Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-03-28
LIVING OR DEAD.
A POsTHUMoUs PUBLICATION.
BY HUGH CONWAY.


turn and rend the hawk
We played cards together as often as i
suited my purpose. Strange TO say, sui
fered very little in pocket by our bouts
Now that had no wish 10 win, luck was
frequently on my side. II was when the
cards were put away that my true game
began.
4 sickenlng game To win the conf
lence Of man like this, ! was obliged
to make him believe ] was kindred
spirit. To cit and listen TO recitals Of
past explolts--ay, even 70 applaud them.
When look back upon that man as he
revealed himself TO me, ! wonder If the
world could show his equal in wicked
ness.
A man without mercy--without sns-
picion OF high thought. To him moth
Ing was sacred. An ayowed atheist, not
from honest conviction, but choice; and
what Is even rarer, an utter disbellever
in the existence Of good In man or woman
IA man who deliberately turned to evil,
and said, "Be thou my good"
Virtue and chastity in women, honor
and truth in men, he ieered at. To him
each man, each woman had a price. A
sensuallst who gloried in his victories
over trusting women, who detailed the
arts by which he had brought about the
ruin OF each with as much
gusto as have known Roth
well display when describing how he
outwitted and at last slew some monarch
of the forest. To me this man was the
devil incarnate, could scarcely believe
that once he had dared to love Lady
Estmere; that once he had been called
friend by her cruel husband; or that the
latter had wrecked his life and his wife's
life through jealousy Of such wretch as
Richard Chesham.
| cannot describe my life, or assumed
life, during the time enjoyed his init
macy, the places he led me to, the people
met, when he fancied he had satisfied
himself that / was Il man after his own
heart IL was well for me Valentine was
away sketching-that Lady Estmere and
Claudne were at friends in the coun-
try. | should have blushed with shame
had been compelled to meet Claudne's
pure eyes. The contamination of the
scenes had witnessed would have kept
me from her presence.
Gresham boasted-no, am wrong in
saying boasted-he related his successes
with women as If the topic was one of in
terest and nothing more Moral feeling
he had none. He must have been born
without 1t, as at times a man is born
without leg or an arm. lie related all
his exploits TO me as an old veteran might
relate his deeds of arms to young re-
cruit, but as yet he had not mentioned
Lady Estmere's name-I dared not put
the question direct, although once or
twice | had tried to lead up to 1t. He
seemed to avoid it-perhaps he feared my
friendship for Valentine.
One night Gresham was in my rooms,
to which, carrying out my scheme, often
invited him. We had played ecatte until
protested myself tired Of the game.
was Il loser TO some extent, so had right
TO propose cessation. We sat talking
Let me say here that when he talked of
other subjects than his exploits, the man
was well worth listening to. He knew
every country in Europe, and had gone
through strange adventures in most Of
them. He could tell tale after tale, re-
late experience after experience. All his
anecdotes were underlaid with bitter
cynioism, but again say that at such
time, If could have forgotten my pur-
pose and his true nature, he would have
been an entertaining, If not elevating,
companion.
81 suppose" said, "you never stopped
to the weakness OF really loving a wo-
mani
bitter smile curved his lips and | saw
his teeth close.
eyes," he said. "Once, only once, |
was 1901 enough TO 90 SO"
w on never marrieuF'
"once would nave done even that
me woman loved married someone
else"
And lived happily, OF eourses"
"She threw me over, ana / swore to
DC reVenged. By -, mad revenge
1.-The usual sortr"
"Ihe usnai sort as you call 1t. The
VIE hasn't spoken to her husband for
more Than twenty years"
KNEW had touched the right chord
but registered vow that IL ever Ches.
ham We're at my mercy would not lit a
finger TO save him.
"who might She have been?n | asked
lightly, for Chesham made no secret al
names, He said nothing for awhile, hut
drained hIs glass. | replenished IL. II
was part of my scheme to take what adj.
vantage could from him when liouoI
was IL the ascendant, but as vet | had
met with no success. Drink did NOT
loosen his tongue as rule.