The Portland daily press., 1883-06-18

court.
Gentleman to see you, sir, said his clerk,
entering the room. a 50
'Name@ said Frank laconicaly
Wouldn't give no name, sir Must see
you directly, Sir.
'Hullo? exclaimed the barrister, as
mellmutfied up traveller forced his way liz.
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 matter?
Lesby?'
oh, she's all right; God bless herr cried
Audas, throwing himself into a chair, and
gazing wildly, with blank, cadaverous face,
at his brother-in-law. Give me something.
for heavens ake-brandy--wine-Im done
up
Reston opened cupboard, brought out
MS 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 IL
Il-Ill tell you directly. hardly dare;
put, oh, Frank, swear to you Ibid it 10 all
lnnocency. Oh, my poor darlingi my poor
darling! don't blame me, Frank. | swear
to you believed it ALL
Here, here! come, come, old fellow.
Don give way like this. Why, hang it,
committed crime
II have, Frank, have; and against the
dearest. the sweetest girl that ever blessed a
man with her tender love-
why, John Audas,' said Reston fiercely,
II you have dared to raise your hand against
my sister,
Raised my hand against herr cried
A t IN tones OF whitening contempt.
Why, would sooner hew 1t off,
sIlen what the deura iS tho ,aaa,;,,, &c
all this? You haven't been such fool as
| to take shares in gold mine?'
| BAIL Don't be absurd
What is it, thena Crime? What do you
| meanp
| Read that, cried Audas, tearing his peck
et-book from his breast with trembling
hands, opening ii and producing one of those
dirty, discolored pieces of paper which a
| paternal Government considers good enough
for the transcription of telegram.
Eli. Why, what's this?' said Reston, read
ing. From Grace Audas, Utramarine Ho-
tel, Folkestone, to John Audas, The ACoppi-
ces, Calkston, Calkshire. Come to me at
once. Our boat drifted to an island. Very
ill.,
John Audas wiped the great drops Of pers-
| piration from his forehead.
We'll, but began Reston, in puzzled
| tones
1 believed she was dead, Frank. On my
soul believed she was.'
And on the strength of that, sir, you have
won sweet young girls affection, aud COM
mitted bigamy.
Yes, yes groaned Audas. And / was
so happy
You scoundrelp cried Reston fiercely.
Don't Tor Gods sake, don't turn-upon
me like that, Frank
There is one comfort continued the
young Darrister, the law can be pretty hard
upon villain who blights young girls life
In such way as this; and the punish
ment-'
Curse the punishment roared Audas.
What care for the punishment? I'd go
through fou teen years penal servitude with
pleasure It 1t would spare my poor darling
PAIN
Then she doesn't know it yet?'
Know ltp OF course not. could not tell
her,, groaned Andas
And pray what do you intend to do? OF
course the only thing is for you to make my
poor sister very large settlement. But /
shall insist upon that. I'll 60 and fetch her
| away at once'
What. and separate us, Frank? No, no,
Tor heavens sake, don't think of thati As
for money, all have is hers-bess her; but
we must not part. Frank, swear to you,
that II you take her away, I'll blow my
brains out at the hotel'
'Humphl I wouldn't do that said Reston
coolly But perhaps you have some plans
Plans? Yes cried the other excitedly;
1 brought her up with me. She's at the
Grand."'
What, here in Londonr
| Paris r TIN z
| Wa Folkestone@ ~ sog'
Curse it, mol rid Dover. shall take al,
assumed name. Wen travel for few years,
I'll that fend of woman really dies Frank
she was perfect curse to me. MY life was
one long torment, and here, now that nv
NE has been one long bliss, like spoiled
1901, have been hihped and gloomy; and,
Frank-would you believe it'll was such
brute, such scoundrel to poor Lesby that i
found fault with the dinner and | said-I
wish my tongue had been cut OUT
| What did you say that for?'
| NO, no, did not say that. / said if nv
trst wife had been alive we would have a
better dinner
I should hardly have believed it Of you,
No, you would not, Frank; but Pm such
a 1901 at times. You see Pm not like you.
| all brains I'd give anything to be as clever
| and-and-'
AS ugly?'
NO, old fellow; | was going to say wise as
| you are. All Frank, that woman was near
~ nifty when | married her, and she only
had me out of spite, believe, so as to annoy
some one else. never had a moments
peace with her. | was bigger fool when /
married her than I am now. / saw. Won
won't think Of my being separated from
| Lesby?'
But your wife? She has the best right to
| you-of course the right
L don't care,' said the big fellow, setting
| ms teeth and growing stern and logged now
ia about lost my head. That telegram was
regular crusher. But Pm coming round
now, and should like TO see the man who'd
step between me and my wife,
| But she is not your wife, SIR cried Res
| ton sternly.
| And l say she is,' cried Audas, rising
| with his lists clenched and fierce, menan-
| ing look in his eyes. l say she is my dear
VIE, and no law shall come between us or
| separate us. Oh, Frank, do love her dear
| ~, ana never knew how much till I receiv-
ed this awful news
'Humphp said Reston drily: some men
don't find 1t out till their wives are dead.
here, let's see that message again. We
must look at this matter In cool, business
| like way.
OF course. You can. I couldn't: it
nearly drove me mad'
Um-um-um, buzzed the young barris-
Ter, reading the telegram. 'Bigafny is an
awkward offence against the law iTJm-um
is morning?
~ Yes, and packed up and came off at once
| Lesby thinks it's important business regard
| ing money affairs
'Humphp said RestoD, holding the teIe-
gram first on one side. then on the other.
and then between himself and the light, as
if expecting to obtain brain illumination
thai way, while John Audas watched his
movements with speeches. anxiety.
Look here, jack Reston said at last. sips
one of the principles in the law TO believe
nothing until it can be proved
Yes. of course said Audas.
Well, look here, then, old fellow, how do
we know that this telegram is true?
oh, it's genuine enough
How do you know
How do I-eh? What! how do l knowg
| Yes | will repeat my question dozen
| times IT you like, my good sir said Reston,
Involuntary dropping into the cross-exami.
| nation style, how do you know that this
telegram is true? 1t may be a hoax