, 1884-01-26
he MY FIST WEE.

Jack loves her," said Frank Reston to
himself, rs he lay In bed that night, "she
worships him, and they are not happy. Jack
Audas is a good fellow, but not over wise.
Lesby is the most amiable little darling that
ever breathed, and yet they don't seem as
they should be- Hang his first wifeI HumphI
well, no; she's deceased. What a fool the
man is to poison his cup Of happiness like
thisl By Jove, h a good thing 1t would
be If Desby had q dangerous ft Of sickness; It
would bring Jack to his senses, and-heigh,
In, ha, hum, how sleepy I amanda
That was all, for no 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 nlivei II my
first wife had been alivei' the very beat Of
the train seemed to pour those words In
Frank Reston's ears as he sped south, and
thought over tho matrimonial situation at
the Coppicea.
Poor little Lesbyi He'll break her heart"
he said to himself. 81 do not wonder at It.
She feels jealously miserable about that first
wife l wish now l had spoken to Jack"
mo, l DON'T be said after a little more
thinking, 'ft would not nave been wise"
"PerpaPs something may happen to bring
him to his senses" be said, after snothar
pause; something always does happen"
And then he read The Times TIL lie reached
town
Frank Reston sat In his dipgy room hard at
work over a brief-not his first; but these
documents were sufficiently rare ~visitants to
mako him study these which came with ths
most intense application
Probably from a desire that the deep truths
that he CLEANED from the carefully written
folios before him should not escape after be-
Ing once taken into his bead, the young bar
rister was resting his brow up on his handa,
his elbows were upon the table, and his
thumbs over his ears, while, as from time to
time he read a few words out aloud, it
seemed in the se~mi-obscurity of tho gloomy
room as IL he wero addressing himself to q
venerable gentleman on the other side Of the
room, till q more Penetrating look showed
that the said venerable gentleman was only
the young harristeris wig-block with the
ti~me-honored grizzlsd head-gear, which be-
tokcned the regular wearer's position In a
court
Gentleman to SEQ you, sir, " said the clerk,
entering the room
Manner said Frank laconically.
wouldn't give no name, sir. Must see
you directly, SIR"
"HulloT' exclaimed the barrister, as a we'll
untitled up traveller forced his way In, bag
and rug in hand
Hush only mo; send away your clerk"
Frank Reston nodded at his wondering
aid, who left the room.
why, my dear John, what Is the mattori
Lssbyf'
~, she's all right, God bless heri' cried Au-
das, throwing himself into a chair. and
gazing wildly, with blank, cadaverous face,
at his brotherIn-law. "Giye me something,
for heavens ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS done
up"
Reston opened a cupboard, brought out his
spirit stand, and Audas hastily gulped down
a glass of spirit, returning the glass to the
table with trembling hand
why, John, old fellow" said Reston,
"What is IT"
but, oh. Frank, / swear to you I did It tn all
lnnocency. Oh, my o darlingi my poor
darlingl Don't blame me, Frank / swear
to you ! believe 1t all"
Hero, herelcome, come, old fellow. Don't
give way like thisL Why, hang It, man,
what is iti You look as II you had com
mittsd a crime"
81 have, Frank, I have; and against the
dearest, the sweetest girl that ever blessed a
man with her tender love"
"Why, John Audas," said Reston hsrcely,
'ff you have dared to raise your hand
against my sister,
Raised my hand against heri' cried Au-
das, In tones OF whitening contempt why,
l would sooner hew It off,
Then what the deuce il the meaning Of all
this1 You haven't been suoh a fool as to take
shares In a gold miner
"Bahl Don't be ABSURD
What 1. 1t, theni Crimei What do you
meanP'
Read that" cried Audas, tearing his
pocket-book from his breast with trembling
hands, opening 1t and producing me of those
dirty, discolored pieces of paper which q
patarnal government considers good enough
for the Transcript N of u telegram.
'EhI Why, what's thtsI" said Reston, read.
ing. From Grace Audas, ultrumarinC
hotel, Foik-stono, 70 John Audas- The Cop
pices, CalkSton, Calkshirp. Como TO me a
once. Our boat drifted to an Island. VERY
HL.n
John Audhs wiped the great drops of per,
SEPARATION from his forehead.
"Wcll, but" began Reston, In puzzled
tones.
~ believed she was dead, Frank. On my
soul l believed she was"
And on the strength OF that, SIR, you
have won a sweet young girls affection, ant
committed bigamy."
Eyes, yea" groaned Audas- And I wa,
so happy"
you scoundrelrn cried Restou aercely.
Don't for Gods sake, don't turn upon IN.
like that Frank
There Is one comfort" continued tn,
young barrister, '.the law can be prett,
hard upon a villain who blights a youne
girls life in such a way as this; and tn
punishment"
Course the punishmentr' reared Audas
What care I for the punishment I'd q
through fourteen years penal servituds witt
pleasure If 1t would spare my poor darling
pain"
''Then she doesn't know 1t yetf'
Know III OF course not / could not toll
her, groaned Audas-
"And pray what do you intend to dol o
course the only thing is for you TO make m,
poor sister a very large settlement. But
shall insist upon that m go and fetch he
away at once.n
what, and separate US, Frank No, NO
for heavens sake, don't think Of tLati A
for money, all / have is hers-hless her; bu
we must not part Frank, / swear to yol
that, II you take her way, In blow m,
brains out at the hotel"
"Humphi ! wouldn't do that, y said Restou
eooly. But perhaps you have some plans
"Plansi Yea cried the other excioedly
81 brought her up with ma shs Is at tn
Grand"
"whAt, hero In Londonr
"ot courss. l am going to take hsr :
Paris
V Folkestoner'
"Curse IL, not via Dover. l shall take a
assumed name. Wen travel for a few year,
till that fend OF a woman really dies. Franz
abe was A perfect cure 70 ma Nv life Wa
one long torment, and here, now that IN
lie hA. bean one long hllss Liza a snoIla