The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1875-03-04

1t is Edward Tracy. l was the second
son of Northumberland 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 boy-home for
the holidays, eager about cricket and
football, and to whom gun and the
range of the rabbit-warren were perfect
happiness. After awhile it was unpleas-
ant enough. My brother, lazy, good
looking fellow, who knew how to ride
and shoot, and only that, was the idol of
my mothers and sisters. All deferred to
him except little Mary, my pet, who
used to follow me round like kitten.
Poor little girl! 1 wonder if she ever
thinks of me now! Younger sons in a
poor family have hard time of it. |
only wonder more don't 60 to the bad
than do. Brought up as gentlemen,
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.
/ was proud and passionate, and so felt
these things more than others, dare
say. wanted to 60 into the army, but
my father said he couldn't afford it, said
would be always getting into debt, etc,
and SO l was apprenticed to London
barrister, a great pompous man, whom l
cordially detested before a 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
him down stairs. believe in PRESENT.
ments. / knew that man would injure
me some day. saw more trickery and
underhand dealing while in that Office
than l had ever seen in my life before.
Mr.. PiersOn was man of tact, not tai
ent. He had gained several good cases
a way of making people believe that
if black was not just white, it was
certainly gray, which proved very useful
to him.
81 was about twenty-five when went
into Kent for a few weeks, partly on
business for Mr.. Pierson, and partly to
visit an uncle of mine. Am firing you
with this long storyT
"Not at all, Tracy; 60 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 man
could hear his own name so seldom that
when it was spoken as you spoke mine it
could make the past come back like a
great wave, almost blotting out the pres
ent? / haven't heard my name for ten
years." he went on, musingly. 81 don't
wonder it sounds strange to me. 1t was
in the summer when l went to Kent
| the time for falling in love- as it is
called, and of course l did it. don't
wonder at myself, even now, when / re-
member all that has passed. We were
thrown very much together. Lucy was
an orphan, living with a rich maiden
aunt, whose place adjOined my uncles.
1 had always fondness for playing the
part of a protector, and she was cling
ing, dependent little thing, with long
golden curls and delicate pink-and-
white daisy face. / 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 myself again by
telling it to you. Before 1 went back to
town we had exchanged rings, and she
had given me her promise to love me
through eternity. A lengthy eternity il
proved!
"Our engagement was to remain a Sc
cret until l should become great law
yer, and then / was to claim her. This
was Lucy's idea. wanted to speak t.
her aunt, but she begged me not to, Civ
ing dozen different reasons for my 81
lence. / believe even then she thought
it best not to bind herself too closely, but
never suspected this, for with all my
faults l had always been perfectly honest
and truthful. In tho winter Mr.. Piersor
told me that the business had been at
tending to had now to be completed, ant
that he was going down himself. wa
of course very anxious to go, but he die
not give me the chance. Lucy met mt
at a couple of dinners, and from wha
she said / knew he had been very at
tentive to her. He was good-lookinl
man, about forty, and could make him
self very agreeable when he chose to dt
so. wrote to Lucy Immediately, tell
ing her what thought of him. She re
Piled, accusing me of being jealous, anC
saving she was sure / was prejudicet
against Mr.. Pierson, who had spoken yer!
kindly of me, and to whom found sh,
had confided the whole story of our en-
gagement. / was very angry, and wrot
rather harshly to her, for l remembe
she told me l did not love her as l once
did. That was our first quarrel, ant
was soon made up, and for few week
we corresponded as usual. Mr.. Piersol
returned to London, but went back agail
to Kent in week or two. He said h
was collecting evidence for an importan
case.
"Soon I noticed that Lucy's letter
grew shorter and shorter, and finally on
came, saying that she had been thinkin
over our foolish engagement, and q
there was no prospect of my being abl
to support her, she had come to the cor
clusiOn that for the sake Of us both it ha'
better be broken.
"I know every word of that cool, heart
less letter now. One remembers sue
/ things. Very soon after, heard of he
engagement to Mr.. Pierson. / was
/ gentleman and he was snob, but h
|, had money and / hadn't"
"What's a gentleman born? Is
shillin's an penceT quoted the doctor
softly.
: "Eh? What's that2'
, "Only quotation from the Yorkshir
Farmer. Go on"
: "Well, of course, was furious; bu
r what good did that do me? ] thought
: 1 only had money, I wsuld find SON
, means of revenge; but money was jui
| "a hot
: met man calling himself st. John. II
a was clever and we'll educated, and SCENE
8 to read all my wild reckless longings at
. glance. He led me on from bad to wors
till it ended in forgery then he turne
1 kings evidence, and i was locked up.
1 was always very strong, and, finding OF
of the bars loose, wrenched it out, an
dropped from my window one dark nigl
and escaped. On my way to the sea,
;. met this man-St. John. might ha'
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