Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-06-02

side OF the room, Eli more penetrating look
showed that the said venerable gentleman was
q, only the young barrister's wfg-block with the
time-honored grizzled head-gear, which be-
| tokened the regular weerer's position In q
court.
Gentleman to see you, sir" said his clerk,
''Name7" said Frank laconically.
| directly. sir"
"HuiIo!" exclaimed the barrister, as a we'll
| mufied-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 matter?
Lesbyi"
"Oh, she's all right; God bless her," cried
Audas. throwing himself into chair, and gaz-
ing wildly, with blank, cadaverous face, at his
brother-in-law. "Give me something. tor Hea-
ven's sake Observation-Disclosures done up"
Re, kesto o1 opened cupboard brought out his
glass of spirit, returning the glass to the table
with trembling hand.
why, John, old fellow" said Reston, "what
Is it,"
.T'H-T'n tell you directly. hardly dare;
but. oh, Frank, swear to yon did It In all in
nocency. Oh. my poor darlingi my poor dar-
ling! Don't blame me, Frank. swear to you
l believed 1t all"
"Here, here! come, come. old fellow. Don't
W
hit7 You look as II you had committed a
crime"
II have, Frank, have; and against the dear
est the sweetest girl that ever blessed a man
with her tender love-"
"Why, John Audas," said Reston, i,ercely, sif
yon have dared to raise your hand against my
sister,"
ssRaised my hand against herr cried Audas, IN
tones OF whitening contempt. why, would
sooner hew 1t or
''Then what the deuce Is the meaning Of all
! this2 You haven't been such fool as to take
shares In q gold miner"
''Bah! Don't be absurd"
What Is it, then3 Crime? What do you
''Read thai" cried Audas, tearing his pocket
book from his breast with trembling hands,
opening 1t and producing one of those dirty,
discolored pieces OF paper which q paternal gov
eminent considers good enough Tor the trans
criprion Of telegram.
"Eh! why, what's thiss" said Reston, read
ing. From Grace Audas. Ultramarine hotel,
Folkestone. to John Audas. The Coppices,
Calkston, Calkshire Come to me at once. Our
boat dritted to an island. Very H."
John Audas wiped the great drops of perspi-
ration from his forehead.
well. but" began Reston, In puzzled tones
81 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 and COM
'Yes, yes, groaned Audas "And was SO
lyon scoundreE" cried Reston hercely.
-, 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 q
villain who blights young girls life In such q
way as this, and the punishment"
''What care l for the punishment? I'd 70
through fourteen years penal servitude with
pleasure If 1t would spare my poor darling
pain"
Then she doesn't know it YETI"
"KnOw 1t? OF course not. / could not tell
her" groaned Audas.
Sand pray what do you intend to do2 OF
course the only thing is for you to make nv
poor sister very large settlement But l shall
insist upon that. I'll go and fetch her away at
once" = - :"
"What and separate US, Frank 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 II you take
her away. I'll blow my brains out at the hotel"
"Humph! wouldn't do that" said Reston.
cooly. But perhaps you have some plans"
"Plans? Yes" cried the other excltedly; 81
brought her up with Ne. She's at the Grand"
"What, here in LOndon?"
"Qf course ours am going to take her to Paris"
Course it, no! via Dover. shall take an as
sumed name Well travel for few years, till
that flend ola woman really dies. Frank, she was
perfect curse to me. My life was one long tor
ment, and here, now that my life has been one
long bliss, like spoiled fool, have been hipped
and gloomy; and, Frank-would you believe It?
Il was such brute. such scOundrel to Door
Lesby that found fault with the dinner, and l
said wish my tongue had been cut out"
'What did you say that for2"
mo, no. did not say that. said II my first
wife had been alive We would have had a better
dinner"
Audas."
me, you would not, Frank; but I'm such a
fool at times. You see I'm not hike you, all
brains; I'd give anything to be as clever and
and"
GAS ugly?"
mo, old fellow; I WIS going to say wise as
you are. All! Frank, that woman was nearly
| fifty when / married her, and she only had me
out of spite, l believe. 30 as to annoy some one
else. never had moments peace with her,
was bigger fool when l married her than am
now: l say, you won't think Of my being sepa-
rated from Lesby?"
'But your wife? She has the best rlpht to
yOu-Of course the right
IL don't care" said tue big fellow, setting his
teeth and growing stern and logged now. ord
about lost my head. That telegram was reg
ular crusher. But I'm coming round now, and
me and my wife,
''But She is not your wife. sir" cried Reston,
| sternly.
''And say she is" cried Audas, rising. with
his fists clenched and fierce, menacing look in
his eyes. o. say she is my dear WIFE and no
law shall come between us or separate us. On,
Frank. do love her dearly, and never knew
how much till received this awful news"
"Humph!' said Reston dryly; ''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. / couldn't; 1t nearly
| drove me mad"
''Um-um-um," buzzed the young barrister.
| reading the telegram. 'Bigamy is an awkward
offense against the law. Um-um-um. Let's
| see, you received this telegram this morning2"
"Yes, and packed up and came off at once.
Lesby thinks it's important business regarding
money affairs"
'Humph!" said Reston, holding the telegram
first on one side, then on tho other, and then
between himself and the light, as If expecting
| to obtain brain Illumination that way. while
| John Audas watched his movements with
| speechless anxiety.
'Look here Jack, Reston said at last sft's
one of the principles inthe law to believe nothing
| until it can be proved"
eyes, of course" aaid Audas
swell, look here. then old fellow how do wa