The Morning herald., 1878-12-10
CHAPTER XIII.
THE WIDOW BtRR1Lt RECEIVES AN UNEXPECTED
pRoposAL-vuLAINYs DESPERATION.

To return to Jared Clark. ...
Finding Cecil had left the city, he drove
to the residence of Mrs. Burrill.
He felt sure that his missing treasure box
was in the possession of the heiress, and he
could not think she would neglect to use its
contents to effect his overthrow. He was in
close quarters, and pressed for money, to
obtain which he would be obliged to present
himself at the bank, which he dared not do.
Owing to bad specuiations, his finances were
embarrassed and needed immediate attention
to save them from wreck. Extravagance
had almost stranded him. Every move was
attended by fear. He scarcely knew wheth-
er to remain or fly. |is
Something desperate must be done, or the
game would be lost, and his course checked
forever. 1t was maddening prospect-a
prison celia criminals end! Scared as his
conscience was, he could not help shrinking
from the grip Of the law. 1t meant more
than mere imprisonment meant the
downfall of all his grand schemes, the loss
Of every dollar of his ill-gotten wealth, and
term of imprisonment which he could not
outlive. His declining years would be filed
with the bitterness of destitution, relieved
by no hope Of betterment. There seemed
but one way to save himself from penury.
Mrs. Burrill received him with wonder
full cordially. In her estimation, he was
the quintessence of gentility and the model
of manhood. O.
aReally, Mr.. Eldridge, this is an unex-
pected pleasure" she said, in dulcet-that
is, what she considered dulcet-
He explained, with much elaboration, that
he was, owing to ill-health, about to leave
for pastures new. He was sorry to tear
himself away from such agreeable company,
but the exigencies of his case left him no al
Tentative, etc., and he came to say parting
word .... -.-".-,.
"How sudden cried the BELLE
"Rather, Mrs. Burrill-rather.
1T is quite cruel in you to take yourself
off so unceremoniously You'll offend
everybody. I'm astoundedl"
Disappointed would have been the most
appropriate word. Mrs. Burrill had strug-
gled hard to win second husband, but the
man of her choice fought shy. She could
not understand why he did not fall before
her charms. She had received some half
dozen offers during the few years of her
widowhood, but did not consider them eli
gible. Mr.. Eldridge was her choice-Mr
Eldridge's pocket -book-and she fancied
herself a competent judge. How she should
mourn if her hearts affection were unre-
Quilted! So.
II don't wish to go, my dear Mrs. Burrill.
but health cannot be neglected" responded
Clark. "# %% "N .t
The belle sighed.
'May you fully recupsrate! Pray make
no mistake in your route; be careful as to
the places you visit" f"
II shall indeed; my first stopping-place
will be Boston, very favorable city"
Now, Boston, to Mrs. Burrill's mind, was
of all cities the loveliest. Her husband
she had worried him to death-always felt
Mortified at the mention Of it, and kept o
good distance away. After his demise, she
discovered that she could not retain the
style of former days and remove to her much-
loved Hub too. and she declared, to herself
that it broke her heart, g8 -,
For three years she had kept pace with
her ''set"-now, in the middle OF the fourth
year, when milliners grocers', wine mer-
chants, dress-Inakers' and dozen other
bills of various sorts, were pressing, and no
husband to pay them, abe began to get ner-
vous. -
And the man of her choice was going to
Boston beautiful, classic Boston! Oh, that
she might fly to 1t!
"Bostonv' she exclaimed, clasping her
hands, and turning her gaze ceillng-ward.
Heavenly place! Mr. Eldridge, l admire
your taste. You could not do better. The
people are SO cultured-so refined!