The Washington critic., 1888-04-14
MR.. JOHN HARDALE.
By LOUIS V. BoaY.


same time glancing toward slender
well-dressed man Of about 50, who
was standing in the doorway of the
Metropolitan Hotel, the leading
hosiery of Ploche. Mrs. Leonard
looked in the direction indicated,
and as she did so the man in the
doorway raised his silk hat and de-
livered bow that would have done
credit to the great Mr.. Brummel
himself. Mr.. Leonard was speech
less with surprise, but when pretty
Mrs. Leonard leaned forward so as to
avoid his portly figure and lavished
one of her sweetest smiles on the
figure in the doorway, it would be
useless to attempt to describe the
feelings of her husband.
81 am sorry to hear it," she said.
"I knew John Hardale ten years ago,
when he didn't have that reputation"
"Well, he has it now, and think
it would be advisable for you not TO
recognize him in the future"
"What would you have me do,
Walter? Surely, you don't want
me to hurt the mans feelings by re-
fusing to acknowledge his politeness
The chances are that we won't hap
pen to meet him again, anyhow"
"The chances are that he'll be turn
ing up at every other corner as long as
he stays here, and that will probably
be until the town gets too warm for
him. The man is black-leg and it
will displease me if you ever recog-
nize him again"
1t may have been that Mr.. Leonard
talked rather loudly, or it may have
been that the mountain breeze was
blowing directly in their faces, but at
any rate, Mr.. John Hardale, who was
behind them, and whose footballs
were like those of cat, heard every
word of Mr.. Leonard S complimentary
illusions to himself. After the last
remark his hands clinched tightly
and his handsome face, never notice
able for its color, grew a shade paler.
"Well, listeners never hear any good
of themselves" he muttered, as he
dropped further behind. 81 reckon
the old boy is right, anyhow"
That night Jack Hardale didn't
leave the faro den that he had graced
with his presence until 3 a. m, and
then it was under cloud CT maledic-
tions from a respectable church dea-
con, who had handed several thou
sands TO him across the little green
table.
The next morning, at the same
hour that he had sauntered out of
the hotel on the previous day, he was
stationed behind his curtain, looking
up the street in the direction from
which Mr.. and Mrs. Leonard had
come. When they did come he
noticed that the latter cast quick
glance in the direction of the hotel,
and faint smile lit up his face. Just
rs long as they were in sight, as long
as Mrs. Leonard's golden hair could
be seen in the sunshine, did Mr.. Har-
dale gaze after her, and when she had
disappeared he rang the bell sharply,
The bcll-boy was knock-kneed,
shambling Youth of fifty summers
whose creed was whisky and whose
main hope of possession was in fees
'How long have Mr.. and Mrs
Leonard been married?" was the
question put to him as soon as he en-
tered the room.
Nigh onto seven or eight year,
or thereabout," he replied.
"What made her marry him? ?'
"Regler love match, sir; they were
both poor and her old dad hated Mr.
Leonard like pizen."
"Mr. Leonard doesn't look like 9
poor man"
Neither he amt now. He's mad,
his pile since"
"You say it was q love match ?"
II didn't soy so. That's what folk
say. l think all lovers be fools
'ceptin' women, and they're wors'
| nor"
IF you say another word against |
woman I'll cut your tongue out" in
terrupted Mr.. IIardale, and tn
bleared representative of the "Lord
of Creation" failed to resume tn,
thread of his discourse. He Nigh
have been resentful, but the silve
dollar that was tossed to him as h.
left the room completely soothed hi
lacerated feelings.
After he had shambled out an,
closed the door, Mr.. Hardale buriet
his face in his hands and sat ther
| motionless for some time. Suddenl,
he pulled his revolver and looked
wistfully into the barrel, then tosse,
it on the bed, laughed bitterly, ant
taking a small copy Of Childe Harol'
from his pocket, buried his conflict
ing thoughts III its pages.
Every night of that week John Har
dale spent in gambling, and ever.
| ntprVin0 cf thut ,una1- hn cnanf Il
looking out of his window until MI
and Mrs. Leonard had passed.
Certain female acqualntances, be
longing to that class of women who's
exact social status ii may be best nc
to define, sighed yainly for the loose
handed gambler, whose orgies the
had been wont to share, and NOR
than one ill-spelt epistle found il
way to his room and ultimately to hi
fireplace.
Various were the conjectures anon
tine sporting fraternity as to the caus
Of his sudden seclusjon, but as he ha
the reputation of being very quick |
resenting undue familiarity and ais
very skillful in handling his revolver
the coniecturers refrained from quei
tioning him as to the cause of his III
wonted asceticism. He went straigl
from the gambling dens to his ow
room and had been seen to spend tw
whole afternoons riding about ain
lessly on the mountain side {
stretched ont on the ground with
cigar and book Of poems as his onl
companions.
Meantime his winnings were il
creasing rapidly and thousands Of do