The morning call., 1891-05-24

st what time does the steamer start 2?
at in the morning"
We'll, you shall leave this house at s.
If you go directly to the steamer you will
be in time"
"But-but," painted, Il have made no
arrangements. l shall have TO 90 to my
lodgings, write letters, get money. l ought
to be there at this moment Have you no
mercy on a man who never did you wrong,
and only asks 10 quit yOl and forget the
precious heur you have made him lose I"
Il am sOrry," he said; lit is certainly
quite unfortunate, but tile door will not be
opened before S. There is really no one in
the house TO unlock it.
And do you mean to say" cried aghast,
that you could not open that door if you
would? that you are locked here as well as
/, and that ! must remain here till morning,
no matter how feel or you feel?"
VIII you not take cigar?" he asked.
Then, then | began 10 see how useless it
was to struggle, and vision of Dora leaning
on the steamer rail with that serpent whiS-
pering soft entreaties in her ear came rush
ing before me till l could have wept in my
Jealous chagrin.
1T is cruel, base, devlish, ;" began. eff
you bad the excuse Of wanting money and
took this method of wringing my all from
me | could have patience; but to entrap and
keep ME here for nothing, nothing, when
my whole future happiness is trembling in
the balance, is the work of a lend and"
I>made sudden pause for strange idea
had struck me.
CHAPTER III.
What If this man, these men and this
woman were in league with him whose
rivalry l feared and whom had intended
to Supplant On the morrow 1t was wild
surmise, but was it any wilder than to be-
lieve l was he'd here Tor a mere within, a
freak, joke, as this bowling, smiling man
before me would have me believe.
Rising in fresh excitement, | struck my
hand on the table "You want to keep me
from going on the steamer" | cried. THAT
other wretch who loves her has paid you"
But that other wretch could not know that
| was meditatng any such unusual scheme
as following him without full DAYS warn
ing. / thought Of this even before l had fin
ished my sentence and did not need the
blank establishment in the face of the man
before me to convince me that | had given
uttcrance TO foolish accusation. 1T
would have been some sort Of motive for
your actions" l humbly added as | sank
back from my hostile attitude; ''now you
have none"
thought he bestowed upon me look of
quiet pity, but if so he soon hid it with his
upIifted glass.
FORGET the girl" said ne; 81 know of a
dozen just as pretty"
| was too indignant to answer.
Women are the bane of life," he now
sententiously exclaimed. "They are ever
intrudng themselves between a man and
his comfort, as, for instance, just now be-
tween yourself and this good wine"
| caught up the bottle in sheer despera-
tion.
Don't talk of them" cried. aud 1 will
try and drink. l almost wish there was
poison IN the glass My death might bring
punishment upon YOU"
He shook his head, totally unmoved by
my pas passion
would not worry me in the least to leave
you lying here on the floor"
/ did not believe this, but I did not stop
to weigh the question [ was too much
struck by the word he used.
Deal punishment? / repeated "Are
you furnishing me2 is that why I am
here?"
He laughed and held out his glass to
mine.
you enjoy being sarcastic" he observed.
"Well, it gives spice to conversation
own. Talk is apt to be dull without it."
For reply l struck the glass from his hand.
1t fell and shivered and he looked for the
moment really distressed.
Il had rather you had struck me" he re-
marked, ''lor / have an answer for an in
jury like that, but for a broken glass"
He sighed and looked dolefully at the pieces
on the floor.
Mortified and somewhat ashamed 1 put
down my glass.
lyon should not have exasperated me-"
cried and walked away beyond tempta-
ton 70 the other side of the room
Ills spirits had received dampener, but
IN few minutes he seized upon cigar and
began smoking. As the wTeatns curled over