Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1888-09-06

DurfItNro
4 never did know about your cuisines; non.
does anybody, | believe. l never could
understand how, with your little property.
you had these transactions as you call
them, where you owed people and people
owed you so many thousands.
ait is not necessary for you TO know.
Women can't understand these things.n
"But women feel their effects, aud it's a
pity they could not learn about what con
Germs thein.n
@lVill it change your situation at onceg'
asked Mrs. Norcross OF her brother.
Il can't say; probably not az once; but
without some all, all have must 60"
"Whtltl the housef n exclaimed Irene.
@Yes-the house, Marcia, and the furni-
ture. We shall be %stripped.,n
@The deuel." saiG George.
"Heaven help u.s. what shall we dor
II haven't had time to form any plan. 1
trust, indeed, that Heaven will help us, as
you rather lightly wished"
His face wore a touching look of faith and
resignation, while at the same time his hand
rested with secret satisfaction upon his pocket
book.
The conversation was disagreeable to
George, and he sauntered off to the draw
ing-room.
Mrs. Norcross inwardly determined TO re-
turn to her home, or at least TO go elsewhere
in the city, so as not to be a burden to her
| brother-in-law but she remained silent. Mr..
Norcross balanced his knife, sliced his bread
into figures, then umined and beat a tattoo
upon the table-sure indications of forget
fulnoss in one so descriptions as he. Atlength,
with a bland voice, but a sharp, inquiring
eye, he said
@How is it about this painter, Irenes Are
you going to marry hing
She looked fixedly, as she replied
"Why do you asks You know | am going
TO marry him."
'Oh, it's settled, is it2 You know, sister,
you awe had similar intentions before-sev-
eral times, in fact-intentions that haven't
COME to much"
She did not answer further; a flush of
anger came, then went, leaving her pale face
with y rather stern expression.
"While | was prosperous, l was not dis
posed to be mercenary; though / did think
you were not worldly-wise. Now that 7 am
destitute, you can see that 70 marry a man
not worth a dollar, and with a prt carious
profession, is not what it would have been"
"Mr. Oakhurst earns a good income, doesn't
hep
"He HASN'T sold "A picture, except to friends
whom i pursuaded 20 buy"
"You have friends and influence stillg'
81 don't know; a mans frields don't last
long after his money is gone. Besides. no
body wants TO buy now. Raphael himself
couldn't sell a picture here till times improve.
A PAINTER is a pretty BUTTERFLY for fine
weather; what is he TO do with his himsy
wings in such a hurricane as this!'
II think | understand you, Brother Will
lam. You begin afar Off; but / know what
you ore coming to. You want to bring up
that odious Cotton again-a man whom !
hate, aud whom yon yourself would show
out Of doors, like a vagrant, il it were not
for his money!"
The effort exhausted her. and she breathed
painfully.
@You think yourself quick. | haven't
mentioned Cotton. In fact. you have treated
him in such a way that / am quite sure he
would never trouble himself to be even civil
to you again.
~ am glad OF 1.-THE fooll'
"Sister Irene, | nave borne much from
your turbulent temper, You are a s. oiled
child. Fortune has let you nave your own
way hitherto; so much the worse for you.
But circumstances have changed. lean no
longer supply you as though you were a
duchess. In fact, / don't know what may be
before us. hope no actual wart. [Another
grip of the pocket-book.l But l advise you
to consider whether it is for the interest of a
dependent woman to go out of her way to
thwaTt and insult me.n
"You would compel ne, then, and threaten
starvation as the alternativea"
"What odiously blunt language you user
IL only translated your roundabout phrases
as / understood them"
"You need not be violent"
"You cannot cajole me by soft words,
uieH your purposes are so obvious. You
tlnhk Cotton may save the wreck of your
fortune; and you are willing to sacrifice me,
if he were ten times the brute be is, to further
your ends. But | shall marry Oakhurst.p
"Oakhurst will be a powerful protector ]
doubt if he can raise money enough to pay
the clergyman for marrying you. He will
be without a shilling in a month, il he is not
now. Go to him, Sister Irene. / would,
now. You can live ia his attic studio, you
know. In such a romantic place you would
never be hungry, of course"
Mrs. Ncreross i%nterposed.
"Don'i, Williaml This is not the way"
Irene's ewes flashed through her tears, as
she answered.
~ aJ w AZ hAiOA bAAhb toO Jus
and furniture must go. How much better
off shall be hereY"
swell, you have your choice.D
"And when the time comes | shall take it,
Sobs and tears followed, but her lips were
firm and her hands clenched.
"As you please, sister"
"You come home i~ll-tempered. and tho rage
which you could not or dared not give vent
to in the street you pour out here"
perhaps you would have been pleased il I
had not come home at allgn
"Im sure we should have been quite as
happy without you"
Every well. may leave you, YETI
81 don't care how soon."
New sobs and a firner pressure of the lips
Oddly enough, at that moment Mr.. Nor
cross was summoned to the d~rawing-room.
where a man was waiting for him.. Fearful
of the result, he went to his own room, and
left the precious pocket-book, and then de-
scended to the hall.
Notwithstanding the words she had spoken
Irene waited with breathless anxiety her
brothers return; for the sound Of voices, i'm
earnest, if not angry, conversation, rose
through the house. Presently he came back
with a look his face seldom wore-a fierce
look that transformed his handsome features
to a iiend'S.
"You have your wish sister Irene, land
the words were shot cut like fiery arrows
81 am to leave yor and 60 TO jail"
"To iailI' ex laimed both at once. in ter
ror.
"Yes-to Jail. Gratifying to you, / sup
pose. lis to me-very."
"W nat is the meaning of thisip asked Mrs.
Norcross.
ait means, that one Of my creditors pre-
tends to believe that / am about to abscond.
and has had me arrested, that | may give
bail not to run away with an empty pocket.y
Cant you get outG"
"Some time, undoubtedly: but not till /
give BAIL
"For how muchi"
"Twenty thousand dollars"
"Can't you get some one to become securi-
tyr
II don't know. Perhaps I might get Oak
hurst
irene WINGED, but did not answer the taupt.
Goodbye, my dear and independent SIS
terr'
Irene turned her back upon him, con-
founded between sorrow and resentment,
Crowding his hat over his eyes, Mr.. Nor
cross left his house and went with the officer
towards police headquarters.
"Gone to jaili' exclaimed George, return
ing. "How doosid awkwardi What a Jolly
WOW it will make when it gets about town.
By gwacious, if you aren't cwyingl Go to
bed, both of you; I'll go TO the club.r
Ha upOf anaordin0Iv aud tto uo--.-