The Dillon tribune., 1885-07-18
A FAMILY AFFAIR
BY HUGH CONW AY,

BY HUGH CONWAY,
Author of .Called Back" and Ozark Days."
Chatter XVII Comtimned.
He spent the evening smoking the hotel
cigars and drinking the hotel whisky and
water. Pleasant as these occupations were,
be retired to rest early. While he had been
soaking his hands be had cast longing eyes
upon the beauties Of the white e-covered bed,
and had mentally contrasted its soft charms
with the aspcrities Of the strip Of sacking
which had for 20 long been his resting place.
Sweet, truly sweet, are the uses Of adversity
when they teach man to enjoy the simple
comforts Of life - Maurice Hervey that night
enjoyed his bed. He reveled in the clean
white shests, he nestled On the soft mattress
and yet softer pillowA Tho profudon Of
blankets filled his soul with . rapturous
warmth. And % be fully realized the con-
trast between the innocent luxury he was
Enjoying and the discomforts Of an iron coli
si9ht feet by four, he vowed q very proper
vow: that no n-advised conduct Of hia3pwu
ihould force him to renew his acquaintance
with prison faro and discipline The love Of
luxury has saved many man from going
wrong.
..BesidsA' hs murmursd, as he sank OF
to sleep, ''there Il no need for foolery Of
hat kind. am master Of the situation. l
IAN eat, drink and bs merry for tn, rest Of
nv life" There are many men who would
sleep the sounder had they such . thought to
.oc. them.
In tas morning, after breakfast, itoccrred
to Hervey that . moneyless man staying as
: hotel is in . rather precarious position.
Pleasant O. was his newly-found liberty,
there was work to be done before be could
with . clear conscience enjoy it. So he
sallied forth, trudged through number Of
streets, and at last reached quiet back road
full OF unpretending little houses. At one
u these houses b inquired for Mts
Martin, who had lodged thsrs some four q
w ye-rs ago. Miss Martin, he was IN
,-.n.-, Lid left ever 20 long-left without
s.v:as an address. Hervey's heart grew
s.c:. In his haste to once more taste the
.-=aries Of life he had been too precipitate.
he knew that unless he could 6nd the person
he wanted it would have been better for him
to have kept his good conduct money intact.
The woman Of the house, who noticed his
dimay, added that the shop at the corner
might know what had become Of Miss Mar
tin; % to the shop he went. He was in luck.
He learned that his friend lived about q mile
away; moreover, that she was now Mrs.
Humphrey. Al he heard this supplement-
ary piece Of news tho man laughed 20 Curl
cusly that the shopwoman eyed him ask.
Ance.
He walked to tho new address, that Of IN.
other little house In another quiet street. He
I'm kn& A~HV
woman, carrying baby, and followed by .
toddling child, opened tho door. She gave Q
low cry, and staggered back against tho
wall. Hervey raised his hat with mock
politenes,, and without invitation entered
the house. Tho woman called to some one.
who came and relieved her oe hsr children.
She then opened tho door Of q attiug-room,
into which she followed her visitor. Harvey
Ihrsw himself On Q chair, and looked &c thl
woman with Atirical smile. Al yet not {
word had passed between them. Tho mar
was the first to break silence.
"Well, Fanny" hs said mockingly, ~
ysu are married, and have forgotten mer'
mo; am trying to forget you" sh,
spoke bitterly.
'And you can't. That's q compliment
considering the years of separation"
The woman looked at him in tho faca
Maurice" she said, II am married.
married . kind, true man, who loves me
and works for mo and for our children, HI
knew a great deal, not oil about my past, ye
he TOOK me and trusts me. You win snee
when tell you I am trying to be q goo,
woman and good wife. You always sneere,
at anything good. But, Maurice, for tn
sake OF what wo were onco to each other
spare mo now. Let mo live in peace, and 50
you no more"
She spoke In solemn earnest, such earnest
ness that tho mans light laugh seemed dis
cordaat. my dear GIRL" Lo s1id, II hav
no wish to te::'ct your feet from tho path
OF domestic v!stue-no wish to harm you
have finer fish to fry. But you may remeu
Der that when certain circumstances, re,
Iered it imperative-curss it! can spea
plainly to you-whcn learned that tho wa,
rent was out, wien know that the gam
was up, placed q little packet in your fon
hands to keep until better times Where
itr
The woman flushed, and for mornsnt di
not aas':or. Her prayer for mercy had bee
'.2:'u:ne; Ter wish to SEQ him no moro a
honest uttc-ancc; but years ago sho ha
given this man all q woman has to give
given 1t without consideration, witho,
price. And now, SO far Us ho was concernet
tho only memory of tho past which linke
them together was but Of certain thing LEI
in her charge.
He saw the flush, hs saw tho hesitatio,
aud, of course, attributed both to tho wrou
motive. His brow grew black. "ByG-d
he cried; iii it is not forthcoming-"
She barst into tears. 'Wait," she sal,
quitting tho roo:. abruptly. aal leaving h.
visitor in dire suspense. In few mirut
she returned and handed him small seal.
packet.
There it is-just as You gave it to n
that night, she said. ''Many q time VIII
I've been hard pressed, and did not kno
where to turn to for shilling, I tried