Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1883-06-13


and yet they don't seem as thew Should
be. Hang his first wifel Humphl veil
no; she's deceased. What a fool the
man Is to poison his cup of happiness
like this! BY Jove, what a good thing
it would be if Lesby had daneerous
fit of sickness; it would bring Jack t.
his senses, and heigh, la, 10, hum,
how sleepy am-and-"
That was all, for he dropped off tc
sleep at once. But he had simila,
thoughts to these every night during biz
stay, and again on his way back to Lon
don, after doubling the length of his
visit, and even then his .brother-in-lav
being half offended because he would
not, as Audas said, 'make it few more
days"
IF my first wife had been alive! Il
my first wife had been aive!" The very
beat Of the train seemed to pour those
words in Frank Reston's ears as he spec
south, and thought over the matrimonial
situation at tho Coppices.
"Poor little Lesby! He'll break hel
heart" he said to himself. II do no.
wonder at it. She feels iealously miser
able about that first wife. wish now
had spoken to jack"
"No, I DON'T" he said after littl.
more thinking, ':it would not have beer
WISE"
"Perhaps something may happen t
bring him to his Senses" he soid, altel
another pause; something always doe
happen.
And then he read the Times till h
reached town.
Frank Reston sat in his dingy room
hard at work over q brief-not his frs
but these documents were sufficiently
rare visitants to make him study those
which came with the most intense appli
cation.
Probably from desire that the deep
truths that he cleaned from the careful
~ written folios before him should not
escape after being once taken into his
head, the young barrister was resting
his brow upon his hands, his elbows
we're upon the table, and his thumbs
over his ears, while, ss from time tc
time he read few words out aloud, il
seemed in the semi-obs:urity of the
gloomy room as if he were addressing
himself to venerable gentleman on the
other side of the room, till more pen
etrating look showed that the said ven
cradle gentleman was ouly the young
barrister's wig block with the time-hon
ored grizzled head-gear, which betoken.
ed the wearer's position in a court.
Gentleman to see you, sir" said his
clerk, entering the room,
Mama 90 cold E.onL 1ooon;oa11~,
"Wouldnt give no name sir. Must
see you directly, sir"
"Hullo !" exclaimed the barrister, az
well-mufled-up traveller forced his way
in, bag and rug in hand.
"Hush ! only ne;' send away your
clerk"
Frank Reston nodded Of his wonder.
ing aid. who left the room.
"Why, my dear John, what ia the
matter? Lesby ?"
ooh, she's all right; God bless teri!
cried Audas, thro~ing himeelf into a
chair, and gazing wildly, with blank, ca.
daverous face, at his brother in la ".
"Give me something, for heavens cake
-b1andy-wine-l'm done up"
Reston opened cupboard, brought
out his spirit stand, and Audas hastily
gulped down glass of spirit, returning
the glass to the table with trembling
hand.
"Why, John, old fellow" said Res
ton, "what is it p
81 It'll tell you directly. I hardly
dare; but, oh, Faank, I swear to you
did it all in innocency. Oh. my poor
darling! My poor darling! Don't blame
me, Frank. I swear to You I believed
it all"
"Here, here! Come, come, old fell
low. Don't give way like this. Why,
hang it, man, what is it? You look as
if you had committed crime"
IL have, Frank, I have; and against
the dearest, the sweetest girl that ever
blessed man with her tender love-"
"Why, John Audas," said Reston,
fiercely, "if you have dared to raise
your hand against my sister"
Raised my hand against her ?" cried
Audas, in tones of whitening contempt.
"Why, would sooner hew it Off"
Then what the deuce is the meaning
of all this ? You haven't been such q
fool as to take shares in gold mine p
"Bah! Don't be absurdv''
"What is it then? Crime? What
do you mean p
Read that" cried Anaas, tearing his
pocket book from his breast with trem
bling hands, opening it and producing
one of those dirty, djscolored pieces Of
paper which paternal government con-
siders good enough for the transmission
of a telegram. - :l-
"Eh! Why, what's this p said Res
ton, reading, From Grace Audas, Ul-
tramarine Hotel, Folkestone, to John
Audas, The Coppices, Calkston, Calk.
shire. Come to me at once. Our boat
drifted to an island, Very ill.,
John Audas wiped the great drops Of
perspiration from his forehead.
"Well, but -" began Reston in puz-
zled tones. p e.s7r>zs.; ss%s,zise5> sr, = -.
Il believed she was dead, Frank. On
my soul believed she was. - - :.,. :. s.-~
"Apd on the strength Of that, sir, you
have won 9 sweet young girls affection,
and committed bigamy."" ',4.r I'LL. !
Yes, yee,", eroened Audas. "a '.And 1
was 80 happy. ,
''You sconndreI!'' cried Reston fercely.
"Don't for Gods sake, don't turn up
oa me like that, Frank. :" 49, =, I'll, g,
There is one comfort" continued
the young barrister, the law can be
pretty hard upon villain who blights q
young girls life in such . way as this;
aud the punishment" !.
Curse. the punishment" roared
Audas. ''What care for the punish.
ment? I'd, go through fourteen years
penal servitude with pleasure if it would
spare my poor darling pain. :
"Then she doesn't know it yet p i,
Know it !? OF course not. I could moi
tall her, I groaned Andas.
ass And pgsy what do you intend to do
q course, the only thing is for you to
make my poor sister 3 very large settle.
ment. But i shall insist upon that. I'll
go and fetch her away5 ct once. !"
s What and separate us, Fra1 (? No,
no. for heavens sake. don't think 81