Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-01-04
CHAPTER Ill.

CHAPTER III.
Mrs. Atwood's sklful hands soon male
the sittna-rlom look quite snug for the
reception o. her husband S freni.
The curtains Were drawn. the gas was
lighted. and the refreshT ents placed ready
in an ad dining room, and so far at any
rate as outwar appearances went, the
no lse seemed the abode OF domestic bliss.
George Atwo had seated himself in
an easy chair at IA writ ne table and, hav
ing scattered about some anuScripts
on the floor he succeeded in giving quite
literary air to the apa tment.
ii wish you wOul sing something
Blanche " he said presently. The arrival
OF the whisky al the prospect o. pleas
ant evening-whereby he meant game
at car and some drink had put him
into complacent hum0r sing Masks
and Faces; rather like that, it S senti-
II entail and tou hing.
As he lounged back in his chair, pipe In
mou h, with lazy LOOK OF cOntentment
upon his han some face he looked as ii
j, lily Dogs, or Hop Light, Loo would
have suited him equally W II.
Mrs. Atwood had Il full rich soprano
vGite, AMI was not only thoroughly ac-
conplished musician, but sang with that
deep feeling which never fails TO rouse
even the most uncul ivated listener to
sense of admiration and delight.
sitting down. as h desired, to the piano
she had scarcely finished the second verse
when elizabeth announced the arrival of
Captain Sturgis.
Now. pray don't let me disturb you,
Mrs. Atwood " in re arked in drawing
high pitched tone. Il really must apollo
a 20. lnaly in he itaa
OF night. IL is all Atwood's fault it
really is. He asked me to core up and
smoke pipe.
"fray do not apologize Captain sur
gis, " returned Mrs. Atwood, somewhat
coldly, a, she rose from the piano.
IL riends of M husbands are welcome at
any time.
II am sure such scene as this, " lisp
ed the Captain, a Getting to regard the
room and its occupants with the greatest
interest, ''makes me ser ously mediate
upon changing my condtion-if | could
only drop acroS, the lady who would have
pit on ne. Now ust look at Atwood.
There he is, hard at work with pen, in
dustriously earning his mite towards pay
ing the butcher and he baker. +"
"And the candlestick maker, suggest
ed Atwood.
40, no; you are ridicuing me, said
SturgiS. Il really mean what | say. And
there is Mrs. Atwood, with evid noes OF
her industry scattered around upon the
work tables. soothing his labors with
sweet song. ION my honor it is reall
too delightful! AID then to think of my
having to go home to my lonely chambers
dreadful
NE er mind. old fellow cried George
ba narturhaI nirit
Make yourself ha,py while You are here.
Have smoke a drinI, o do something
to dissi ate your sorrow
Captain Sturgs seated him self in an
easy chair and sighed, "a If the thought
of his loLely chambers was too much for
him.
blanche, my dear, bring us some
whisky there good girl exclaimed
Atwood. "rhis mans very bal ever so
II any pegs TO low. Then you can give
us little more music.
Captain Sturgis was what is GO rally
termed fast man. He had seen some
little rv,cc in India IN n crack cavalry
regimen but had retired from the army
upon nheriting good income from his
father. Without being possessed of any
landed proper y in which to interest him
SELF and his tastes leaning entirely to-
wards town life he found himself ut the
age Of five and forty even more welded I,
dissi alton of every description than he
had been at five and twenty.
George Atwoo had come across this
man several years o, but had not known
him at all intimately until lutte lately.
S.urgis was found OF dropping In upon
men at their chambers, visiting their little
suburban retreats, and spying out their
M dnc Df i n nm I'm N
do so, and he probably knew more of the
inner life Of queer characters about Lon
don than did most men IL was on'y q
few weeks before this articular evening
that he had been as 5ed by Atwood 10 his
house TO smoke n @ and have quiet
game. and he had gone away very much
impressed with the charms of George At
woods wife.
Atwood was In Sturgis's debt-Sturgis
likci men To be In his debt-not that he
lent them small sums OF none from any
kindly feeling or alloweI old gambling
scores to stand over because he did no.
wish TO Inconvenience his debtors; but he
liked to feel the power he had over the
men who owed him money.
''Don't bother YOURSELF" he would say;
''wait till you are Hush, and then you
can pay me. you know, oil chap. Walt
till the ship comes home am In no i'm
mediate want Of II. y
Though Captain Sturgs was proclaimed
by his debtors to be "a oily good fellow, !"
there was not one OF them but hated him
in his Utmost heart. The glance of his
eye, the contemptous speech, the sneer he
knew so well how to employ, were all
smarts which he daily inflicted upon them;
and manga poor wretch longed for fifty
pound note or so, that he might free him
self from this tyrant's clutches. and assert
his manly independence with his fists.
Mrs. Atwood played and sang as she
was requested, and the two men settled
themselves down 10 game of poker.
Several times she glanced towards them,