Weekly commercial herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1884-18??, 1885-07-17

The man knew she meant 1t. He threw
himself into a chair, and laughed scornfully.
Come be said, 'Iet US go to business"
"Yes. Business Is the only question be-
tween us now.n
"Sit down. Ican't talk to you while you
stand up there. And I've lots to say.n
To show how little she feared him she
obeyed.
snow" he said, Ito come to the point.
what proposal have you to make9 I'm your
husband, and with all your put-on pride and
carelessness, you know I've got the whip-hand
at last"
Beatrice looked at him and again won
dered how she could have ever loved this
rufIian
81 viii do this" she said Con certain
conditions I viii give you one-half of my in
come"
"And how much may your income beT'
!, 1.-Two thousand five hundred a year, l am
! told"
You lie" said Hervey coarsely. 1T is
more"
Beatrice flushed. She half rose from her
seat, then returned to it without troubling
to reply.
"Take it for arguments sake it is So" said
the man. "Now for the conditions
THAT you never seek me, never trouble
me, never make known to any one that | am
your wife"
"You have kept the secret, thenln
Zone other person knows it, my faithful
servant"
THAT bag! OF course you hoped l should
die in the five years.
mo-" said Beatrice, simply; 'but l hoped
might"
The duel was progressing. The advantage
as yet had been to Beatrice. Hervey's turn
was to come.
LISTEN be said; Il have also a proposal
TO make, and conditions" Beatrice bent her
head.
"You have two thousand five hundred q
year, The hundreds are quite enough for
woman to live on; the thousands shall bC
mine.n
She was silent for a minute. "Yes," sht
said, II will we do that-at least for many
years"
Heryey laughed maliciously. GLOW nict
10 be so hatedl l never made anything out
Of a woman,s love, but her hate is profitable
NV hear the conditions
"~Ihavenamed them already, " said Beatrice
eddy.
"Hear mine, l say" said Hervey, bringing
his hand down on the table, and speaking il
grim earnest. II win go away, never seel
you, never trouble you so long as you pay
the money; but before 1 gon-here he bent
forward and spoke in low, grating voice
before I go you shall come to me here, il
these rooms, and for a month shall live herr
as my wife. All your fine relations, all
your dear friends, shall know you are the
wife of Maurice Hervey, forger, felon, and,
ct present, ticket-of-leave man. After that
I'll leave you and take the money"
Beatrice made no reply. She drew her
mantle round her and rose. Don't like my
proposal Knocked Hervey. II thought il
out carefully, though-thought it out night
after night-for years and years l thought 1t
OUTFLOW l was to be paid in full for every
thing. l have you now-I have you now,
my sweet wife"
II think you are mad" said Beatrice, con-
t~emptuously.
"Madl No rm not mad. Are you going
b leave Nel After such a separation Il
leave me so soonW She moved towards the
door.
(Which means, suppose, that you leave
me to do my worst"
ayes. You must do your worst"
(Which means, take whatever the law
forces you to give met You know the law
will give me something.
81 believelt will" said Beatrice, YEARLY.
"Yes, III take what the law gives me.
Are you versed in the lawF There wa
something in his voice, in his triumphant
look, which for the first time made her fear.
do you know" be went ON, "that the law
will give me the custody of a certain pretty,
golden-haired boyl That a wife who absents
herself from her husband and his home has
no right to deprive him of his child. Here
is the home ( offer you. l long for you and
my boy. demand him. Give him to me.
Ah, l have you nowl'
He had. His thrust seemed to pierce her
heart She uttered a low cry and grasped
the back Of a chair for support. ut is moi
true" she gasped.
'Go to your lawyer and find out" he said
have consulted mine. The boy is my own,
Ah, what pleasure l shall find in his com
panyl How nice for him to be known here
after as the forger's sen. Now will you &C
! cept my conditions Now have | got YOU
proud knees to benal Now will you come t.