Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1899-03-04

Surely I can do something In return for
your goodness practicalf'
Henchard remained In thought. He had
evidently not expected this. There 10
one thing you might do, Lucetta," he said.
But not exactly Of that kind"
"rhen Of what kind Is itw she asked
with renewed misgiving.
II must tell you a secret to ask II. You
may have heard that have been unlucky
this year. I did what have never done
before-speculated rashly; and lost.
That's Just put me In a strait"
"And you would wish me to advance
some money!
mo, no." said Henchard, almost In an.
ger. I'm not the man to sponge on q
woman, even though she may be SO nearly
my own as you. No, Lucetta; what you
can do is this; and II would save me. My
great creditor IL Grower, and II Il at his
hands shall suffer, II at anybody's; while
q fortnight's forbearance on his part
would be enough to allow me to pull
through. You could 60 with me to Mr.
Grower, and just let me speak to ye be.
fore him as II we were on such terms.
Well ask him to keep II secret. He will
willingly wait then. At the fortnight's
end shall be able to face him; and can
coolly tell him all is postponed between us
for year or two"
"1f It were anything else" began Lu.
cetta, and the dryness Of her lips was rep
resented In her voice.
But II Is such q little thingw he said
with q deep reproach.
ut In not because won't-it Is because
I absolutely can't" she said, with rising
distress.
"You are provoking!" he burst out.
II cannot" she insisted, desperately.
"Whyw
"Because-he was witness"
"Witness! OF whatT'
IF I must tell you Don't, don't up
braid me-"
"Well7 Let's hear what you meanr
"Witness Of my marriage-Mr. Grower
was"
"MarriageY'
Eyes. With Mr.. Farfrae. I am d
ready his wife. We were married thiI
week at Port Breezy. There were reasonl
against our doing It here. Mr.. Grower
was q witness because he happened to b,
at Fort Breezy at the time"
married himr said Henchard O
length; married him. whilst-bound 4
marry mef'
ut was like this" she explained. with
tears In her eyes and quavers In hel
voice: "don't-don't be cruel! loved hin
30 much. and thought you might tel
him Of the past-and that srieved me
And then, when I had promised you,
learned Of the rumor that you had-solt
your Arst wife at q fair, like horse or {
COW. How could keep my promise aftel
hearing thatf ! could not risk my life Il
your hands; II would have been lettinl
myself down to take your name after suci
scandal. But knew should lose Don
aid II did not secure him at once-fo
you would carry out your threat Of tellinl
him our relations, as long as there was
chance Of keeping me for yourself by do
ing 20. But you will not do 20 now, viii
you. Michael2 for It IL too late to separst,
us3 I'll help you pay Of your debt"
"A pensioner Of Farfrae's wife-not
Don't stay with me longer--l shall %,
something worse"
New events combined to undo Hench
ard. II had been bad year for other
besides himself, and the heavy failure O
a debtor whom he had trusted implicit,
completed the overthrow Of his totterin
credit. And now, In his desperation b
failed to preserve that strict correspon
dence between bulk and sample. which !
the soul Of commerce In grain.
The details Of his failure were Of tn
ordinary kind. One day Elisabeth Jan
was passing the Golden Crown, whel
she saw people bustling In and out NOR
than usual when there was no market
A bystander informed her. with som
surprise at her ignorance, that Il was
meeting Of the commissioners under Nj
Henchard's bankruptcy. She felt quit
fearful, and when she heard that he wa
present In the hotel she wished to 20 Il
and see him, but was advised not TO In
trude that day.
When everything was tickcted tina
Hcnchard had owned, and the auction
were In progress, there was quite sym
pathetic reaction In the town. which Ill
then for some time past had done moth
Ing but condemn him. Now that Hcnch
ards whole career was pictured distinct
to his neighbors, and they could see hoy
admirably he had used bis one talent o
energy to create o position Of afiuenc
out Of absolutely nothing-which was r.
ally all be could show when he came (
the town as q journeyman hay-trusssI
with bis wimble and knife In bis basket
they wondered, and regretted bis fall.
Try % she might, Elizabeth Jane coul
never meet with him. She believed !
him still, though nobody else did; and sh
wanted to be allowed to forgive him 70
bis roughness to her. aud to help him !
bis trouble.
She wrote to him; he did not reply. Sh
then went to bis house-the great hous
she had lived 90 happily In for Q time
with Its front Of dun brick, vitri6ed her
and there, and Its heavy sash-bars; bu
HenchArd was to be found there no NOR
The ex-Mayor had left the house Of b
prosperity, and gone into Jopp's cottal
by the Priory Mill-thc sad purlieu
which he had wandered on the night {
; bis discovery that she was not bis daugl
ter.
} One day Elizabeth Jane heard the new
that Henchard had caught cold and VI
confined to his room-possibly Q result (
standing about the mcads In damp weatl
or. She went Of to bis house at ono
! This time she was determined not to
denied admittance, and made her way u
stairs. He was sitting up In the bed Wit
great.coat round him, and at first =
!. sent her intrusion. go away
away" he said. II don't like to see yeI
"But, father"
II don't like to see ye," he repeated.
} However, the Ice was broken, and st
remained. She made the room more con
| eo-t ahlo wsvn dfractiona to thu ponnlo l.