Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-09-14
CONTINUED from yesferday.j
ENGAGED IN HASTE.


He felt angry with himself for talking
of the wretched thing, remembering that
dark chapter in Clare's life IN which gun
had done such dreadful work
His cigarette was finished by this time.
He bent down to kiss his wife as she sat
at the writing-tabl
9You will not stay up too late, dear, he
said
NO; have only couple OF letters to
write-one to the dear old vicar, to tell
him of our change Of plan He was to
have come to US for a week before Christ
mas, don't you know"
@Of course He must come to us next
May instead
He went to the bedroom, which opened
o.1t of this sanctum of Lady Oar
pels, and left his wife bending over
her desk, in the light of the reading-lamp.
There was large fire in the old-fashioned
basket CRATE, such fire as well-trained
servant always makes on mild evening,
as il it were required to roast an OK, or, at
least, q baron of beef. On coming into the
room just now Lady Darnels first impulse
had been to open one of the windows
They were French easement windows
opening on to broad wooden balcony,
which was always well furnished with
flowers summer and winter. At this sea-
son there were boxes of mignonette among
the autumn flowers, and the perfume
foated into the room on the cool night air.
Sir Allan left the pistol-case open upon
the comfortable, amongst litter Of maya
zines and newspapers. He had been too
well waited on all his life ever to have ac-
quired the habit of putting things away.
He left everything to be cared for by that
inferior race whose duty it is to follow in
the footsteps of a grand seigneur, and to
protect his property from the consequence
OF his own carelessneSs.
When her husband was gone Clare OAR
mel looked up at the clock ON the mantel-
piece. 1t was five minutes past II. She
could hear doors being shut upon the
ground-floor; all the sounds Of household
retiring for the night.
81 Can take an hour before midnight"
she said to herself, and she began the let
ter to the friend of her childhood, that
one trusted friend from whom she had no
secrets.
She had not been writing ten minutes
when the window which had been left ajar
was slowly pushed open, and a man
stepped noiselessly into the room. She
heard no football on the velvet pile, but
went on writing, calm, beautiful in the
lamplight, an image of domestic peace,
the freight shining on the dark folds of
her satin gown. For some moments she
wrote on, while the man stood watching
her, holding his breath. Then she heard
his breathing, short and quick, like a
dogs. She looked up in sudden fear, and
saw tall, wasted figure in WORKOUT
velveteen coat, a haggard face looking
down at her.
1t was her husbands face as she had
seen it many time after dsssipated hab-
its had ruined his health 1t was her sons
face, aged by seven years apprenticeship
since she had looked upon those features.
1t was the face of the man whom Col.
Stukely and Grace had seen on the COM
mon.
"Valentine" she calculated in a half
whisper wringing her hands. "How can
you come here-like thief in the night?"
"How else can conner 1t is the only
fashion in which am allowed to enter my
mothers house."
at is not my house. 1t is Sir Allan's
house, and you have no right to enter it
without his permission. Oh, my God,
what has come to you? How have you
fallen into this despicable state, after the
sums of money that have sent your"
"rens and twenties drbbled out at odd
times and seasons" answered her son
sulkily. Money given in that fashion
never does man much good. l wanted
capital to start in new line. had all
manner of golden opportunities If you
would have helped me- as l wanted you to
help me, at the right moment. But it was
always the same story You feared to
trust me with large sum of money. You,
Lady Darnel, mistress of this house,
talked of $500 as If it were g500, 900. You
knew my disposition too well The usual
preachment. You would send me EGO a
month and l must contrive to live re-
specially on it. Do you think in this 60
ahead age man can get fair start in
life upon a capital of ESP"
u have sent you fifties and hundreds for
your debts"
"Yes, when was on the brink of dan
gers that would have brought disgrace
upon you and your sell husband"
Valentine, how have you come to such
pass" asked his mother, waving aside
his reproaches, which were not new to her.
"You look like a beggar."
81 look like what | am" he answered
sullenly. 81 have had run of bad luck
cards, horses, everything has gone wrong
with me. Other men-cads, with half my
brains-can win fortunes. 1, with three
times their education, only risk my
wretched pittance to lose it. Do you
think man of my temper could be con-
tent to live upon 95 week while there
was a gaming-t table or a race-course in the
in the world on which he could try to
Quadruple it."
your fathers vices"
90 what else do I inherit from himi"
Not money, or position. And your d--n
cleverness deprived me of even
his name. l am always being asked to
can give of myself, do you think, l
would rather have been free to answer, II
am Valentine Mackenzie, the son of the
man who drank himself mad, and shot the
sentry at Mallow.'"
"You are cruel to the last degree-cruel
to reduce yourself to this degraded posi-
tion-cruel to creep into this house-cruel
to me now as you were when you were a
boy-as your father was before YOU" said
Clare Darnel beside herself with the
agony of her fears; you have no right in
this house, where there are only good peo-
pie, people who fear God and respect
themselves. You do neither say you
have no right here"
"And tell you that wherever my mother
is have right to be. l suppose you have
kept my existence secret. Your swell
husband does not even know there is such
person; but by heaven he shall know"
He spoke in hoarse, muffled voice,
which grew louder with his indignation
against fate and his mother. At any mo-
ment the sound of voices might awaken