The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1882-04-01

gent beast gave a snort of terror, and sDrang
so suddenly to one side that the helmeted
knight in whose womanly-whlte hands were
gathered the reins was yanked violently over
the brake and most of the air knocked out of
his system ere he could regain his position
abatt the dashboard and again head the terri
fled charger in the direction of Western Av-
enuc
"By my halidom'' quoth the knight "St
Julian must have seen an oat."
II was true. Some registering son of Blue
Island avenue, going home with many flag
on of beer beneath his cOrselet, had with waste
full hand thrown by the roadside no less than
several oats, at sight of which the nelghing
steed which had so CALAMITY breasted the brow
of the hill at the opening OF this chapter was
stricken with the terror that always comes to
beasts when that which they have ne'er before
beheld comes suddenly within the vista of
their gaze.
courses on the horse he has broken my
suspender," exclaimed Roderigo O'Rourke,
eighth Duke of Wexford, as he wound the lines
around the brake and spliced his pants with
string.
In corner OF the car sits Myrtle Hathaway,
her pure, passiOness face with winered lips
pressed closely to the window. She is pure as
the driven SNOW and chaste as an ice wagon
Two years ago she was the petted idol OF dot
ing parents--the pampered child of luxury
and Unlimited confectionery; but one soft,
sensuous day in the summer, when the fields
were laughing in the golden glory OF an am
pie harvest, her father had come home and said
to her in tearchoked tones: ave must sleep
in the woodshed tonight my darling; this
house is no longer mine. All that possessed
has been lost forever"
Myrtle did not question him, did not seek
to MI tho sacred nrpcinctS OF his
grief, but went silently away and blew III her
last quarter for Ice cream.
George w. Hathaway did not long survive
the horse race that swept away his fortune, and
In the fall they buried him In the sun-klssed
cemetery beyond the beer garden, away from
the noise and turmoil of the great city. But
Myrtle, although accustomed to every luxury
that credit could purchase, was possessed OF
brave heart and large feet, and had gone
forth to battle with the world ano earn ner
own living. 81 Will gain my daily bread"
she said, but after learning that making seven
teen shirts for 8 cents was the most lucrative
operation open to her, she had concluded to
change her subscription to the trl-weekly.
On the opposite seat of the car from Myrtle
sat Bertha Redingote. The girls had moved
in the same social circle in the days when
Myrtle Iolled idly in the lap OF luxury, but
now that she sat on one knee Bertha did not
recognize her. But Myrtle cared not for this.
LET Bertha aaunt her prosperity and grena.
dine polonase IN my face If she will" she had
said, 1.-THE time may come when shall again
be heading the procession, and if it does
shall have pool or two on myself
'Ieavitt street." said the conductor, his voice
arousing Myrtle from the reverie into which
she had fallen. Both girls left the car. On
the corner, his choke me-to-death color look
ing werdly white beneath the titful glare OF
the West Side gas stood Ethelbert de Courcey
-"GOod-by john" the boys used to call him,
because they said that name was easier to re-
member, ana had a Cook County time time to
it. He was a good young man-almost too
good to be true-and very rich. His wealth
made him the object of much maneuvering on
the part of designing mothers with marriage
able daughters, but thus far he had escaped
unscathed. Both girls knew him. Bertha adj
vance with witching Ogden avenue smile on
her face, as If to claim his company IN her
homeward walk, but he needed her not. Ad-
vancing quickly to Myrtle's side he said:
May see you home, Miss Hathaway
Yes" replied the girl, the pink sufiusion OF
a blush hustlng rapidly over her cheek as she
took his arm.
On the way to the humble pietoundry where
she fought the bedbugs they talked upon the
current topics of the day-the cable cars, how
Maud S. would drive to the pole, Beecher's in
digestion, etc but presently Ethelbert's voice
sank lower his tones became more tender, and
he told the blushing girl the story of his love
OF how he would tain make her his West
Washington street bride. When he had finish
ed, Myrtle looked up into his eyes-those eyes
so tender and true-and with a little happy
sob called his bluff--tr0m "Only a Suckers
Daughter," Tribune