The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1895-04-24


me now for six weeks, and he had not
had one single letter. He seemed to
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 n laugh: do you notice
L never have u letter from anyonc?"
Yes" l answered, frankly. "Why
is it?"
"Shall tell you?" he asked, a queer,
quizzical kind of expression about his
mouth; but his eyes were not quizzical.
They were too searching, too ANXIOUS,
to fit well with the ''wrcathcd smile"
about those thin and mobile lips.
Certainly, yes; tell me. see there
is story i'll it," answered, laughing,
too.
"a highly romantic story, you bet
your bottom dollar on that" he said
Il am Il fugitive"
"NIercy!" cried, startled. "a fugi-
tive from what-justicc?"
mo; lover he said
suppose I looked puzzled, for he
went on to say: "An old woman-at
least she is old to me, Us 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 n
year now, insisting on my taking her
presents, on my accepting her hospital
ity, on my attaching myself to her
service. give you my word, no
more saw her little game at first than
l see now into the middle of next week
L t oolt it all as the innocent maternal
love of an old woman for young man
making his way in the world-n woman
glad to be of use to one without too
many friends, and sadly in need of
bankers. And l accepted all her kind
ncSscs as would have taken them from
my own mother. When she could not
give me money she loaded me with Jew
CRY to turn into money. havea small
portmanteau full of Jewels that She
gave me. But l was never SO hard up
Us to bc forced to spout these treasures;
and kept them, meaning to give them
back to her as she gave them to me,
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
was on the Stock exchange? No? But
am. l am, for my business is a stock
broker. So things went on for about q
year or moro, when the lady's feelings
either changed or became too strong
to be concealed From maternal af-
fcction, as 1 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 q distinct offer
was staying with her at the time, and
l declare to you was as innocent as
dove of her intentions, till she told me
in plain language that she loved and
wanted me to marry her. Then was
frightened. l confess it. am the son
of soldier, and brave one, too, but l
was fairly frightened by woman. In
| the middle of the night l made up nv
packets and stole out of her house
like thief When saw your advcr-
tisemcnt, said to myself: That's the
| ticket for me" l answered 1t and came
down, as l say, literally fugitive
from woman's love, and-I know the
scX-her certain vengeance to como if
she finds Inc out. So, Mr.. Warning,
there's my story, sir, complete in nut
shell; and think you will agree with
me in saying q pretty queer one 1t is,
too, and fit to go toa.three-volumned
novel, if ever there was one"
"Why, yes. it Is queer enough" 1 an
swercd; and L scarcely know what to
say to it. 1t seems n pity that you
should leave London and your business
just for this. Why not pacl, 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 l were in your place I
would not let myself be frightened or
banishcd for any old woman in the
world"
He sighed.
"Ah! you don't know women as do"
he returned. Nor have I told YOU
quite all. There is another woman in
the casc-A1ary Edwardcs, Lady Asp
Inns orphan niece, whom / 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, 1 dare
not do THAR
l confess l didrnot see the logical
consequence which seemed SO clear to
my charming lodgcr, but supposed he
knew his own business best, SO did not
urge my side of the question. 1t was
evidently danger, take it how one
would, and too delicate a matter for
the interference of a stranger.
But did not like the idea of those
jewels given in friendship and kept in
octr = L. Z
the very elements of honor demanded
| ,nix ,I,,,-r e.. Z