, even then, she
thought it best not TO bind herself too
closely but, of course, / never sus-
pected this, for, with all my faults, !
had always been perfectly honest and
truthful. In the winter, Mr. Pierson
told me that the business / had been
attending 10 had now TO be completed,
and that he was going down himself.
was, of course, very anxious to go, but
J he did not give me the chance. Lucy
met him AZ a couple of dinners, and,
/ from what she said, knew he had been
J very attentive TO her. He was good
looking man about forty, and could
make himself very agreeable when he
choose 90 do SO. wrote to Lucy i'm.
/ mediately, telling her what | thought