The Sunday herald and weekly national intelligencer., 1890-10-12

"You may well ask, mother" replied the
young man. "I thought she cared for me
loved me above all things, home, fortune, duty.
She told me so-the false, heartess creature"
"Of course she is that or she would not have
run away with YOU" said Mr.. Merwhyn, paren-
thetically.
81 would have been true to her." continued
Ralph, disregarding the interruption. al would
have gone through all the nastiness of the di-
vorce court for her, and married her. But,
would you believe IL ?" he went on with increas-
ing choler, 1.-TWO weeks ago she went away-dis-
appeared from Boulogne, leaving no address, no
clue, not line to me explaining this inconceiv-
able flight. l have waited, hoping she would
return, or write, summoning me to her side.
have made such endeavors to find her as could
attempt with prudence for her safcty-all in
vain can conceive OF no excuse for her; she
has fooled me, tricked me-"
"The hussy /" exclaimed Mrs. Merwhyn, "the
wicked, unprincipled hussyr' She was almost
as indignant with the woman for forsaking her
son as for having eloped with him.
"And for that creature you dishonored your
self, disgraced your fathers name" said Mr.
Merwhyn sternly.
"Come now, father" said Ralph, rousing him
self, "are you not rather hard on my folly ?"
$50 you call it merely folly to run away
with another mans wife and to rob your en-
ployer's safe? l call such actions by another
name"
II rob safe?" gasped Ralph incredulously.
"Iou stole the money needed for your elope-
ment. call that a robbery; and had it not been
for Mr.. Holden's leniency, and because hap
pened to be able to pay the money back, you
would be standing now in felon's dock"
81, - II
ment
explain YOURSELF" he cried at last "I do
not understand. Yourepaid money that stole
How? When?"
"Do not play this comedy with me, Ralph.
You knew full well that on the receipt of your
telegram should pay the thousand pounds
"What telegram?'
'The one in answer to mine addressed Roo
des Piepots, Boulong,' on May 26. But, pshaw
you know this as well as do"
'Father, solemnly swear to you that never
received telegram from you or wrote you one.n
The old man was staggered by his sons vehe-
mence. He resumed with less scornful sever
ity, "Mine was directed to NJ. Smith at the ad-
dress you gave me. Here is yours" he con-
tinued, producing paper from his pocketbook.
II was not living there. l had taken rooms
for-her-in that house. She passed for nv
sister, and l avoided, by her own desire, any
thing that could compromise her. Good heav-
ems ~ he added, after examining the telegram,
''she must have received and answered it, Mrs.
Holden had assumed the name of Smith by
which 1t is signed.'
"Mrs. Holden ~ exclaimed Mr.. and Mrs.
Merwhyn in one breath. "You eloped with
Mrs. Holden ?n
"Well, yes. did not mean to let the name
out, but it can do her no harm now. What does
this mean ~ said the young man, looking help
lessly toward his father.
Old Merwhyn was silent for moment lost
in thought. 'Was Holden in difficultie, pn he
asked suddenly
"Yes," answered Ralph. "Molly told me one
night that he had beggared her. 1t was on the
Monday evening; she wept and moaned so that
could not bear it any longer. 1 tried to COM
Tort her, and she threw herself into my arms,
sobbing that she would rather live on crust
with me than in gilded cage with Holden
don't know how it happened, but I offered to
take her away; then she murmured that if I
would respect her and never reproach her she
would follow me to the worlds end. We
started the same night.''
81 think 1 see it ALL" said MIR. Merwhyn
thoughtfully.
81 DON'T" said Ralph.
''Shall l explain ?'' But at that moment the
maid came in with the lamp and the evening
letters There was one for Ralph. He read it,
not once, but several times, then threw 1t on the
table with short laugh and muttered oath. |
"Read it," he said bitterly, "there is the expla-
nation" 1t ran thus:
"5 KENSINGTON TERRACE W
. DEAR MIR. MERWHYN: i owe you some apology |
nn1n
the sudden altering of my plans. / felt some
awkWardness at travelling on the Continent in |
quest or pleasure while my husband was alone in |
and stand by him in his momentary financial |
diihculties; am happy to say they are now re- |
lleyed, and begging to thank you for your kind
and brotherly attentions during the trip, re-
haih' uehr MT. MerWhyn, yours sincerely,
"MoLLY HOLDEN"
"Cleverly swindled, by Joye!" said old Mer-
whyn.
''The woman is safe because she is woman,
but that scoundrel Holden shall pay for this
said Ralph furously.
"Better let well-or bad-alone my boy. |
Holden could make things ugly for you if he
chose, for you can't very well deny that little
visit to Boulong. Comfort yourself with the
thought that divorce suit with costs would
have been more expensive, and that you might |
have had the woman on your hands into the
bargain. AS for your revenge, don't trouble |
about it. Miss Molly will, sooner or later work
against her husband as artfully as she has
worked for him at your expense. You paid his |
debts; she will pay yours"
At the Derby Mrs. Stephen Holden sat en-
throned on high drag, surrounded by her hus-