Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1883-07-05

would not, as Audas said, '.make it a
few more days"
''If my first wife had been alivel 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 matri-
monial situation at the Coppices.
Poor little Lesbyl He'll break her
heart" he said to himself. 81 do not
wonder at it. She feels jealousy miser-
able about that first wife. l wish now
had spoken to Jack. =
mo, | DON'T" he said, after little
more thinking, sit would not have been
wise
Perhaps something may happen to
bring him to his Senses he said after
another pause" something always does
happen
And then he read the Times until he
reached town.
Frank Reston in his dingy room hard
at work over a brief-not his first; but
these documents were sufficiently rare
visitants to make him study those which
came with the most intense applica-
ton.
Probably from desire that the deep
truths that he CLEANED from the care
fully written folios before him should
not escape after being once taken into
his head, the young barrister was rest
ing his brow upon his hands, his ell
bows were upon the table and his
thumbs over his ears, while, as from
time to time he read few words out
loud. 1t seemed in the semi-obscurity
OF the gloomy room as if he were adj
dressing himself to a venerable gentle
man on the other side of the room, till
q more penetrating look showed that
the said venerable gentlemen was only
the young barrister's wig-block with
the time-honored grizzled head-gear,
which betokened the regular wearer's
position in court room.
''Gentleman to see you, sr,n said his
clerk, entering the room.
'.Name?n said Frank, laconically.
Wouldn't give no name, sir. Must
see you, directly, sir.
"Hullo!" exclaimed the barrister, as
a well-muffled-up traveller forced his
way in, bag and rug in hand.
huoh' Oniy AhO' o0hu away YOUR
clerk"
Frank Reston nodded at his wonder
ing aid, who left the room.
"Why, my dear John, what's the mat
ter? LesbyP''
'Oh, she's all right, God bless her!"
cried Audas, throwing himself into a
chair and gazing wildly, with blank, ca
daverous face, at his brother-in-law.
"Give me something, for heavens sake
-brandy-wine-I'm done up"
Reston opened cupboard, brought
out his spirit stand, and Audas hastily
gulped down glass of spirits, returning
the glass to the table with trembling
hand
"Why, John, old fellowm said Reston,
''what is it?''
"Tll-rll tell you directly. l hardly
dare; but, oh, Frank, swear to you /
did it in all innocency. Oh, my poor
darling! my poor darling! Don't blame
me, Frank. | swear to you believed
it all
Here, Here! Come, Come! old fellow!
Don't go away like this. Why, hang it,
man, what is it? You look as if you
had committed crime''
Il have, Frank, | have; and against
the dearest, the sweetest girl that ever
blessed a man with her tender love-"
''Why, John Audas," said Reston,
hercely, ''if you had dared to raise your
hand against my sister"
RAISED my hand against hertz 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 worthless shares in a
gold mine?"
bah! Don't be absurd.''
"What is it, then? Crime? What
do you meanp'
''Read that cried Audas, tearing
his pocket-book from his breast with
trembling hands, opening it and pro-
ducing one of those dirty, discoiored
pieces of paper, which paternal gov
eminent considers good enough for the
transcription of telegram.
''Eh! Why, what's this?" cried Res
ton, reading: From Grace Audas,
Ultramarlne 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 perspiraticn from his forehead.
''Well, but" began Reston in puz-
zled tones.
Il believed she was dead, Frank. On
my soul | believed she was.''
And on the strength of that, sir, you
have won n sweet young girls affec-
tions, and committed bigamyp"
Eyes, yes" groaned Audas. "And
| was SO happy"
You scoundrelr' cried Reston
fiercely.
Don't for Gods sake; don't turn
upon me like that, Frank"
There is one comfort" continued
the young barrister, .'the law can be
pretty hard upon william who blights
a young girls life in such way as this
and the punishment
Course the punishment roared
Audas. ''What care for the punish
ment? I'd 90 through fourteen years
penal servitude with pleasure fit would
spare my poor darling pain.n
"Then she doesn't know it yet?''
''Know it? OF course not. l could
not tell her." groaned Audas.
"And pray what do you intend to do.
Of course the only thing is for you TO
make my poor sister a very large settle
meut. But | shall insist upon that
I'll go and fetch her away at once"
what! and separate us, FrankP No,
no, for heavens sake don't think of
that. As for money, all | have is hers
bless her; but we must not part.
Frank, | swear to you, that if you take
her away, TIL blow my brains out at
the hotel
"Humph! wouldn't do that" said
Reston coolly. 'But perhaps you may
have some plans"
"Plans? Yes cried the other ex-
citedly; II brought her up with me.
She's at the Grand
.'What, here in London?"
'.Of course. am going to take her to
Paris"
"Via FolkestoneP'
Course it, no. via Dover. / shall
| take an assumed name. Wen travel
for a few years, till that fiend of q
woman really dies. Frank, she was
| q perfect curse to me. My life was one
long torment, and here, now that my
| life has been one long bliss, like spoiled
fool, | have been hipped and gloomy
and, Frank-would you believep-I wa:
such brute, such a scoundrel to poo
Lesby that found fault with the dinner
and | said-I wish my tongue ha(
been cut out
''What did you say that for9"
mo, no, | did not say that. sale