The free press., 1892-11-24
thought the more fascinated and
tempted he became.

te1hpleu he DecaiLe.
AT last, one bright morning he
started for the market as usual, but
beneath his coat, securely wadded into
snug roll into his vest pocket, was
large roll of bills.
He was going to try his luck. 1t
would be such fine thing for the
home folks, he argued to him self, if
he happened to come out ahead. No
thought of the other possibility seemed
to trouble him.
He seemed unusually restless for
the next few days after lis return.
He was singularly anxious to read the
daily papers.
IA body'd think you'd been specu-
latin, john" observed Mrs. Hunt,
one day, as she repeated some remarks
a third time before he heard her.
A queer look settled over his face
but he made no response.
But all at once he uttered a stifled
exclamation and started to his feet;
his face had grown unusually pale and
the hand which graspcd his hat trem-
bled with nervous agitation.
81 must 60 up 10 town, Emily" he
exclaimed, cat once! Where's Bess?"
Mrs. Hunt looked her astonish-
ment.
"To town." she repeated, blankly.
"Why, you was there only last Satur
day! Anything happened?" with Il
glance at the paper, which had flut-
tered unheeded to the floor.
"No, not much, only-well, never
mind"
Two, three hours past. Jessica and
Minerva came in, two strong, florid
girls with loud voices and blunt man.
ncrs, and Immediately demanded
"dad."
Poor, ,myslified Mrs. Hunt shook her
head.
II don't know, girls, but he said he
was going i'll town. Business, l
guess"
Humph! calculated Jessica.
"Wherc's Bessie? Gone with him?"
"No. She went for something;
Eve forgot. But any rate. she's round
somewhere"
The Misses Hunt exchanged glances,
but dcigned no reply to the patient,
overworked mother, who was rather
afraid of these self-reliant daughters,
prcferring in her heart gentle. misun-
derstood Bessie before either.
1t was several hours past the time
for their early tea when John Hunt
came home. Abram Alvey was with
him, and his lips were compressed in
u thin, hard line.
John Hunt himself, during the
short time he had been absent, seemed
to have grown years older. He was
pale, restless, and the hand which he
rested OH the table shook as with
palsy.
Ills wife came forward, seriously
alarmed.
"What happened, John! Anything?
Be you sick? Just sit down and let
me get you good, strong cup o. tea
right off. Itll do you good" for in
spite of the clouds which sometimes
obscurcd their domestic horizon, Emil
ly Hunt was loyal and true to the
man whom in her earlier youth she
had chosen for better, for worse.
He made a gesture of repugnance
at the suggestion of food or drink,
81 can't eat anything, wife," he
said, as he threw his arms across the
table in hopeless. detected fashion,
and hid his face upon them. "l-I-
tell her Abram.
Gle has been speculatin'," went Oh
that individual, the rigid lines III his
face never softcning, the tones OF his
voice hard and metallic as cold steel;
"speculatin', | tell you, and has ended
by running his family. That's all!
Mrs. Hunt sank helplessly into the
nearest chair and stared, specchless,
at her brother. Jessica and Minerva
chung together on the sofa, an express
sion Of almost ludicrous dismay OH
their faces.
"WeI, | never." exclaimed Min
erva, the first to break the heaVy
silence that ensued. ''Father, what
ever possessed you?'
int