The Bottineau pioneer. (Bottineau, N.D.) 1885-1895, 1893-12-16
CHAPTER I.

queen Anne pOuSe at Hampstead.
jack Smedley gave a little sigh. Yes
Tom," he said, II suppose I ought to
C nsider myself lucky"
You suppose! Why, there can't be
ruch supposition about 1t. Five years
ago, Jack, things were rather different
with you"
"They were, but I think I was hap.
pier then. Moneys a jolly nice thing,
Tom, hut like all other luxuries, II
costs a good deal to acquire"
"Well you have acquired it, 80 you
ought to be contented. II you are not
I don't know who should be. Look
at you, Barely thirty, strong, hand
some, a universal favorite with the
men as well as with the women, you've
q lovely little house in town, a charm
ing place at Brighten, your phaeton
and Mrs. Smedley's Victoria are the
smartest turnouts in the Park, you've
the best Of health and the best of luck,
you're going to be taken into partner
ship by the biggest firm in the city,
your wife's the prettiest and the jolu.
est little woman In the world, and
By Jove, old man, it almost takes my
breath away to- think what a lucky
chap you are!"
Jack Smedley let his friend run on,
without replying to him. He sat back
In the big easy chair and smoked his
cigar with a look in his eyes that told
Of thoughts far away, and there crept
over his face a shadow that few who
knew Jack Smedley's face would have
expected to see there.
His friend noticed 1t and it puzzled
him.
whats the matter, Jack" he said;
"aren't you well to-night?"
"Oh, yes, I'm all right. I've been
a bit worried lately. You e this
partnership is a big affair, but to tell
you the truth it will rather tie my
Lands. I can't refuse II, because it's
6 certainty"
"Refuse it? I should think not. You
ought to be put in a lunatic asylum
for thinking Of s,,ch a thing"
Either Jack Smedley didn't like the
conversation, or he a tired of talk
ing, for he rose and gave Tom a deli.
cate hint that he would be glad to bid
bin good night. .
You'll excuse me now, old boy, won't
your" he said. I'm a bit tired, and
I've a lot of letters to write before !
20 to bed. Tomorrow will be q busy
day for me in the city, and I have to
meet the accountant and the lawyers
with regard to the deed of partner
ship"
i understand. Good night, old chap
Shall I say good night to RoeeT
"She's gone to bed, I think. III say
good night to her for you"
"Wel!" said Ton Marlborough to HIM
sell, as he walked across the Heath
in the moonlight, that's the way. of
the world. If, five years ago, any
body had told Jack Smedley that he'd
one day be taken into partnership with
Morton Brothers, the richest firm on
the stock exchange, he would have
Jumped up to the ceiling with delight,
and row that it's going to happen,
I'm hanged If he doesn't look more
like sinking through the floor with an
noyance. What would I give to be IN
his shoes!"
Jack Smedley-handsome Jack Smed-
ley, as he was called by his friends
had lost his father when he was a lad.
The Smedleys were what is popularity
called "a good old county family"
Jacks father had, however, brought
the family to grief. He had squan-
dered a goodly inheritance In leyiathan
gambling transactions, Horses and
cards had been his weakness from
youth, and at last they had brought
him where they had brought many a
richer and better man before h1m-to
ruin. The old home was o up,
the old Hall sold, the estate realized to
satisfy clamorous creditors, and then
the bankruptcy court having given a
final touch to the picture OF utter
smash" Mr.. Smedley, with his wife
and only son, came up to London, and
were lost to view in q little house in q
mean and melancholy side street in
Noting Hill. Then, after a. year or
two of useless regrets for the stormy
past, the elder Smedley shufied off the
mortal coil, leaving his widow the local
tradespeople's bills to settle, two quar-
ter's rent to pay, and a growing lad of
fifteen to clothe, feed and provide for
in life.
Jack came home from school to his
fathers funeral, and he never went
back again. He and his mother had
to make a fight for life. The mothers
friends did a little for her, and she
managed to get a little house Of furni-
ture together and to let lodgings to
city clerks, and * to make both ends
bread and cheese. Jack, thanks to the
same people-people who had known
the Smedleys in their better days
was lucky enough to obtain q situation
in the office Of q stockbroker. He was
really only a superior errand boy at
first, but he was paid ten shillings a
week, and that was q wonderful help
to the widow In her struggles with the
landlord and the rate collector, not to
mention the baker and the butcher.
Jack was q handsome boy, and an
amiable boy. He had been q favortte
at school, and he was soon q favorite
with his employers. He was quick,
bright and industrious, and always q
gentleman. After he had been In the
office two years he was q clerk and
had f75 year, and when he was TWEEN.
ty-one he was q superior clerk and mad
f15O.
It was just when he came Of age that
his mother died, and then Jack, having
wound up her little estate, went into
lodgings and started, il the elegant
phrase OF the period, entirely on his
own hook
Fortunately for young Smedley, pc
fore his independence, his loneliness,
hts handsome face and his charming
manners had led him into the danger.
GUS by-paths OF London life, he fell
over head and ears In love with q
pretty young lady who lodged with her
| mamma In the house. Rose Leacroft
was q lady. Her papa had been g
lieutenant IN the navy. He had died
az malarial fever In some dreadful TOE
eign seaport and left his wife and little
daughter about f15O q year. Mrs. e
croft liked the handsome young stock
broker they called Jack very much
| indcad. He was q gentleman. and his
famlY were sknown," and Mrs. Lea
crcft thnt,cht a preaI deal OF family.