The Sunday herald., 1886-08-29

that | came to Washington this winter, |
since this adventures seems likely TO change
the whole current Of my hitherto rather mo.
notonous life. But | will tell the story with
out further moralinlng or beating about the |
bush. Circumlocution belongs TO your class,
Lispenard, and not TO business men like |
myself.
"I was walking up - street one day last
week when spanking team came bowling |
along. As they dashed up noticed little |
tot of Ska wee mite Of girl, with the |
fairest of faxep hair and merry blue eyes
playing on the curb. Suddenly the little
one ran into the roadway. jumped and
was Just in time TO pull her aside before the
team swept past. IL was nothipg-a mere
incident, you understsnd-and had turned
to 90 when lady stood before me. She was
greatly agitated, and her eyes, blue, like
those Of the child, but darker, were already
wet with great tears. She trembled as she
thanked mo again and again for saving her
child's lise-her little Belle, she said. as
sured her Il was scarcely worth her graft
tude; but she appeared 30 overcome by ex-
element and the thought OF the danger the
little one had escaped that l was really
alarmed lest she should faint, so called
carriage" :.
"vsry indiscrest and quite unnecessary"
| interpolated, but my words passed un.
needed.
"She olasped the little one as she repeated
her proteststions Of gratitude until was
heartily ashamed aud wished the incident
at an end. Before they drove away had
promised 10 call at the address she gave the
driver, as matter Of courtesy purely, how
ever; for, TO tell the truth, hadn't at the
tims the slightest intention Of sending more
than a card. After two days had passed,
however, having q little leisure, felt i'm.
pelled to know more Of the persons ! had
involuntarily served. called and found
No. 4s2 - street, q respectable but un-
| pretentious dwelling. Again l had to un-
dergo the ordeal Of thanks. l found Mrs.
Ransom woman Of excellent qualities,
| fine conversa a,ionalist and with most charm
| ing manner that would have graced any
drawing room. l admit was hit, Lispen-
ard; but there It ended for me, as sup.
posed, for was she not somebody else's wife
Happening to mention my adventure"
continued Clay ton, ito an acquaitanoe In
the Treasury Department next day, ne IN
formed me that the lady was Of good New
England family, aud that her life had been
rendered . living death for nearly ten years
BY a worthless man, who married her fer
her fortune, squandsred 1t, and then neg.
lected her. Nay, he did worse; he abused
i and even maltreated her until forbearance
was a. an end, and shs was reluctantly COM
pslled to appeal to ths law for protection.
But he bounded her still. Having ruined
her hons, hs now lives by blackmailing her.
He is both gambler and drunkard. For
years she has lived on the charity OF rela
lives, supplemented by her own earnings
but YOU know, Lispsnard. that even TO q
woman Of education and social position
there are but few avenues Of employment
open in Washington, and she has been tied
down here to her disadvantage. The family
skeleton was hard to hide, although the
little woman tried bravely to conceal 1t from
the world. The husband had stolen from
her, robbed her friends when they visite1
her, insultsd her in the street. and fairly
bullisd and worried her until her spirit was
we'll nigh broken. Her child she was edu-
eating carefully. but the same cloud that
obscrired her life hung over it's future. Yet
she bore it all patiently, although, il ever
woman on earth was entitled to the amplest
redress she is the woman"
"Well," said 1, as Clayton paused, $50
that Ia the whole f'
"No. II is not. went there again yester
day, and suppose made fool Of myself;
but IL l did, Lispenard, you must allow
there we're extenuating circumstances. l was
drawn there by the witchery of those sad
blue eyes; they seemed to hunger for sympa-
thy, yet cannot recall single word Of hers
4
we'll, until broached the subject myself.
did this as dslioatsly as could, butt you
know, Lspenard, out In Nevada, when
was q lad, We didn't have many opportuni-
ties to cultivate the social qualities, and Sc
I'm afraid may have offended her when de-
teoting the evidences of real poverty beneath
the veneer of appearance. 1 asked bluutly
whether couldn't bs permitted to help-at
least to the extent of doing something for lit
Lila ,,..l Aof,, II
stary interest, you understand. She called
the midget and put it to herself. tell you
when felt Bellies soft baby arms cliuging
about my neck aud saw her mothers eyes
, no longer wet, but smiling, / knew | had
won a victory.
"Than suppose did something you will
call-well, ridiculous" he went on, putting
down his knees and tossing away the rem
nant OF his cigar. ~ took the child and
drove round with her to dozen places: She
was enchantedi At every store she seemed
to have discovered 3 new fairyland. To-
gether we loaded up the carriage with Oul
purchases, until the driver began to look at
me as II l wers q lunatic-dressss for Bells
and other things that now forget. Then
despa' chsd Miss Belle TO her home with an
envslops addressed to Mrs. Ransom grasped
in her chubby fist, containing no line o.
mine, but a 81, 900 treasury note"
Compromised, just as expected " be-
.. gan; but Clayton looked his impatisnes Al
tho remark. He rose, and with his hand
on the dOoiknob said:
.'Now you comprehend. Lispsnard, why
have aske your advice aud assistance. !
q you have no engagement at, say 2 O'Clock
D TO morrow afternoon, III call for you here q
: that hour"
i "Bnt, my dear fellow"
!, "N0 excuses" ha said curtly. tn
compromised I'm willing tn 60 through will
it, and want you to $50 ms through in goot
= shapH, that's all. l want TO make tina
= woman my lawful wife,
And hs was gone. opened the windoa
o OF my room 10 permit the tobacco smok
8 professional odor, aud, besides, wanted IN.
head to bs ~ clear as possible, for here, Ger
tainly, WAS puzzling CASE to consider.
n II.
- III remember rightly, IL showed ths mex
morning. We were having cold, biuster
l. weather, such as one frequently SECS whe
., the fact that VIZ are q wretched sort, take
|, in bulk, and at NO time half 80 wretchsd q
2, at that particular season Of alternate freez
3, and thaw, snow aud slush. had been i
& court all the forenoon, and, after bite {
lunch, reached my office somewhere abou
II l:30.
l. Early as I was. Clayton was there ahead Q
& me. Ills carriage stood ct the door, Will
Q. hs WAS pacing up and down In ths QUITE
office, TO the astOnishment Of the clerks, VII
ID discussed him from their posts Of observe
ti0n behind the rsilings.
"Im early, you 500, Lispsnard," said h'
n coming forward AZ | entered. ''But
q thought We might rs we'll start litt
CO sooner than the hour and get throug
- with it,"
az "Coms into my room," urged. "and i
70, me know at least what you propose doing.
II, "NO, mol can explain in the oarriag
II. Come" and he grasped my arm. On
n seated In the vehicle hs chatted freely al
to in much livslisr tone.
It. ~ look upon You, Lispsnard, as the onl
H. friend in Washington TO whom can cona'
IA this affair. Aud frankly, while | don't b
y, lisvs your advice would weigh particl
to one way or the other, still prefer to see Il
~ way perfectly clear in what ! am goi'