The Red Cloud chief., 1900-08-03
Jap V.

"'h Hh ulhtnlpt uldH, WIN all
he signs of drink and dissipation
ipon his low face; such was the man
ma such was the surroundings of a
nan whom Alan Mackenzie used TO
'isit In his beautiful estate of La Paz.
HIS mad never been an honest, attrac-
ave lace; but now there had come into
I a look of such devilish cunning and
dissipation had given him such a
oioated appearance, that 1t was evil
lent he would soon reach the lowest
depths OF degradation.
Alan Mackenzie's denunciation of
him had been his ruin. He had tried
TO retrieve himself, had specialized,
and had fioundered deeper into the
mire. He made ever Rio too hot for
him. and returned to England. Veron-
icas 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
Tor Veronica herself he had not the
slightest affection. She was too
quiet, too afiectionate. Her mother.
who had Tilted him, had been a CO.
Iuette, 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. 80 he
married her!" he said, and burst out
into rude laughter. He married her
and she got drowned! Who would
have thought 1t of them, both so inno-
cent Now there is only one thing to
be considered. Shall let him marry
he other, and bleed him afterwards,
or shall | stop 1t nowY Which Will
hurt him most, | wonder? | think he
owes this girl. Shall | separate
ihem?"
He thought a moment. A look of
cunning came over his face. NO." he
said. they shall get married. will
give him six weeks. and then he shall
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
n~othing-a man 500 forgets a wom-
an. After all. 1t 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 1t.
| shall never rest until my knife is
driven into his very heart!"
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.
/ 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 | forget;
the wonder is that | did not come
across him before. Let me see, he is
such a soft, he will have told this girl
Ill about it before. No. no! My best
plan will be to wait until after the
parriage-his second marriage! And
Veronica?
We'll, she does not know where to
ind either him or me. | can drop her
or a week or two. She has more cum
,ing in her than | should have
bought possible. for she never men,
Toned Mackenzie's name to me. l
nad no idea that he knew anything
about her. 1t was the merest guess
work; but what a chance! | 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 | shall
still take my revenge!"
Meanwhile, the object Of all these
plots and plans had gone home a lit
lie disturbed. Alan Mackenzie could
not look unmoved at the picture OF
the wreck OF a mans life. He knew
hat he counted for something in
Hutchinson's r%uin-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
30 much about her as he had lately.
perhaps because he had never under
stood before what love meant. Now.
n his love for Joyce. he began better
10 understand the poor dead girls
feelings. He did not regret that he
had not loved her better; he rather re-
Ioiced that 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 that she
should see his face no more!