Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1876-05-03
rate them, drawing his master away


The faces of both men worked
with passion; Oliver shook himself
free, snatched a decanter from the
dining-table, and hurled it across at
his antagonist with full force In
the Captain put up his arm
to guard his face. The decanter
smashed upon his hand, gashing it
frigthfully.
| believe there was cry for doc
tor, but not for me, though I had
tainted, and been carried back to the
drawing-room sofa insensible.
Captain Thornton's life was in danger
from the hemorrhage. His wrist was
bound tightly before surgeon came
to extract the glass and sew up the
wound; but for all that, he was for q
long time IN danger of lockjaw. When
he did recover, the muscles of his right
hand were SO contracted tina. he could
olonger shuttle cards, ride at hunt or
steeple-chase, handle billiard cue or
fire gun; and he vowed vengeance
against the man who had made life a
burden to him.
Oliver laughed, as was his won't;
OuO CNll SOOluCo W 1lItUlIU UO l. OlIl UlldU
hour-not as a consequence of that
one act, but of much foregone, of
which I knew nothing.
My father beckoned me into the
library before he and Leah returned
home, and shut the door,
"Mary," said he, gravely, chad I
known thy Oliver was such wastrel
I'd have chopped my hand off afore
I'd ha' given thee to him. Pm afraid
thou'lt rue afore long. Such riot and
extravaganza as saw last night cannot
last. And when his own brass is melt
ed he'll want thy f1,0O0"
Never shall forget bis look of con-
sternation as [ told MIN l had given
the money over to Oliver before we
left home on our wedding day.
"Then, ten to one, it's thy money
he's squandering |" he cried, in as much
of temper as l ever Saw him: but he
softened at my tears, and added: cts
my fault, Mary, / ought to have tied
it down on thee. Never mind, lass, if
tn worst comes to the worst, there's a
home for thee and thy little Launcelot
whilst I've a roof to cover me-"
The end did not come quite so soon
as father predicted, but it came quite
soon enough. Bills came pouring in
as soon as the rupture between Oliver
and Captain Thornton got wind, and |
had to soften my husbands Hang it,
let them wait" as best could, to i'm
Fortunate duns-I who had never
known what debtor and creditor meant
beyond a chill of parcels" at. school.
Then credit was stopped, and Oliver
swore over every sovereign he gave to
me. Sometimes, after brief absence,
he came back with rolls of notes, but
he would disappear again, and they
would disappear again too. And as
his embarassments increased he drank
still more heavily, and his temper grew
so irritable no one knew how to deal
with him.
In our little Launcelot, whose win
ming ways beguiled many dreary
hour, and in the books in our coy IL
brary, [ tried to smother the sense of
impending misfortune.
One servant had already gone The
old housekeeper [ myself dismissed,
knowing my inability to pay her. And
now / felt the value of Leah's sharp
training, for [ had to do the work of the
house, cook, and nurse my baby into
the bargain; and woe betide me if broil
Or roast or ragout were not to my hus-
bands liking.
He rode off one morning with va
lise strapped before him, kissing Laun-
celot and ME before he went, and did
not see him again for years. Before the
day was out sheriff's officers were in
the house, and but for kind Mrs. Mat
thews neither baby nor myself would
have had SO much as a change of raj
ment left.
She took me home with her, poor,
dazed, stunned creature, who had not
reached her twenty-second birthday.
Consoling Launcelot, she hushed him
to rest, and then dispatched missive to
my father.
A couple Of days elapsed, during
which my heart sank to it's lowest ebb.
Then he came. Back to my childhood
home / went with very heavy heart,
and not all my dear fathers heartiness
could prevent me from feeling myself
and child intruders.
Soon after he sent me down to Mos
ford to my brother-in-law to learn con
fectionery, then stocked shop and fur
nished house for me in one Of the old
rows of Chester,to the great Indignation
of the others.
It's best you try to get living for
Launce and yourself, my girl, said my
good father; land though I'd rather
have you near ne, it's wisest to remove
you beyond the reach Of envious eyes,
and where that wastrel husband of
yours will not think of looking for you"
At first [ was very awkward in my
new position. City and people were
alike strange; but that perhaps helped
to set me at ease behind my counter.
Bright, hazel eyed, five year old
Launcelot was the star of my night.
He was more like his grandfather
Beech than his own father, of whom
he had no remembrance; black pa
per profile found at my fathers being
my only likeness Of absent Oliver.
Often and often as I stood behind
my counter [ wondered if ever chance
would bring him in there among the