The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1885-09-05
CHAPTER XVII.
A HELPING HAND.

To make up ones mind; to vow to find a
young woman who has disappeared without
leaving "a trace is one thing--to iini her is
another. The world is place Of considerable
size. AMI chance meetings are not so common
as tho coniiding novel reader is asked to b.
lieye. Such was ut least the experience OF
two men, who, from different motives, were
equally anxious 10 find the fugitive. The
first Maurice Hervey, the second Frank Car
ruthers.
Hervey, who, having paid second visit to
Oakbury, had in some way managed to learn
that Beatrice, the boy and the nurse had gone
10 London, babe hasty adieu to Blacktown
and returned to the capital The more he
studied the situation, the more apparent it
became that, TO use his own words, he was
In a cleft stick So long rs Beatrice could
conceal her whereabouts from him, so long
was he utterly helpless. He could, of course,
compass certain amount OF revenge
but the cost would be too terrific. However
sweet thing may be, it may be bought too
dearly. He could walk boldly up to Sir
Mangay Clauson and proclaim himself his
son-in- law. He could go to these Ialberts
and show them that he married their niece
when she was little more than schoolgirl.
But what good would this dol His bolt
would be shot, and his culver held no other.
1t might bring down Beatrice but not her
money. He would have to deal with men of
the world instead of n woman over who II he
held the terror of exposure. He had one
article to SELL silence. There was one GUS
toner for it, his wife. With her he could
trade to advantage, but the moment he
oh FOR
modify became all but valueless
Again, there was that cursed clause in old
Talbert's will Hervey could easily prove
that Beatrice was his wife, but in doing sc
he also proved that she had married, when
under age, without her trustees consent
and the said trustees could do almost ey
actly us they liked with her fortuncl Prob
ably they would throw him two hundred &
year so long rs he kept out of the way
What was two hundred a year when W.
know that had he not insisted on bringing
some ones head down TO the dust, he nigh
have had ten times the amount. Why la,
he not taken the money and foregone his re
venge'
In fact, Beatrcc's flight, although no
effected for strategical reasons, was a mas
terpiece n move which bound her enem,
hand and foot. Savagey he looked forwart
to the time when circumstances would fore
hun 10 take the best offer made him. Well h
knew that the moment Beatrice nerved her
self to reveal tho truth to her friends tn
moment she elected to confess her girlis
folly, and face what shame and blame Nigh
be due to her. every shred of power he hell
would be gone. 1t was, therefore, impera
tive he should find Beatrice and reopen ut
gotiations upon basis more favorable t
her. Reflection and the risk he now ran G
losing everything made him inclined to lowe
his demands. He would take fifteen hur
dred, even half of his wife's income and
she wished it would enter into regula
deed of judicial separation. He would b
silent so long us tho money was paid or S
| long as it paid him better to be silent
What if he gave out that he was dead an
waited until she had married againi The
his sway would be supreme. But to gal
this advantage he must lie silent, 1t mlgl
he for years, and in the meantime mu!
somehow make living. Perhaps, after he
| former experience, she would not MARI
again. Any way the state of his excheque
put veto on the waiting scheme.
He expected no unextorted help from he
He looked for no mercy. He ha Shove
none. He had blasted her life; robbed hi
wears of early womanhood of their swee
ness; he had traded on the romance whic
lies in the heart of every young girl, thei
for mercenary purposes, hal turned al
crushed it out. He had shown her, ma,
had, in brutal words, told her that he la
married her to raise money in order to 81,
himself from tho penalty due to his Grim
He well knew what he had done, and know
ing this no had not even ventured at a
tempting to cajole her when they measure
strength at Blacktown. Had it been need,
the stern set of her features-the scorn
her manner would have told him that
had no mercy to expect, that it was du
between the two.
He must find herl As the months went
the necessity Of finding her became more ar
more obvious He had, after tho manner
a gambler, who feels that any hour ms
bring the great stroke Of luck, lived luxuI
ously. His money had by now SO diminish,