Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1896-08-22

the Tregon household with a rod Of
iron, he rightly OWNED that she had
caught at the readlest means Of escape
which In her distraction had presented
itself to her. Yet his faith in her nrm-
ness was limited; the revival Of fond
memories would tend to lessen her
mothers influence. And cunning1y cal.
culatins that apparent indifference
would further incline her to be guided
BY his counsels later. he devoted Q
week to his friends and generally enjoy.
ing himself. His disappointment treat.
cd thus lightly, he succeeded In delud.
ing everybody, including Bertha, who
shed bitter tears In secret that he should
be % easily consoled for her loss. The
bare sight Of James Hocken almost
maddened her, and she had to hide her
aversion 10 him and listen evening as.
ter evening to his dull talk. And In an.
other week she would be HE wife.
The tree beneath which she and VIII
had parted became her favorite resort.
Here che could indulge In the luxury
Of q good cry" unrebuked, and, grown
desperate with the nearer approach Of
the wedding day, sitting on the gnarled
roots one afternoon. she burst into Q
very passionate grief.
A ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS above tho
wall.
"Ahayi whativcrs the matter, Miss
Treeonr he gravely inquired. "Shall
I fetch Mr.. Hocken to 'eer
II hate himi hate hlmr she sob.
bed Historically.
THAT'S bad" said viii. sympathix.
ingly. "Whats he been up tor
up toi Isn't he old. isn't he ugly,
isn't he stupid7 And-and-I hate him.
Mother may storm. but don't care"
win vaultcd over the wall.
On the day appointed for James
Hocken's nuptinls the whole village
nocked betimes to the church. But
neither bridegroom nor bride put In an
appearance. and by and by Il was
known that VIII Carter and Bertha
Trcgon were missing. and that there
would be no wedding at Pengelly that
day.
Weeks and months rolled BY. and no
tidings could be cleaned Of the grace
less couple. They had clean vanished.
leaving no clew to their whereabouts.
Mrs. Tregon's tongue sharpened to Q
dounble-cdgcd sword. ready to slay
friend and foo alike who alluded to her
daughter. And the dumb misery In
Jim's plain face was pitiful to see. Old
Isaac's heart ached for his son. II hc
had only prepared him for the blow!
To have him 20 imposed oni And with
his experience Of womankind.
acquaintance Of the runaways visited
London and returned with q woeful
story. She had seen Bertha, who had
confded to her that after being mar.
ried at a registry office VIII and she
had decided to go to America, but while
looking In shop window he had been
robbed Of his savings, and that subse-
Quently they wero reduced to great
straits. Then he had brought her the
welcome news that he had obtained
berth on o steam launch, and the next
morning babe her good.by to 20 aboard,
since when she had never clapped her
eyes on him. Mrs. Pegg also said that
Bertha had refused to give her address.
But Jim ascertained that she had inst
her at Rotherhithc. and that Was
enough for him.
I'm OF to London" he announced
when he came downstairs. after pacing
tho door the ivelong night. II shall
never rest until Carter ans me are face
to face"
''Thee bs q fule. Jim." his father. who
had been disturbed BY bic monotonous
tread overhead, said pesvishly. "It
you must stir In this business, dnd
Bertha. It'd bs charity. For Ill her
sharp temper. her mothers frettin' her
self into the grave. Take what money
you want out O. my leather bag; only
promise. lad" noting the sullen Ars In
bio deep-set eyes. mot to NEEDLE WI
VIII"
Trust me to nnd Berthai But she
would be destitute" hs said hoarsely.
"And she may have become shame to
her kith and kin. And In that case no
promise would bind me, father. I'd We
his life II I swung for It."
Rut Pengelly was convinced that Will
had betaken himself to foreign parts.'
And. recalling this, old Isaac was sn.
couraged to hope that Jim would be d.
MED the opportunity Of vengeance.
Jim had been In London thres
months; his quest had been unsuccess-
full; yet he continued to hunt the prin.
cipal thoroughfares, trampins north.
south, east and west In turn.
Big Ben had struck one; he was re-
crossing Westminster bridge to hil
lodgings when q woman crouchins BY
lamp post ahead OF him fell forward
in q heap and, Fastening his steps, ha
cndeavored to raise her. But. with the
light falling on the pallid, hunger'pinch
cd face, a groan escaped him. Hi
quest for Bertha Carter had ended.
At that moment policeman came mp
"Poor soul! she's dead" hs said at d
glance. Better 70 than the leap into
the water she was bent on. I've had
my eye on her since Z o'clock. Shs
seemed daxed."
The body was conveyed to the NOR
tuary and the verdict at the inquest
: was In accordance with the medical
} testimony. that death was due to star
J walton.
! Outwardly calm, his sole thought Il
.avengs Bertha. Jim staggered out Of
the court.
; His inquiries for the NINA who had
rohlAh him NJ tina 0no tevel he ci1v0tAd