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

IHeh WUH0Ht q Miuh1 IN ms pocHes nc
rent to his dinner.
drank bottle Of champagne. II is clear
that Mr.. Hervey, late 1850, had liberal views
as to the treatment due to himself. He had,
moreover, n lot of lccway to make up
He spent the evening smoking the hotel
cigars and drinking the hotel whisky and
water. Pleasant as these occupations We're,
he retired TO re early. While he had been
soaking his hands ne had cast longing eyes
upon the beauties of the white-covered bed,
and had mentally contrasted its soft charms
with the asperities of the strip of sacking
which had for 50 long been his resting place
Sweet, truly sweet, ere the uses of adversely
when they teach man to enjoy the simple
comforts of life as Maurice Hervey that night
enjoyed his bed. He reveled in the clean
white sheets, he nestled on the soft mattress
and yet softer pillows. The pro:usion of
blankets filled his soul with rapturous
warmth. And as he fully realized the con-
traSt between the innocent luxury he was
enjoying and the discomforts OF an iron cell
| ,ight feet by four, he vowed very proper
VOW: that no ill-advised conduct of hs.own
hould force him to renew his acquaintance
with prison fare and discipline The love of
luxury has saved many man from going
wrong.
Besides" he murmured, a; he sank off
20 sleep, there is no need for foolcry Of
hat kind. l am master Of the situation. /
AN cat, drink and be merry for tn, rest of
ny life There are many men who would
ilecp the sounder had they such thought to
| 'ock them
| In the morning, after breakfast, it occurred
% Hervey that moneyless man staying at
hotel is in rather prccarious position.
Pleasant as was his newly-found liberty,
here was work to be doce before he could
with clear conscience enjoy it. So he
allied forth, trudged through a number of
streets, and at last reached quiet back road
I'LL Of unpretending lttle houses At one
If these houses he inquired for "A Miss
Martin, who had lodged there some four or
lv years ago. Miss Martin, he was IN
formed, Lad left ever so lono-left without
giving an address. Hcrvey's heart grew
sick. In his haste to once more tastc the
luxuries of life he had been too precipitate
lie knew that unless he could find the person
he wanted it would have been better fer him
to have kept his good conduct money intact.
The woman of the house, who noticed his
dismay, aided that the shop at tie corner
might know what had become of Miss Mar
h.
He learned that his friend lived about mile
away; moreover, that she was now Mrs.
Humphreys. AS he heard this supplement.
a-y piece of news the nan laughed so curl.
cusly that the shopwoman eyed him ask.
ancc
He walked to the new address, that of an.
other listle house in another quiet street. He
knocked. a good-looking, respectable young
q hni, md Fol H., !
toddling child, opened the door. She gave
low cry, and staggered back against the
wall. Eervey raised his hat with mock
politeness, and without invitation entered
the hcuje. The woman called to sore one /
who came and relieved her Of her children.
She then opened the door of a sittinc-room,
into which she followed her visitor. Hevyey
threw himself on chair, and looked &C The |
woman with satirical smile AS vet not
word had passed between them. The man
was the first to break silence.
"Well, Fanny" he said mockinglv. ''S
you are married, and have forgotten ne!"
No; am trying to forget you" Sh,
spoke bitterly.
"And you can't That's compliment
considering the years of separation
The woman looked at him in the face
Maurice" she said, II am married.
married a kind true man, who loves me
and works for me and for cur children H,
knew great deal, not all about my past, ye
he took me and trusts me. You VIII sneel
when 1 tell you l am trying to be q goot
woman and q good wife. You always sneeret
at anything good. But, Maurice, for tn,
sake Of what We were once to each other
spare me now. Let me i've in peace, and SO.
you no more"
She spoke in solemn earnest, such earnest
ness that the mans light LAUGH seemed dis
cordant. my dear girl" lie said, II hav,
no wish to tempt your feet from the path
Of domestic virtue 10 wish to harm you.
have finer fish to fry. But you may remem
Der that when certain circumstances rem
dered it impera.ive--curse it can speal
plainly to you-when learned that the war
rant was out, wien / knew that the gam,
was up, placed little packet in your font
hands to keep until better times. Where il
itf
not answer. Her prayer for mercy had bee,
genuine; her wish to see him no more al
honest utterance; but years ago she ha6
given this man all a woman has to give
given it without consideration, withou
price. And now, so far as he was concerned
tho only memory of the past which linke<
them together was but Of certain thing lef
in her charge.
He saw the flush. he saw the hesitation
and, of course, attributed both to the wron,
motive. His brow grew black. by Cdr
II.