Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1885-09-04
A Family Affair
.15
BY HUGH CONWAY.
AutAo7 of "Caz1ed Back and s'D0rk Days
IL ComtiaaaSetz from last aoeek.l:.

''You have TWO Thousand 11ve hundred
year. The hundreds are quite enough for a
woman to live on; the thousands shall be
mine'' ..
She was silent for minute. eyes," she
said, II will even do that-at least for many
years."
Hervey laughed maliciously. elbow nice
to be so hated! I never made anything out
of a woman's love, but her hate is profitable.
Now hear the conditions
"Ihavenamed them already" said Beatrice,
coldly.
'Hear mine, I say" said Hervey, bringing
his hand down on the table, and speaking in
grim earnest. 81 will go away, never seek
you, never trouble you SO long as you pay
the money; but before I go'-here he bent
forward and spoke in a low, grating voice
''before go you shall come to me here, in
these rooms, and for month shall live here
as my wife All your fine relations, all
your dear friends. shall know you are the
wife of Maurice Hervey, forger, felon, and,
at present, cket-ofleave man. After that
PIl 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. ~ thought it
out carefully, though-thought it out night
after night-for years and years I thought it
outflow I was to be paid in full for every
thing. 1 have you now-I have you now,
my sweet wife"
1T think you are mad" said Beatrice, con-
temptuously.
'sMad! No, I'm not mad. Are you going
to leave me? After such separation to
leave me so soonn She moved towards the
door, s-.4
(Which means, 7 suppose, that you leave
me to do my worst"
''Yes. You must do your worst"
(Which means, take whatever the law
forces you to give me? You know the law
will give me something"
ct believe it WILL" said Beatrice, YEARLY.
eyes, I'll take what the law gives me.
Are you versed in the law?n There was
something in his voice, in his triumphant
look, which for the first time made her fear
''Do you know" he went on, ''that the law
will give me the custody of certain pretty,
golden-haired boys Thata wife who absents
herself from her husband and his home has
no right to deprive him of his child. Here
is the home I offer you. I long for you and
my boy. demand him. Give him to me.
Ali, have you now"
He had. His thrust seemed to pierce her
heart. She uttered low cry and grasped
the back of chair for support. SIT is not
true,'' she gasped.
GO to your lawyer and find out" he said.
81 have consulted mine. The boy is my own.
All, what pleasure I shall find in his com
pany! How nice for him to be known here
after as the forger's son. Now will you &C.
cept my conditions? Now have I got your
nroud knees to bends Nov will you come tt
ME and avow yourself the wife Of an Injured
husbandP'
He almost shrieked the sentences. He felt
he had his full grasp of revenge.
81 must think. must think,h she MUIR
INJURED.
eyes, go and think. I've got to think, too
I've got to find out whether any bubble can
deprive you Of the money. If so, you'll have
to marry me again and keep the first mar
rage dark. Hang me! that will be even
better"
''Let me co." she said.
Eyes, you can go. But come to me again
the. day after tomorrow. Then I'll tell you
what to do. All, my lady, you'd better have
got the money I wanted years ago. I told
you at the time you were fool"
She did not hear his last words. She had
left the room. Hervey threw himself into
his chair and laughed long and loud.
Revenge and money!" he said. cpl
bring her down to the very dust Pll make
her beg on her knees for the boy before
spare her even him. Luck! was there ever
such luckY'