The evening world., 1891-07-17
KnaPPS Rs Ro9T 29rR114& sIEE

given strength.
The California fever being at It's height
about that time ! determined to go to that
rendered it extremely pa painful 'fir for '''n9S ms
TO remain where ! was. | fancied that
my dlsgraceful conduct was the sub
ject OF conversation for the whole VII
lage and as soon as my health had been
sufficiently restOred-for II had been much
shattered by the long course OF dissipation
had rum went To New York and took pas
sage for san Francisco.
] reached my destination In safety, and,
going TO work with determination that
nothing should prevent me succeeding, did
succeed even beyond my most sanguine eX-
pectatiOns.
Good accounts Of me reached home, through
no agency OF mine. and the result was that
Mary Wentworth trusted me once more and
became my promised bride.
And now, the happy day was near at hand.
But, alas my eYfl genius was about to rise
again In my path, and once more dashed my
that terrible ordeal, the recOllcctions OF which
burn into my brain like a hot iron and
threaten to unseat my intellect.
Tom Haywood soon followed the card he
had sent TO my room. lie seemed really glad
TO see me, and after the greeting was over he
threw himself on tho SofA and talked away In
his old strain, which had strange fasclna-
tiOn about II.
II was the same Tom Haywood at bottom.
ana yet he had altered greatly IN appearance
and style. Dissipation and vice had stamped
their marks indelibly upon his face. There
was a Hush upon his cheeks which showed
that his blood was AT AN unnatural heat ;
there was restless and at the same time a
hard expression In his eye, and there was n
certain style or manner about him which
plainly Indicated the sort or life he
had been leading. Tom Haywood was
really professional gambler, and yet he would
have been highly Indignant had yentured to
drop the slightest hint OF such thing.
such was the man who had gained the weak
side OF my nature and could influence me at
will.
once on his level enjoyed his society, II a
discontented longing for more excitement can
be called enjoyment; ana made my society
absolutely necessary 20 him. And yet, amid
the dark scenes am about TO depict, marked
Haywood as the one sole cause Of all my sins
and sOrrows. And hated him, but stlll chung
TO him as necessary thing In the dreadful
sphere into which ] had stepped VIII TIN.
and which was rapidly carrying me 20 perdi-
tiOn.
/ shall not trace step by step, my progress
into the lowest depths Of loathsome dchauch-
cry; suffice II to say that the meeting with
my old companion aroused all my latent love
Of It; then full cup was presented TO my
lips, and drained II To the dregs.
FOr some TWO weeks, places Of dissipation
were our resort by day ana night. The few
minutes that | snatched from the Meeting
hours, TO indulge IA feverish sleep, were
haunted by irightful dreams, In most OF which
Haywood was conspicuous object ever
tempting me- with fresh draughts Of sinful
pleasure, whilc he pointed down the black,
drCary road that leads To perdition.
came TO regard Haywood as on" who was
exercising some unfair Influence over me. |
flrmly believed that he held me under the
spell Of magnetism, ana determined TO he
rCvengod at the nrst opportunity which pre-
sented itself.
one night VIC were seated nc a table. Hey
wood was In 'front.' OF me. Wine and cards
were before us, paid no heed 70 the clamOr
around me. Far different thoughts had taken
possession OF my brain.