The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1900-08-03
CHAPTER v.

the signs of drink and dissipation
upon his low face; such was the mar
and such vas the surroundings of s
man whom Alan Mackenzie used t.
Visit In his beautiful estate of La PaZ
Ills had never been an honest, attrac.
tive face; but now there had come into
1t a look Of such devilish cunning and
dissipation had given him such a
bloated appearance, hat 1t was evil
dent he would soon reach the lowest
depths Of degradation.
Alan MackenZie's denunciation OF
him had been his ruin. He had tried
70 retrieve himself, had s~peculated,
and had foundered deeper into the
mtre. He made even Rio too hot for
hlrS, and returned to England. Veron-
1ca's disappearance meant nothing to
him. He would have got rid Of her to
the highest matrimonial bidder, that
was all. She was not his daughter,
as he had told her, only the orphan
child of a man he had ruined, and
whom he had brought up because her
beautiful mother had been the one
woman he had really cared for. But
for Veronica herself he had not the
slightest affection. She was too
quiet, too affectionate. Her mother,
who had Tilted him, had been a CO.
Quette, and had thus won Hutchin-
sons love and admiration.
He was just now sitting at the cor
ner of a very dirty bed, with a glass
of some spirits at his elbow. He
looked pleased with himself. $50 he
married herr" he said, and burst out
into rude laughter. HE married her
and she got drowned! Who would
have thought it of them, both so inno-
cent! Now there is only one thing to
be considered. Shall l let him marry
the other, and bleed him afterwards,
or shall l stop it now? Which will
hurt him most, l wonder? l think he
loves this girl. Shall I separate
them?"
He thought a moment. A look Of
cunning came owe his face. NO he
said, they shall get married. 1 will
SlNO la ~ WSChS, dllu Iutu III oISst
either bride me or be exposed"
He rubbed his hands with glee and
then pulled himself up again. But
he isn't going to cheat me of my re-
venge!" he cried. THAT would be
nothing-a man soon forgets a WON
an. After all, it will be the woman
who suffers most; but he-he has beg
CARED me! He has deprived me of
my very life! He shall suffer for it.
l shall never rest until my knife is
driven into his very hearth"
Hutchinson took a draught at his
glass. There's nothing left me but
this" he said-"nothing! And have
so much-carriages and horses, and
fine living and everything going well.
l should have been the richest man in
Rio, the most powerful Englishman
over there. There is no need for me
to prompt my memory lest l forget;
the wonder is that 1 did not come
across him before. Let me see, he is
all about it before. No, no! My best
plan will be to wait until after the
marriage-his second marriage! And
Veronica?
"Well, she does not know where to
find either him or me. | car drop her
for a week or two. She has more cum
ming in her than 1 should have
thought possible, for she never men
toned Mackenzie's name to nae. I
had no idea that he knew anything
work; but what a chance! l haven't
had a chance for more than four
years. Perhaps the luck has turned,
and the man who ruined me is des-
tined to put me on my legs again. But
no quarter! Whatever he does l shall
still take my revenge!"
Meanwhile, the object of all these
plots and plans had gone home a lit
tie disturbed. Alan Mackenzie could
not look unmoved at the picture of
the wreck of a mans life. He knew
that he counted for something in
Hutchinson's ruin-nay, for a great
deal. Hutchinson had never been a
good man.; but there had been a differ
ence between the man who schemed at
La Paz, surrounded by every luxury,
and the dirty, drunken scoundrel he
had met in the streets of London.
Then, too, the mention of Veronica
disturbed him. He had never thought
so much about her as he had lately,
perhaps because he had never under
stood before what love meant. Now.
in his love for Joyce, he began better
to understand the poor dead girls
feelings. He did not regret that he
had not loved her better; he rather re-
joiced hat his best love should go to
Joyce. And he knew that he had al
ways been perfectly kind to her, as
he was to most women; but he knew
now what the separation from him
must have meant to Veronica, and
how, when she was drowning even,
her one regret would be hat she
should see his face no more!
The preparations for the wedding
went on apace. Joyce was very popu-
lar among her friends, and quite recog-
nized t o be a pearl among womanhood.
Old General Granville, her father, had
q large acquaintance, who were all