The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-03-06
TWO HEARTS THAT
BEAT AS ONE.
CHAPTER l.

GdA1 IE4A L.
Leather lane, Holborn, has never, so
far as l am aware, been sought by the
wealthy as a temporary health or pleasure
resort, while its attractions have ever been
feundiusulficientto induce England ; golden
youth" to use it as promenade. Nor are
its back streets and courts worthy the ad-
miration of scenery epicure. Tub alley,
especially, is an extremely bad spot to live
in withoutyou have made your will, or are
anxious TO do your heir-at-law good turn.
. Hovel in the alley contains three 'rooms."
The two lower ONES are let out to foreigners
of the organ-grindiHg persuasion. The top
floor is inhabited by a Mr.. John Weir, his
-- vile and child. The wife had been deli
cately brought up, and Mr.. John Weir,
without any delicacy whatever, had brought
her down. Having brought her down" to
their present abOde-the lowest residential
deptts-the husband stopped for breather.
= The worthy creature for the time being was
satisfied with his achievement.
Mr. Weir had been before marriage-and
was for some little time after-a promoter
ri pablic companies. He had ''hnanced'
them. Indeed, so expert was he at the
business that, after declaring" dividend
i6r himself, there was none left for tue
shareholders. The shareholders unreason-
ably Qbjecting to this, he gOod-naturedly re-
tired aud left them 10 declare one for them
Selves. DisinteTestedness beyond all praise
y 1t il did not get its reward for Mr.. Weir
sank lower and lower. He now got his liV-
ing lOungiHg about pot-hOuSes. This was a
:. great dHpp in the social scale, but What-as
he piiedusly ob5erYed-wili not an honest
man do to turn an honest penny. AT the
tiaie-his wife is introduced to the reader he
is "out"-toubtless, busy turning" the
Rachael Weir was an uncommonlv good
looking woman Tor rather gIr). Still, the
lass had been raised to the dignities ot wife
and motherhood some little time. Though
bmely turned twenty, she yet had learned
that maJTimUny (at least for her, didn't eX-
actly represent u sort Of land OF Canaan.
Not to deal in vague geBeralities, her hus-
baud was'One of the bad bargains the mat
rimOnial market not unfrequently turns
out. A shake OF the hand from Bacchus
was far drarer to Nj. Weir than a combined
careSs from the innocent lips and tiny fng-
trs Of his twelve mOnth-old child.
How many, many times had tue suffering
wife regretted her disr gard of her parents
earnest warning to reject Weir's offer Of
marriage. But she was extremely much in
love and would have her own way. 80 they
were joined together, the innOcent-of-al l-evil
girl ana the innucent-of-all-good man, and
the Wife's dlsillusion was soon complete and
comprehensive. Her eXasperated father,
seeing her distreSs-Often without food
lIEtL anu luiDlUlEu utI lGlulu W HIS IUul,
but Obeymg a noble duty TO man who had
never attempted to fulfil his to her. she had
refused. As she sits in her dreary room
nursing heT-babs with mothers affection,
she, despite the lines care had placed with
no unstinted hand upon her features, was
fair to look upon, with her beautifully pro-
pOrtioned figure, abundant glossy hair and
earnest grey eyes. 4 step on the landing
outside. Rising to her feet she opened the
door, and in walked, without any ceremony,
an old man about five feet high by rule OF
three, and five yards high by the rule of
conceit But he was good old man, so the
reader will forgive him his self-measure-
ment. Advancing straight ~ the rickety
table he placed upon 1t an ample supply of
provisions. He was known as the Little
Lawyer of Leather lane, and came into the
neIghbOThoUd curi0uSly enough about the
same time as Mr.. Weir. Now, as Mr. Weir's
legal business was nil, the lawyers numer-
Gus calls on Mrs. Weir when her husband
was absent were perplexiEg to the fair
DANES, who worried and talked over it 10
the neglect of their household duties.
:. Mrs. Weir greeted the benevolent old gem
.tleman with wan yet grateful smile. He
well deserved it, for during her whole un-
happy married life she would have Jared
BADLY but for him. As she claSped the old
fellow warmly by the hand other footsteps
approached and John Weir burst In, his
face purple with indignation and drink
mostly the latter
Halo. what's your businessP Making
no to my sife?"
."Johli, now dare youP" came from the
"a lbs 81 the ITEM bling, outraged woman.
How dare ], madam" cried the brute,
as he sat down and commenced an attack on
the viands, "flow dare you? Do you think
your own sex are blind? Emp They will
talk, wont they, when they get a chance?
Now, listen TO my warning. I'm going out
tonight and my return is uncertain. | wont
have my good name furnished his indig-
nation nearly chnked him at this point. "If
that little pigmy darkens my door again I'll
Settle scores with each OF You in way you
wont like" He then strobe savagely off.
Rachael Weir stood motiGnlesS for but
one instant after her husband had departed.
Then, her resolve taken, she silently crossed
the room. Picking up tattered cloak and
delapidated bonnet she placed them on.
Then hugging her baby to her breast she
walked to the door, but was stopped by the
Little Lawyer.
Where are you going, child2 To follow
'No Homel"
"Ive waited for and expected this. l
Will take you. Ny mission is fulfilled and
shall redeem my pledge to your mother.
Gomez
They then left the house together.
CHAPTER IL.
Outside Mr.. Weir was joined by man
Win yellow eyes ike cats. His hair
wasn't worth talking about compared to a
professional beauty's. and his conduct
wasn't worth talking about compared to q
divine's. The gentleman's name was Bill
historic Bill-not stuck up William. Bill
Green. He was Mr.. Weir's intimate. In
truth, 1t mad been recorded upon one occa-
sion In police evidence that their hearts
"beat as one," so the magistrate gave them
three months each and let them "beat it
: OUT together.
AS soon as Weir got fairly into his stride
his intimate" asked, in tones expressive of
Impotence, "Well, how did yer git on with
yer father-in-law; ANY blunt from him ?"
rage, sblunt It %asEthe refusal"
''0h, he WED. stump I'D like man. wont
hep" That's bad-fOr him. My m0tter is,
those who wont give must be made to give.
Dye underestimate"
Yes, Mr.. Weir understood well enough,