Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-12-23
Better have idolized you,o said Reston


bluntly.
"Yes, of course" said Audas, in nowise
RULED. Wen have grand ride or two
Whlle you are here. Come over to the stables.
I've got mare that will suit you to a IT
Ihere, he said, as he patted first one and
then another satin-skinned beauty, as it
turned its head round with a rattle of the
head-staI for the expected bit of sweet car
rot or cake, =" they're right, aren't theya All.
If my first wife had been alive, she wonld
have loved few gallops over some of the
woldsn
Humph! would sheg' said Reston
Yes; she was splendid woman on horse
back. Well, come in now and dress. and let,s
get to dinner"
Wen shan't be sorry to have it,n said
the London guest; and with his brother-in-
laws hand affectionately resting upon his
shoulder, they went in, and in due time
dined.
But somehow that was not so pleasant a
meal as it might have been, and the acute
barrister was not long in finding that the
grit that showed itself in the cooking, the
acidity in the wine. and the jar in the con-
versation was all due to one thing, which
found voice in the words, "Ah, if my frs
wife," etc.
Jack loves her. said Frank Reston to
himself, as he lay in bed that night, ''she
worships him, and they are not happy. Jack
Aadas is a good fellow, but not over wise.
Lesby is the most aniable little darling that
ever breathed, and yet they don't seem as
they should be. Hang his first wifel Humph!
well, no; she's deceased. What fool the
man is to poison his cup of happiness like
this! By Jove, what good thing it would
be If Lesby had a dangerous fit OF sickness; it
would bring Jack to his senses, and-heigh,
ha, ha, hum, how sleepy am-and-"
That was all, for he dropped off to sleep at
once. But he had similar thoughts to these
every night during his stay, and again on his
way back to London, after doubling the
length of his visit, and even then his brother
in-law being half offended because he would
not, as Audas said, make it a few more
days.
''f my first wife had been alive! If my
first wife had been alive!' the very beat of
the train seemed to pour those words in
frank Reston's ears as he sped south, and
thought over the matrimonial situation at
the Coppices
'Poor little Lesbyl He'll break her heart, !"
ne said to himself. 81 do not wonder at it.
She feels jealousy miserable about that first
WIFE wish now I had spoken to Jack"
mo, DON'T" he said after a little more
thinking, sit would not have been wise"
"Perpaps something may happen to bring
him to his Senses" he said, after another
pause; something always does happen"
And then he read The Times till he reached
town.
= 4
Frank Restors sat in his dingy room hard at
work over brief-not his first; but these
documents were sufficiently rare visitants to
make him study those which came with the
most intense application.
Probably from desire that the deep truths
that he CLEANED from the carefully written
follos before him should not escape after be-
ing once taken into his head, the young icI-
1'ister was resting his brow up on his hands,
his elbows were upon the table, and his
thumbs over his ears while, as from time 70
time he read a few words out aloud, il
seemed in the semi-obscurity of the gloomy
room as if he were addressing himself to a
venerable gentleman on the other side of the
room, till a more penetrating look showed
that the said venerable gentleman was only
the young barTister's wig-block with the
tilne-honored grizzled head-gear, which be-
tollened the regular wearer's position in q
court.
Gentleman to see you, SIR" said the clerk,
entering the room.
''Nane" said Frank laconicaily.
Wouldn't give no name, sir. Must sec
you directly, SIR"
"HulloF' exclaimed the baErister, as we'll
muifed up traveller forced his way in, bag
and rug in hand.
'Hush! only me; send away your clerk
Frank Reston nodded at his wondering
aid, who left the room.
why, my dear John, what is the mattera
Lesby" 81
80, she's all right, God bless her!" cried Au-
das, throwing himself into a chair, and
gazing wildly, with blank, cadaverous face,
at bis brother-in-law. ''Give me something,
for heavens sake-brandy-win done
up"
Reston opened a 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 Reston,
"What is it."
'Tl-I'n tell you directly. hardly dare;
but, oh. Frank, I swear to you did it in all
innocency. Oh, my poor darling! my poor
darling! Don't blame me, Frank. l swear
to you believe it all"
''Here, herel come, come, old fellow. Don't
give way like this. Why, hang it, man,
what is it? You look as if you had com
mitted crirne'
Il have, Frank, have; and against the
dearest, the sweetest girl that ever blessed
man with her tender love-
"Why, John Audas," said Reston fiercely,
''n you have dared to raise your hand
against my sister"
Raised my hand against herr" cried Au-
das, in tones of whitening contempt. "Why,
l would sooner hew it off,
''Then what the deuce is the meaning of all
this? You haven't been such a fool as to take
shares in a gold miner
bah! Don't be absurd
"What is it, thens Crinles What do you
meanr'
'Read that" cried Audas tearing his
pocket-book from his breast with trembling
hands, opening it and producing one of those
dirty, discolored pieces of paper which a
paternal government considers good enough
for the transcripticn of a telegram.
Ell! Why, what's this?" said Reston, read
inc,. ''From Grace Audas, Ultramarine
hotel, Folkestone, to John Audas The Con-
pieces, Calkston, Calkshire. Come to me at
once Our boat drifted to an island. VerY
ILL.,"