The Sunday herald., 1886-09-12
RRdfhA caSsfER's HONEYMOON.

zone moment, II you please"
A movement Of Mr.. Freston's hand de-
atained his elderly cashier as he turned to
Z leave the inner Office.
8 "I suppose young Chester's marriage
takes place TO morrow. Do you know any
thing OF the connection that he Is forming 7"
"Only good, sir. The bride, Miss dlyn, Is
a daughter Of my Oldest frienis. A truer-
hearted girl than Rotha never lived; and the
praise or blame OF Chester's introduction to
her rests with me-"
"rhat should Indicate" said Mr.. Preston,
smiling, "that you estimate his character
highly"
III have every reason for doing so."
"Thsuk you, Mr.. Qasooygne. Kindly
tell Chester that wish to see him."
Rodney Chester, being junior cashier 10
Mcssrs. Finch aud Preston, bankers, seldom
eitefed their private Office. Therefore. Il
was with quickened pulses he Obeyed Mr..
Preston summons. That gentleman greeted
him pleasantly, albeit he sighed half en-
viously as he oontrasted his own grey hairs
and declining vigor with the stalwart pro.
portions and handsome features Of the
honest eyed young fellow awaiting his COM
mands, every Gbre Of whose being was tense
with fulluess Of life, power, aud joyous
anticipation.
$50 you propose visiting the Riviera"
Mr.. Preston said, concluding few words of
oonsratulation aud ingrify. rs Nice in.
oluded In your routef"
'sProbsbly we may see II; but Caunes is
our dsstins stiou, a relative resident there
having offered us his villa while absent on a
yachting cruise"
s'Then will you execute SMALL commits
sion for the frmi My request may seem
somewhat unreasonable at such n time, but
Il can only be intrus.ed to a confidential
agent. Several years ago man named
Warren became, under peculiar circum
s,anoss, our debtor for a considerable sum,
thereupon disappearing. Quita recently We
have learned that he now resides at Monaco.
under tho alias OF Duval To recover that
loan will b, your object. THIS paper"
han ling TO Rodney an envelope, ''contains
all necessary directions, a sum for extra
expenses, and a cheque Of which Mr.. Finch
and bag your acceptance with our good
wishes for happiness in your new estate"
so en- led momentous interview.
But as he recalled Il during his homeward
walk Rodney Chester's whole dsmeanor un
d.rwent q change. The pleasure flush
faded from cheek and brow, iutrospsctive
thought filmed his eyes, ths glad antioipa-
patton of martial dignity dropped from him
like a mantle.
why should the name Of Monaco, q place
he had never visited, ring IN his ears such
warning knsll, and chill his veins with a
terror vaguely apprehended Why, be
cause, as at the Invocation of Eudor's witch
the samblaucs of a dead Prophet rose from
vacuity, so the ghost Of past believed by
Rodney to bs dead indeed, rising at an un-
expectsi word, confronted him In the guise
Of living possibility.
When Rodney entsral Finch AMI Fres-
tons bank iu E.stenbury his parents, fondly
s,ioitdus for his preservation frOm the dis
sipation of city life, plac I'd him with widow
who boarded small but select number of
youths. These she termed cher boys" and
lal,orsi under the dsluson that sho 80 sur
ROUNDED them with home attractions, infiu-
ences, aud rsfnemsnts as to erect an impat-
pabls but adamautine sarrisr between them
an1 coarser allurements. Deficient in gov
ernmsnt, ami governed by impulse, both by
aud in her "boys" she was constantly de-
c.ived. Ons of them, several years Rodney 8
senior, Mark Eamss by name, INSCRIPTIONS
aud unprincpled, was yet possessed OF singu
larly attractive aud persuasive power. His
tolls were spun with SPIDERS perseverance
and success. Subtly he enmeshed Rodney,
initiating him into the mysteries Of billiards,
batting, cards, and dice. Still not easily.
A country wears son, trained to whole.
SONS prejudice against games of chance, IT
needed nicely adjusted pressure aud mucli
sarcastic ridicule to accomplish his object.
A night came when Rodney staggered to
his lodgings Weighted with gambling debts
am bunting to what he deemed small for
time, granted by Elms, hut wesk's grace,
aud possessed of no possible meaus of pay
ment.
Stay! Was ha not InvOluutarily his
hand clutched au inner pocket Of hi, coat,
where, aforementioned till now, lay by a
strange coincidence the sum he required.
II had been intrusted to lim by an old pa
sishioner Of his fathers for the purpose Of de-
posting In the Eastenbury Bank. Even in
that moment of supreme temptation Rodney
thanked God he had so forgottenit 1t. lIa had
iu,t returned from visit to his father, who
was seriously i'll. Esmes met him at the
station, aud, seeing his despondenoy, under
prstext Of cheering his spirits, invited him
to a restaurant dinner, supplemented by
wine aud carls. The results to Rodney we
already know.
Again aud again he rspslled the devil
whjspsred suggestion TO liberate himself
from Eamss's power with this money, and
then labor INCREASINGLY for its repayment.
And he would have conquered, had not kames,
following him to his room, seen the notes,
which, in self-distrust, he was Fastening u
place In security, pOunosd on them like a
hawk, and, rapidly counting them over,
stuffed them into his pocket, while over
whslming Rodney with torrent OF oppro
brious epithets. A fearful scuills ensued
which alarmed the household without beus-
hting Rodney, who next day sought other
rooms. Dsnounoing Bames involved incul
patiug himself aud inourring disgrace, dis
Rnm
ever. made divers efforts at reconciliation
which, to his bitter resentment, Rodney ut
tsrly ignored.
After weeks Of mental anguish diliverance
came In the form Of au unexpected legacy.
The sharp r6coil from shameful despair Ia
hopeful freedom struck at first like blow.
Then, falling upon his knees, after pouring
forth such u Hood Of confession. thanks.
giving, cries for strength and aid as had
never before crossed his lips or filled hif
heart, he registered q solemn VOW that never
again through life would he stake one far
thing upon any game Of chance.
This was the spectre which, confronting
him upon his wedding eve, whispering the
name OF Monte Carlo, pointed with cold
bony nnger to possible temptation. And
once again upon his knees, looking up int
the myriad golden eyes keeping watch ovel
the sleeping city, Rodusy Chester reiterated
those pieaings for drmness and support
aud with double earnestness renewed tina
unforgotten vow. f
Near the long, steep flight OF steps lead
ing up from the railway station TO the ter
raced gardens of Monte Carlo stood groul
Of three, Watching the stream OF passenger
ascending that ladder OF the lost from tn
AFTERNOON traiu-a light-bsaried kagliah
mau, with o dimiuutive French wife, black
eyed AMI vivacious, aud au angular Boot
whose gaunt visage was study in tan Q
the delights of yachting. Lazlly he sur
vsyed the new coners, occasionally uuerinl
some shrewd criticism upon one or another
His companion, from under lids dropped y
seeming Indifference, shot swift analytl
glsnces, keen as q steel flash. at each pass
lug face. Something Of the sleu.ll-hound'
tenaclty, combined with foxy cunning, cha'
actsrizsd his frigid eyes. Another sideion
glauos, yet swifter, telegraphed the result I!
such inspections to the small woman at al
sids, who caught their meaning with inds
Enable rdpp ri.
"Sursly, yon's young Chester" said Ma.