Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1886-01-22

enjoyed his bed. He reveled in ths clean
white sheet, he nestled on the soft mattress
And yet softer pillows. The profusson of
blankets filled his soul with a rapturous
warmth And as he fully realized the con-
.rast between the innocent luxury he was
annoying and the discomforts Of an iron cell
sight feet by four, he vowed q very proser
COW: that no ill-adviSed conduct of hiS.own
should force him to renew his acquaintance
with prison fare and discipline. The love Of
luxury has saved many man from going
wrong
Besides" he murmurei, as he sank or
% Sleep there is no need for foolery OF
hat kind. am master Of the situation /
can eat, drink and be merry for the rest OF
my life" There are many men who would
sleep the sounder had they such thought to
rock them.
In the morning, after breakfast, it occurred
70 Hervsy that moneyleSs man staying at
hotel is in a rather precarious position.
Pleasant as was his newly-found liberty.
there was work to be done before he could
with clear conscience enjoy it So he
sailed forth, trudged through a number OF
streets, and at last reached quiet back road
full of unpretending little houses At one
Of these houses he inquired for Miss
Martin, who had lodged there some four or
fv years ago. Miss Martin, he WAS IN
formed, had left ever so long-left without
giving an address. Hervey,s heart grew
sick. In his haste to once more taste the
Injuries of life he had been too precipitate.
de knew that unless he could find the l>crson
he wanted it would have been better for him
to have kept his good conduct money intact.
The woman of the house, who noticed his
diSnay, added that the shop at the corner
might know what had become Of Miss Mar
tin; SO to the shop he went. He was in luck.
de learned that his friend lived about q milo
away; moreover, that she was now Mrs
, Humphreys. As he heard this supplements
airy piece of news the man laughed so Curl
ouSly that the shopwomau eyed hi.l ask
ancc.
He walked to the new address, that OF All
other little house In another quiet street. He
knocked. A gocd-looking, respectable Young
woman, carrying baby, and followed by a
toddling child, opened the door. She gave
low cry, and staggered back against tho
wall. Hervey raised his hat with mock
politeneSS, and without invitation entered
the house. The woman called to So ,one.
who came and relieved her Of her :',lren.
She then opened the door of a sittinc-roam.
into which she followed her visitor. Hrryey
threw himself on chair, and locked .6 The
woman with satirical smile. As yet not n
word had passed between them The man
was the first to break silence.
We'll, Fanny" he said mockinCly. sc
you are married, and have forgotten meg"
No; am trying to forget You" She
spoke bitterly
"And you can't That's a commitment
considering the years of separation"
The woman looked at him in tho face
Maurice" she said, Il am married. u
married kind, true man, who loves me
and works for me and for our children. II,
knew great deal, not all about my past vel
he took mo and trusts me. You Will suceI
when tell you l am trying to be gooG
woman and good wife, You always sneere6
at anything good But, Maurice, for the
sake of what We were once to each other.
spare me now. Let me live in peace, and sec
you no more"
She spoke i'll solemn earnest, such earnest
ness that the mans light laugh seemed dis
cordant. My dear girl, he said, Il hav,
no wish to tempt your feet from path.
of domestic virtue-no wish to harm YOU. /
have finer fish to fry. But you mar remem.
Der that when certain circumstances; rem
dered it imperative-curse it! l can speak
plainly to you-when learned that the war
rant was out, when l knew that the gam,
was up, placed a little packet in Your fonG
hands to keep until better times. Where 1,
itf
The woman flushed, and for a moment did
not answer. Her prayer for mercy had beer
genuine; her wish to see him no more ar
honest utterance; but years ago she haG
given this man all a woman has to give
given it without consideration, without
price. And now so far as he was concerned
the only memory of the past which linked
them together was but of certain thing left
in her charge.
He saw the flush, he saw tho hesitation |
and, OF course, attributed both to the wron,
motive. His brow grew black. ''By Cdr |
he cried; IF 1t is not forthcoming
She burst into tears "Wait,n she said
quitting the room abruptly, and leaving heI
visitor in dire suspense. In few minute.
q returned and handed him small sealeo
pcket.
s'There it is-just as you gave it to m.
elat night" she said. MANY time wher
I've been hard pressed, and. did not know
where to turn to for a shilling, L tried tc
persuade myself that you meant me to use II
in case Of need. But 1 knew you too well
Maurice-1 knew you too wellr'
Hervey paid no heed to her last words thu
scorn conveyed by which should hav,
brought the blood to the check of any mar
OF decent feelings. He tore the parcel open |
1t contained a gold watch and chain, two
valuable diamond rings and about a hun. |
dred sovereigns. He placed the watch in hii |
lob, then tried to draw the rings on his fin |
gers. Neither would pass over his enlarged |
lnuckles, SO with a curse he shoveled them |
along with the gold, into his pocket. The |
woman watched him sadly
THANK you, my dear" he said airily |
81 knew I could trust you. By the by, per.
haps you're hard up. Have some-I can get |
MI - IA hall "a
mot a farthing. Your gold would burr
me-
win you give me kiss for the sake of
old timess Fancy it is moro than four years
since my lips have touched a woman's,n
She made an emphatic gesture of dissent.
1T would be well for some women" she said,
III your lips had never touched theirs"
He laughed an unpleasant laugh "Well
goodbye Their, il we are not to rake up old |
fires. Remember me to your respectable hus.
band. Keep yourself unspotted from the
world, and train up your children In the way
they should go. Farewell"
He swung out of the house whistlipS Q
merry tune In vogue when his Incarceration
began. Now, he said, that have money
enough to last long time, / can make my
own terms. Grim want won't push me into
a corner. Now, you jade, I'll make you
bend your proud kneesl'
He grated his strong teeth and stamped his
foot-the latter so violently and viciously
that timid old gentleman who was close by
him started off at an accelerated pace in the
direction Of a distant policeman.
Hervey hung about London for few dayy-
He made considerable additions to his ward
robe, was an excellent customer Of tho hotel,
he patronized several theatres, and generally
enjoyed himself He was not altogether idle,
part Of his time being taken up in making .
series Of inquiries which it took soma trouble
to get answered. At last he learne ,hathe
wanted to know. $50 nearf he muttered
81 feared / should have to look out Of Eng
land.n Forthwith he paid his hotel bill, and,
carrying with him the respect Of the pro-
prietor, left the house. Evening found him
In comfortable quarters in the smoky old city
known as Blacktown.
CHAPTER XIX.
1T HAS CONE"