The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-10-25

cemetery. BY 5 o'clock she was again in Pen
zance.
"You have been a martel long timer said her
husband, GROSSLY. Il allowed ye a hour at most,
NEE dear"
ut occupied me longer she said.
we'll reckon it is wasting words to COM
plain. Hang it, We look so tired and wisht that
l can't find heart to say what 1 would"
II am-weary and wisht, David; / am. We
can get home tomorrow for certain, I hopeP
w can. And please God we will" said Mr..
Heddegan, heartily, as if he, too, were weary Of
his brief honeymoon. II must be into business
again on Monday morning at latest"
They left by the next morning steamer. and in
the afternoon took up their residence in their
own house at Hugh Town.
The hour that she reached the island it was as
if a material weight had been removed from
Baptista's shoulders. Her husband attributed
the change to the influence Of the local breezes
after the hot-house atmosphere of the mainland
However that might be, settled here. a few doors
from her mothers dwelling, she recovered in no
very long time much of her customary bearing,
which was never very demonstrative. She &C
cepted her position calmly, and family smiled
when her neighbors learned to call her Mrs.
Heddegan. and said she seemed likely to become
the leader of fashion III Hugh Town.
Her husband was a man who had made con-
siderably more money by trade than her father
had done; and, perhaps, tie greater profusion of
surroundings at her c. ..nand than she had
heretofore D66n mistress OF was not without an
effect upon her. One week, two weeks, three
weeks passed; and, being prominently a young
woman who allowed things to drift. she did moth
Ing whatever either to disclose or conceal traces
of ner first marriage; or to learn if there existed
possibilities-which there undoubtedly did-by
which that hasty contract might become re-
vealed to those about her at any unexpected mo-
menL.
While yet within the first month of
her marriage, and ON an evening just
| before SnnSAt R1nfIStq was STANDING
within her garden adjoining the
house, when she saw passing along the roadfa
parsonage clad in a greasy black coat and bft-
tered tall hat, which, common enough in the
Sums of a city, had an odd appearance in ST.
Mary's. The tramp. as he seemed to be, marked
her at once-bonnetless and unwrapped as she
was her features were plainly recognizable-and
with an air of friendly surprise, came and leant
over the wall.
What! don't you know me?' he said.
She had some dim recollection of his face, but
said that she was not acquainted with him.
why, your witness to be sure. maam. Don't
you mind the man that wa mending the church
window when you and your intended husband
walked up to be made one; and the clerk called
me down from the ladder, and 1 came and did
my part by writing my name and occupationY"
Baptista glanced quickly around; her husband
was out of earshot. That would have been Of
less Importance but for the fact that the wed
ding witnessed by this parsonage had not been
the wedding with Mr.. Heddegan, out the one on
| Vic udy pFCFlOuS.
I've had a misfortune since then, that's pulled
me down, ?" continued her friend. But don't let
me damp yer welded joy by naming the particl-
lars. Yes. I've seer changes since; though It's
but a short time ago-let me see, only a month
| next week, / think; for 'twere the first or second
day in August"
''Yes-thats when it was, said another man,
a sailor, who had come up with a pipe in his
mouth, and felt it necessary to join in (Baptista
having receded to escape further speech. 'For
that was the first time / set foot In Huph Town.
and her husband took her to him the same day"
A dialogue then proceeded between the two
men outside the wall, which Baptista could not
help hearing:
':Av, l signed the book that made her one
flesh" repeated the decayed glazier. where's
her good mani"
About the premises somewhere; but you don't
see EN- together much" replied the sailor in an
undertone. You see. he's older than She"
''Olderg should never have thought it from
my own observation" said the glazier. He
was a remarkably handsome man."
"Handsomel Well, there he is-we can see
for ourselves"
David Heddegan had, indeed, Just shown him
self at the upper end of the garden; aRd~ H.
glazier, looking in bewilderment from the hus-
band to the wife. saw the latter turn pale.
Now that decayed glaZier was a far-seeing and
cunning man-too far seeing and cunning to al
low himself to thrive by simple and straightfor-
ward means-and he held his peace till he could
read more plainly the meaning of this
riddle, merely adding carelessly, Well
marriage do alter a man. It's
true. l should never ha' knowed him!"
He then stared oddly at the disconnected Bap-
tista, and moving on to where he could again
address her, asked her to do him a good turn.
since he once had done the same for her. Un-
derstanding that he meant money, she handed
him some, at which ne thanked her, and instant
ly went away.
She had escaped exposure on this occasion; but
the incident had been an awkward one. and
should have suggested to Baptista that sooner or
later the secret must leak cut. AS it was. she
suspected that at any rate she had not heard the
last of the glaZier.
In a day or two, when her husband had gone
to the old town on the other side of the island,
there came a gentle tap at the door. and the
worthy witness of her first marriage made his
appearance a second time.
at took me hours to get to the bottom of the
mystery-hours he said, with a gaze of deep
confederacy which offended her pride very
deeply. But, thanks to a good intellect, I've
done it. Now, ma'am, I'm not a man to tell tales,
even when a tale would be so good as this. But |
am going back to the mainland again. and a little
assistance would be as rain in a thirsty land. "
Il helped you two days ago" began Baptista.
"Yes-but what was that, my good lady. Not
enough to pay my passage to PenZance. l came
over on your account. for I thought there was a
mystery Now l must go back on
my own. Mind this-'twould be very awkward
for you if your old man were TO know. He's a
queer temper. though he may be fond"
She knew as we'll as her visitor how awkard it
would be-; and the hush-money she paid was
heavy that day. She had, however. the salts
faction of watching the man to the steamer and
seeing him diminish out of sight. But Baptista
perceived that the system into which she mad
been led of purchasing silence thus was one
fatal to her piece of mind, particularly if it had
to be continued.
Hearing no more from the glazier she hoped
the difficulty was past. But another week only
had coma nv Vhpn az che WAS walking on the
Hugh 1.-THE name given to the promenade) she
met the same parsonage. in the company of a fat
woman carrying a bundle.
This is the lady. my dear" he said to his
companion. This, ma'am, is my wife. We've
come to settle in the town for a time, if so be We
eau find ROOM"
THAT you won't do" said she. Nobody can
live here who is not privileged"