The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1882-12-16
A WOMAN'S PERIL.
The Pits that Line the Pathway of Life
in London Town,

One evening q think that it was the
6rst night of the revival of 'Romeo and
yuliet'' at the Lyceum) Jack Sartorys
and his wife occupied box, there,
which, after much difficulty, as he aver
sed, Colonel Dunkirque, of the "Heav-
es," had been fortunate enough to Sc
vure. AS general rule, Colonel Dun
kirque was not in the habit of present
my iirst-night boxes to his friends unless
Nc had some object to gain. People
suggested that it was rusc on his part
10 win Jacks good graces-cspecially
she smiles of Jacks wife; but then
people might have lied-thcy frequently
do in such mattcrs-and yet for once
shey were right.
Dunkirque was n notorious Lovelace,
as handsome Il man rs you would see
snywhere--a man whose appearance
was hailed with inward tribulatiou and
grooming by poor devils who had not
The pluck to kick him out of their houses
when his attentions grew too pronounce
ed. 1t was rumored, too, that his do
mgs lately had been very shady--so
shady that his friends Che had many
griends) all predicted that he would
speedily have to bolt from the impcnd-
ing clutches of those ministcring iiends,
Messrs. Shylock & Co.
Sibyl Sartorys was very handsome
womaD-dangcrously handsome. She
lad masses of golden hair, which did
not owe its sunny tints to some vile
wash, arched red lips, sweet blue eyes,
\ soft white neck, and u complexion of
dazzling fairness In addition to these
charms. she possessed knack of pleas
lng people when she chose to take the
trouble, and was also very popular in
her own immediate circle Jack had
lnlIen in love with her in his usual i'm
pulsive, headlong manner; but, for my
own part, always thought her Il triile
hard and unsympathetic. There was
sometimes look in her sweet eyes not
entirely acquiescent when Jack had in
,imated something of which she disap-
proved. Having said what he wanted,
Jack generally let her have her own
wsy, and so the impending storm al
aays blew over--fOr time. She de-
manded absolute slavery from him, and
accepted his devotion rs u matter OF
course. Club friends, amusements, all
had to give way to this little autocrats
mperious mandates; and poor Jack was
spoiled for us.
Yet he was very happy. In her softer
moments, prejudiced as | was | could
but admit the charm of her sweet, low
roice, and the winning eyes which could
have lured a babe from its mothers
arrns. But often imagined that her
th0ughtlessness would one day bring her
10 grief. She had such superb con-
tempt for the conventionalities. You
and |. gentle reader. know better. We
bow down to and worship Mrs. Grundy
az if we liked her; but do we? think
not.
Dunkirque did despise the conven-
liOnalities and decencies of life-nay, he
outraged them persistcntly. He had al
ways some coniidante to whom he I'M
Sosomed himself of his troubles with
shose free-lances, the moneylenders.-
Dipped as he was, he contrived to get
through as much money rs of old. His
horses and dinners were the best in
tOwn-men eagerly sought to ride the
one and to eat the other. think Sibyl
Sartorys alone knew how soon there
would be neither-how quickly the bub-
BILE must burst, and Dunkirque hide his
diminished head for the rest of his days
m some little, iifth-ratc continental
town. And yet she fancied that she
loved him. Had he been prosperous,
happy, gay, she would not have done
80; bat rs he was going to the dogs, it
seemed TO her rs if she had no alterna-
hive but to accompany him.
Who is il says that women always
wreck themselves with their best i'm
pulses?
In person Dunkirque was tall and
well-built, but there was an undeiinable
something in his face which betrayed
shat he had not long to live. All the
Dunkirques had died of consumption be-
fore their fortieth year. and the colonel
was thirty-iive. With this sword hang
ing over him, it was impossible not to
feel sorry-at least the women thought
so-for his misspent life. Men were in
eiined to believe that he made the
most of the situation, and posed for that
effect. But the men are such unfeelino
beings; they have none of the finer
sympathies of their wives-their mis-
sion is to pay bills and be generally use
ful.
That evening things seemed to be APP
preaching climax-a deused unpleas-
ant one, too, for poor Jack. When
Capulet said TO the maskers: