The true northerner., 1895-05-31

y
received no letters He had been with
me now for six weeks, and he had not
had one single letter. He seemed "a
think must find this strange, for one
day when the bag had brought me two
letters from home and others from
friends, besides circulars and papers,
he said, with a laugh: do you notice
i never have letter from anyone?"
Yes" ! answered, frankly. "Why
is it?"
'Shall / tell you?" he asked, queer,
quizzical kind of expression about his
mouth; but bis eyes were not quizzical.
They were too searching, too ANXIOUS,
20 fit well with the ''wreathed smile
about those thin and mobile lips.
Certainly, yes; tell me. ! see there
is a story in it," | answered, laughing,
too.
"A highly romantic story, you bet
your bottom dollar on THAR he said.
81 am fugitive"
'Mercyp' 1 cried, startled. "A fugi-
tive from what-justice?"
mo; love!' he said.
suppose ! looked puzzled, for he
went on to say: IAN old womar-at
least she is old To me, as am only
thirty, and she is past fifty. Well, this
old woman, as must call her, Lady
Asplin, has done me the honor To take
fancy to my unworthy person. She
has prosecuted me for more than a
year now, insisting on my taking her
presents, on my accepting her hospital
ity, on my attaching myself to her
service. l give you my word, no
more saw her little game at first than
see now into the middle of next week.
{ ook il ali as the innocent maternal
love of an old woman for young man
making his way in the world-a woma n
glad to be of use to one without too
many friends, and sadly in need of
bankers. And l accepted all her kind
nesses as would have taken them from
my own mother. When she could not
give me money she loaded me with Jew
elry to turn into money. have a small
portmanteau full of jewels that she
gave me. But | was never SC hard up
as to be forced to spout these treasures;
and kept them, meaning TO give them
when could truthfully tell her that
had established myself so far in my
profession as to need no more help
from the outside. Did | not tell you l
was on the Stock exchange? No? But
| am am, for my business is stock
broker. So things went Oh for about a
year or more, when the lady's feelings
either changed or became too strong
to be concealed. From maternal af-
fection, as had thought, she passed to
girlish coquetry-to a young lady's
arts and fascinations-and later, too,
declared passion. She flung off the
mask and made me distinct offer.
was staying with her at the time, and
l declare To you was as innocent as a
dove Of her intentions, till she told me
in plain language that she loved and
wanted me TO marry her. Then / was
frightened. | confess it. am the son
of soldier, and a brave one, too, but I
was fairly frightened by woman In
the middle of the night l made up my
packets and stole out of her house
like thief. When ! saw your adver-
tisement, said to myself: That's the
ticket for mel answered it and came
down, as ! say, literally a fugitive
from a womans love, and-I know the
sex-her certain vengeance to come if
she finds me out. So, Mr.. Waring,
there's my story, sir, complete in nut
shell; and think you will agree with
me in saying a pretty queer one it is,
too, and fit to go into'a three-volumned
novel, if ever there was one"
"Why, yes, it is queer enough" an
swered: land l scarcely know what to
say to it. 1t seems pity that you
should leave London and your business
just for this. Why not pack up all
these jewels that you speak of and
send them back to the lady, saying you
cannot keep them because you cannot
marry her, and then go to work with
your hands quite free? That's what
would do if / were in your place. l
would not let myself be frightened or
banished for any old woman in the
world"
He sighed.
"Ah! you don't know women as do"
he returned. Nor have / told you
quite all. There is another woman in
the case-Mary Edwardes, Lady Asp
Inns orphan niece, whom l love and
who loves me. If were to do this she
would turn poor Mary out of doors,
and do not know what would happen
then! For the dear girl has no money,
and she would be ruined. No, dare
not do that!'
confess ! didpnot see & logical
which seemed SO clear to
my charming lodger, but supposed he
knew his own business best, so did not
urge my side of the question. 1t was
evidently danger, take it hov one
would and too delicate matter for
the interference of a stranger.
But did not like the idea of those
jewels given in friendship and kept in
1t seemed TO me as il
the very elements Of honor demanded
their feturn: and for my own part l
could not have slept another night
with them in my possession had besn
in Montgomery Somersets place. To
4 90 Aa 81