The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1885-08-15

large sum borrowed"
Beatrice had expected an appeal of this
sort. Although Hervey had again and again
told her that by the drudgery of teaching he
could make good income, so that, in marry.
ING, money was a secondary consideration,
this had been part of the dread hanging over
her. An appeal of this sort would give her
fears stronger foundation. She said moth
ing. but taking out her purse shook its con-
| tents on the table The man laughed scorn-
fully.
at is no lrihlet like that want l must
have a thousand pounds by this day fort
night"
"Why tell me so! ] cannot get it," She
could not help the growing GOODNESS OF her
voice.
Eyes you can, il you will. Will you do
sor'
She looked at him steadily "You are my
husband" she said. "If can, l will"
II knew it," no said, with nervous laugh
"All you will have to do is to sign an under
taking promising to repay the money and
interest out Of your income within certain
number of years. You will do this'
YES, | will DC this. You are my bus.
bandn
1T is also necessary" he went on, with
|
"a mere matter OF form. You must declare
| yourself TO be twenty one years Of age"
TbI vuth is Mr.. Hervey had been to the
money.lenders, and without mentioning
names had endeavorod to negotiate loan
upon such security as Beatrice's fortune
offered. Some of the usurers laughed in his
face, but he soon found one whose business
| it was never to refuse to lend money on a
forged bill or false declaration provided the
| friends of the forger or the per urer were OF
the stamp who would pay money to avoid
criminal proceedings.
IL do not quite understand" said Beatrice.
! She would not understand.
ats a mere matter of form, my dear girl,
it can do no harm 1t is only to swear you
are twenty-one. I'm sure no one would doubt
it,"
Beatrice covered her face with her hands,
and the tears trickled through her fingers.
Hervey attempted to caress her. Sadly but
firmly she pushed his arm away.
81 cannot do it, she said.
His brow grew black damn It'll you
muStr' he said
She rose. Il will not" she said in accents
which told him she meant what she said. II
will do this much: / have some jewelry; it
shall be placed in your hands. The only
favor | ask is that money may be raised omit
in such way that same day l can get it
back Part of it was my mothers"
Hervey knew that her jewelry would not
help him. So he pressed her to make the
| false declaration. First, he commanded
secondly he reasoned, thirdly he besought in
an abject way. And with his groveling en-
treaties for money, every atom of love for
him went out of the girls heart. Love may
survive ill-usage, faithlessness and wicked
ness-meanness kills it. She turned and left
| him before he could stop her.
She did as she had promised. That even
ing Mrs. Miller brought him the packet of
jewelry. There were some valuable articles
in it, as Sir Maingay, who had great faith
in his daughters discretion, and who per-
! haps had feared that If not given at once,
they would never be given, had intrusted her
| with some diamonds which had belonged to
! her late mother So it was that Hervey was
! able to raise some two hundred pounds on
the trinkets. To his credit be it said that he
sent certain mysterious tickets to Beatrice
which, upon inquiry, she found would enable
her to redeem the things Of which she had
deprived herself.
Three days after this Sarah made a dis.
covery, or rather completed her inquiry into
Hervey's real nature. By pertinacity in
tracking and watching; by questions asked
in certain houses in a neighborhood to which
she had followed him, she found the man
had for some space Of time, and was even
now, pursuing a low intrigue with a girl
With flashing eyes Mrs. Miller went to
Beatrice and told her this.
| Beatrice heard her in silence. Then she
| spoke coldly and gravely. Events were fast
making a woman of her. Sarah" she
said 81 will see Mr.. Hervey, and If needful
you will see him. Bear in mind that it your
charges against him are false, you leave me
at once"
She took Sarah with her, told her TO wait
in the street and then entered her husbands
room. She told him coldly and without APP
parent emotion what she had learned. She
| gave the name OF street, and the number
| of house.
Hervey of course denied it. Beatrice then
said she would fetch his libeler, who should
be properly dealt with. Hervey wavered,
stammered, and then once for all dropped
the mask. He brutally told his young wife
| to let him manage his own affairs of that sort
| In his own way. So Beatrice knew that
| Sarah had spoken the truth. And with this
! knowledge the love for this man which had
| already been driven out was replaced by a
| feeling of absolute hate and contempt.
Once more and only once she saw him.
| A few days later he wrote babe her come to
! him, and threatened in case of refusal to
come to her She went. She scorned him
too much to fear him.
He renewed his request that she would sign
the false declaration of age.
II will not she said.
Twill you telegraph to your father and
say you must have thousand pounds-tell
| him it means life or death"
II will not; nor would he send it il I did,"
Hervey, who by now was getting to know
something of his wife's character, felt that
nothing would make her bend to his will
With an oath he raised his hand and struck
her. His true brutal nature leapt forth. He
covered her with reproaches; he reviled her,
he told her he had never cared for her, told
her he had but married her to stave off ruin,
thinking the small sum he needed would be
easily raised upon her prospects. He vowed
to be revenged for her obstinacy. He would
make her life hell He would drag her
4 |1n) )a. b "a