Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1899-01-28

which smelled. 10 sweetly were not die.
ccrnible; and they passed through them
Into the house.
1T Is odd" said Tlenchard, "that two
men should meet rs we have done on a
purely business ground. and that at the
end OF the first day should wish to speak
to zee on family matter. But, hang 1t
all, I am lonely man, Farfrae; I have
nobody else to speak to; and why
shouldn't I tell It to you"
I'LL be glad to hear 1t, IL I can be Of
any service" said Donald.
"1'vc not been always what am now"
continued Hcnchard. his firm, deep voice
being ever so little shaken. II began
life as a working hay.trnsscr. and when
| was eighteen married on the strength
of my calling. Would you think me a
married manY
II heard in the town that you were a
widower."
"Ah, yes--you would naturally have
heard that. Well, lost my wife eigh-
teen years ago--by my own fault. This
Is how 1t came about: One summer even
ing was travelling for employment, and
she was walking at my side carrying the
baby. our only child. We came to booth
in a country fair. was drinking man
at that time"
Hcnchard paused for a moment. threw
himself back so that his elbow rested
on the table. his forehead being shaded
by his hand. which. however. did not
hide the marks Of interpretive inflcxi-
bility on his features as he narrated In
fullest detail the incidents of the transac-
ton with the sailor. The tingc Of indif.
ference which had at first been visible In
the Scotchman now disappeared.
Henchard went on to describe his at
tempts to find his wife: the oath he swOre;
the solitary life he led during the years
which followed. II have kept my oath
for eighteen years." he went on; II have
risen to what you see me now"
"And it's not small counterbnlance to
the immoral years that yc'vc done so
much SINGER
"Wcll-nO wife could I hear Of in all
that time; and being by nature something
Of n woman-hnter I have found It no
hardship to keep at distance from tho
sex. No wife could hear of, I say, till
this very day. And now-shc has come
| back"
Come back. has shc?"
",rhis morning--this very morning. And
what's to be- doncT
Cant yc take her and live with her,
| and so make amcnds?"
"That's what I've planned and propos.
cd. But. Farfrac," said Henchard, with
desperate awkwardness, "fm In fix, all
the same. For there's more behind"
"And how's that?"
"Therc's another woman In the case;
and. by no fault of nnybody's, there will
be a great wrong done her."
Eye don't say thntT
"Just hear for yourself. For many
years It has been my custom TO run across
to Jersey In the way Of business, particu.
larly In the potato season. I do n large
trade with them in that line. Well, this
sumner I was there. and met with an nc.
cidcnt. I fell out Of boat In the harbor
and struck my head In falling. II some.
body had not helped me instantly I should
have been drowned. An account Of Il
was in our local newspaper at the time"
"1ndecd. And it's all hap-hazard In this
lifcw
But the account was not complete.
The person who saved me was woman
IA merchants daughtcr--a woman who
has had foolish liking for mo more than
five years. ever since first knew her from
going over there to deal with her father
So when I found that owed my life to
her. in n moment Of gratitude and excite
mcnt offered to marry her. did marry
hcr-I married her ut st. Hcllcrs a fort
night ago. Three days after came home
here to get the house ready for her. and
await her coming. But, from the mo
mcnt I landed. l felt Ind acted rashly
| 1t was not that dreamed Of Susan living
but felt l did not care for this youns
woman. much rs she might like mo. ODD
as It may seem to you. I've always liked
Susan In my heart, and like her best now
Well. now Susan has returned to life, ant
you begin to see the color OF; for the 9th
or Is coming by the packet tomorrow
night" Hcnchard's voice grew brOkenl!
Indicative Of passionate revolt agains
eighteen years Of caution. 1--WE c6mprO
missed myself by acting fortnight to-
sOOn!"
Donald showed his concern by an ex
clamatiOn.
"Now see what misery man may Ia!
up for himself! Even after that wrong
doing at the fair when was a young man
II had never taken the second false stcl
at Jersey. all might now DO well. Flo
don't you suppose ! complain Of losin,
the younger and handsomcr woman ! las
married. though she's Of good old fun
lily. II poor; and she's good scholar. ant
well bred. I do no such thing; willing
~ bear all that; I had little wish for her
but complain Of the trickery Of things
whereby a perfectly fair course Is mad
impossible. must injure one OF them
and It IL the second. Honor where honol
Is duc--my first duty Is to Susan-there''
no doubt about that"
ut Is very melancholy and difficult!
murmured Donald. almost appalled, ut I
complication 40 far beyond tho degree o.
his simple experience.
"FOr myself don't care pin; mlsera
bic or happy, I Gun bear It. Twill oil emf
one way. But these two women" Hen
chard paused In reverie for moment
II feel should like to treat them as hon
estly as man can In such a case"
"Ye must give up the younger one. sir
and since that's the case you must writ
and stop her coming"
"A letter cannot reach her by post be
fore she has started. NO--sOmebOdy mus
meet her and lot her know all. SO that sh
may 20 back by the packet which return
as soon as the other arrives. Now fec
! ought not to see her; and the question
is. VIII you do me the good turn Of goinl
! for met"
"Yes-I WILL" said Farfrae, after mo
ment's thought.
"YOu are good fellow. Take note
that's all you need do-leave the rest t
her."