The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1886-03-31

lin and sixpence for rent" returned
the landlady, "and being but pore
woman myself, though with a feeling
heart, l could not deny her nothing
and candies of night extravaganza"
Lorrimer was unhinged by the events
of the morning, and, for the moment
he was half inclined to satisfy the land
lady's claim upon the spot; but, no,
having taken final leave of his bust.
ness senses, he decided against that
course.
whatever the lady owes" he said,
"shall be paid" He drew his purse
from his pocket, and the landlady's
| eyes glistened. ''Get her," he said,
slowly and thoughtfully, with a halt
soverei On between his thumb and finger
-"get her something nice and tempt
ing and nourishing against the time
she wakes. No. Never mind, I won
trouble you, I'll get it myself, and
bring it round in two hours time
He was gone. and the landlady was
staring after him with the look the lean
cat had cast after the plump escaping
sparrow while before.
Lorrimer was driven to Oxford street,
and on the way he used much terrible
language without particular applica-
ton. He had pity enough to fill him
to the brim, and curious bewilderment
enough, and (when it could beat out
the others) managerial enterprise in
| fiated him. For each of these profane
| language seemed to furnish the only
escape-pipe, and the managers speech
would have been appropriate to a deep
dyed villain bent on murder. He
halted the carriage at shop-door,
alightcd, entered and bought jellies
and preserves, drove farther and bought
| wine, drove farther and bought fruit, a
goodly pile, aud q double-handful of
understanding country blossoms.
Course metz said Lorrimer, as he sat
in the hackney-carriage and surveyed
these purchases-"Il1 win the jade's
heart. I'll make her act. I'll make her
so grateful that she can't refuse me-"
A brilliant idea struck him, and he
arrested the coach once more. He en-
tered shop, and when, after the lapse
of two or three minutes, he came once
more upon the street, he wore the
smile of a man who has just said check
mate to opposition. He unfolded the
tissue paper which wrapped his latest
purchase.
THAT ought to touch mothers
heart" he said, surveying it admiring-
ly. "Real coral Real silver bells, and
the finest india-rubber to be had for
love or money"
He took all his purchases to the
shabby house in the street off the Tot
tenham Court Road, and he waited
with such patience as he could COM
mand until Mrs. Tregarthen was re-
ported to be awake, and he could be
again admitted to her room.
"A little triHe of jelly" said Lori
mer, balancing the preparation.
Calves foot jelly, my dear madam-a
most nourishing article. Pray try
little. A glass Of port. am never to
be taken at disadvantage. l carry
pocket corkscrew. Try that, madam.
l guarantee it excellent. A little trifle
for the baby, Mrs. Tregarthen. I am
bachelor myself, but 1 am told that
children value such gauds.n
The baby stretched out her hand for
the bauble, and Lorrimer surrendered
it, The sense of his own goodness of
heart was too much for him, and his
eyes became so moist that he had to
retire to the window. where he blew
his nose and waved his pocket-hand-
kerchief with an air of great nonchal-
ance. But Mrs. Tregarthen knew why
he had retired, and She herself began
to cry out of weakness and despair and
gratitude, and Lorrimer blew his nose
with violence, as if he were aggravated
with it, and had spite to wreak upon
it. His emotion and his friendliness
won upon the lonely woman heart, and
by and by he began to pour out golden
promises upon her. She was silent for
long time, but at last he grew so
warm that he asked her the one ques-
ton in his mind.
How do you hope to live at all I'M
less you take the chances you haveP"
:. l thought" she said, ''that / could
make living by writing"
The gesture she used sent his glance
to the table. He approached and
picked dp the letter which lay there,
and then turned over a folio or two of
the great pile of manuscript.
''Ah!" he said. ''And you find you
can't? Well, my dear madam, here
lies Ell Dorado before you. You have
only to say Yes to my proposal, and
you can leave this wretched hole at
once, and 60 to the best hotel in Lon
don. You can dress like princess,
and you can command comfort and re-
tinement for your child. Oh, madam,
madam cried the manager, with
tears in his voice, ''for your child's
sake, do not let me plead with you in
vain!'
yes" she answered; Il will do
what you wish. | will go back to the
stage again-for the child's saket'
Next day saw her once more attired
like lady, and located in sumptuous
private apartments. Lorrimer was
here, there and everywhere, spreading
the glorious news.
CHAPTER VII.
While Mrs. Tregarthen was affecting
herself with unnecessary miseries, her
husband was suffering from griefs less
L., l.. i III