New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-08-09

NAoSpPAVVOU VA Uy TUG
All looked out into the gathering dark
ness for some minutes, and then said,
| quietly:
well, sir, if you care to hear a convicts
story, sit down awhile. I've never told it
to any one, and don't know why should
tell it to you; but the moods on me, and
| might as well talk as think, maybe; and
then you've guessed my secret, partly-at
least you know m not Jim Brown"-and
| a smile flashed across his face. How old
do you think / am 7" he continued.
DR.. Harris looked at the powerful frame
of the man-at the strong, hard lines in his
face.
Between forty and fifty. l should say -
Thirty six yesterday. l was twenty -four
the day l was sentenced; pleasant way OF
celebrating ones birthday, wasn't it :
There was lot of stuff in the papers about
my youth and my being so hardened.
mercy ?-nOt l 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 mott They watch me all the time,
anyway. just give me some water, will
you! Thanks. Well. 1 ought to commence
with my name, l suppose. II is Edward
cumberland squire, who had just enough
money to keep up the place for my brother,
and no more. A fine old place it was, and
the only happy days / can look back to
were spent there. That was when was a
bOy-hOme for the holidays, eager for
cricket and football, and to whom gun
and the range of a rabbit warren were per
feet happiness. After while it was I'M
pleasant enough. MY brother-a lazy, good
lncRipn follpxu vuhn Epo hnuy 70 mid md
to shoot, and only that-was the idol of my
mother and sisters. All deferred to him
except little Mary, my pet, who used to
follow me around like kitten. Poor little
girl! wonder if she ever thinks of me now.
Younger sons in a poor family have hard
time of it. / hardly wonder more don't 90
to the bad than do. Brought up as gentle
men they are then thrown on their own re-
sources, to live by their wits, either in some
beggarly 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. l was proud and
passionate. and go felt these things more
than others, dare say. l wanted to 60
into the army, but my father said he
couldn't afford i'll r'would be always
getting into debt" etc.-and so l was ap-
pompOus man, whom l cordially detested
before month was out. He had a way Of
aggravating me whenever we came in con
tact that used to make me long for an ex-
cuse to pitch him down scars. believe in
presentiments. l knew that man would
injure me some day. l saw more trickery
and underhand dealing while in that Office
than had ever seen in nay life before. Mr..
PersOn was a man of tact, not talent. He
had OoipoA xrhich do
his reputation, and he had way of making
people believe that if black was not just
white, it was certainly gray, which proved
very useful to him.
II was about twenty-five when went
into Kent for few weeks, partly on bust
ness tor Mr.. PiersOn. and partly to visit an
uncle of mine. Am trying you, sir, with
this long story"
mot at all, Tracey, go on"
Four Hundred and Eleven 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 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 like a great wave,
almost blotting out the present! haven't
heard my name for more than ten years."
he went on musingly. Il don't wonder it
mer when l went TO Kent; the time for
falling in love- as it is called, and, of
course. did it. don't wonder at myself,
even now, when / remember all that has
passed. We were thrown very much to-
gether. Lucy was an orphan living with
maiden aunt whose place adjOlned my I'M
cle's. l had always fOndness for PLAYING
the part of protector, and she was cling
ing dependent little thing, with long curls
q nd detica a mink and xhito 6cicv
| had never cared for any girl before, and
from the first loved her madly. It's the |
odd, old story, and l needn't make fool Of |
my self again by telling it to you. Before |
wen. back to town we had exchanged rings !
and she had promised to love me through |
eternity. lengthy eternity it proved!
Our engagement was TO remain a secret |
until | should become a great lawyer, and |
then was to claim her. This was Lucy's |
dea. | wanted to speak to her aunt, but |
.he begged me not, giving dozen different |
reasons for my silence. l believe, even.
hen, she thought it best not to bind herself !
90 closely; but, of course, never suspected |
his, for, with all my faults, | had always
1een perfectly honest and truthful. In the
winter Mr.. PiersOn told me that the bust
hess had been attending to had now to be
completed, and that he was going down
himself. was, of course. very anxious to
|
net him at a couple of dinners, and, from
What she said, l knew he had been very at
entive to her. He was good-loOking
nan about forty, and could make himself
cry agreeable when he chose to do SO. l
Vrote to Lucy Immediately, telling her
What l thought Of him. She replied, ac-
using me of being jealous, and saying she
vas sure l was preiudiced against Mr.. Pier
on, who had spoken very highly of me.
nd to whom l found she had confided the
Ihoie story OF our engagement. l was very
ngry, and wrote rather harshiy to her.
ancy, for remember she told me l did not
we her as l once did That was our first
uarIel, and was soon made up, and for a
NV weeks we correspondent as usual. Mr.
ierson returned to LONDON. but went back
gain to Kent in week or two. He said
was collecting evidence for an important
ase. :,
"Soon l noticed that Lucy's letters grew
lorter and shorter, and finally one came |
Tying that she had been thinking over our
'olish engagement, and as there was no
respect OF my being able to support her
lie had come to the conclusion that for the |
Ike OF us both it had better be broken.
Il know every word OF that cool, heart |
as letter now. One remembers such
lings. Very soon after heard OF her en-
igement to Mr.. Pierson. l was a gentle
an ana ne was snOo; out he mad money
Id hadn't"
whats gentleman born Is it shillins
i pence !" quoted the doctor softly.
"Eh what's that?'
"Only quotation from the Yorkshire
armer; go on"
We'll, of course wac curious, but what |
'od did that do me : / thought If l only [
I'D money l would find some means of G
venge; but money was just what hadn't &
IT. About that time l met man calling
mseh ST. John. He was clever and we'll t