Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1901-12-17
CHAPTER XIV.

L,
the story-the woful, weary narrative OF
Ply wanderings after leaving my Island
friends.
Once more l found myself in LONDON.
l had more acquaintance with almost eF-
cry great city on the Continent. tOrtu-
nately, Tardif had given me the address
of boarding house, or rather small
family hotel, where he had stayed two
or three times, and l drove there at once.
1 went to several governess agencies
which were advertising for teachers IN
the daily papers. When fortnight mad
passed with no opening for me, l felt
it necessary to leave the boarding house
which had been my temporary nome.
Wandering about the least fashionable
suburbs, where lodgings would cost least
found bedroom in the third story of
house in tolerably respectable street.
In this feversh solitude one day drag
ged itself after another with awful mo-
notony. AS they passed by, the only
change they brought was that the sultry
heat grew ever cooler, and the long days
shorter. Think what dreary life for
young girl! l was as fond of companion
ship, and needed love as much as any
girl. Was it strange that my thoughts
dwelt somewhat dangerously upon the
pleasant, peaceful days in Sark?
Now and then, when l ventured out
Into the stree IS, q panic would seize me,
a dread unutterably great, that l might
meet my husband amidst the crowd. l
did not even know that he was in Lon
don; he had always spoken of it as
place he detested. His habits made the
free, unconventional life upon the Con-
tinent more agreeable to him. How he
was living now, what he was doing,
where he was, were so many enigmas to
me; and did not care to run any risk
in finding out the answers to them. Twice
l passed the Bank of Australia, where
very probably 1 could have learned if
he was in the same city as myself; but l
dared not do it, and as soon as l knew
how to avoid that street, l never passed
along it.
had been allowed to leave my address
with the clerk Of a large general agency
In the city. Towards the close of Oc-
tober 1 received a note from him, desir-
ing me to call at the office at two o'clock
the following afternoon, without fail l
had a long time to wait. The Office clock
pointed to half-past three before l caught
the clerks eye, and saw him beckon me
up to the counter. l had thrown back
my veil, for here l was perfectly safe
from recognition. At the other end of
the counter stood a young man in con-
sultation with a clerk. He looked ear
nestly at me, but l was sure he could
not know me.
'Miss Ellen Martineau?" said the clerk.
That was my mothers name, and l had
adopted it for my own, feeling as if l
had some right to it.
'Yes," answered.
"Would you object to go into a French
school as governess?' he inquired.
''Not in the least" l said eagerly.
Sand pay a small premium 2" he add
"How much" 1 asked, my spirits fall
ing again.
"a mere trifie," he said; "about ten
pounds or so for twelve months. You
wAuld perfect yourself in French. you
know; and you would gain referee for
the future"
81 must think about it." 1 replied.
"Well, there is the address of lady
who can give you all the particulars" he
said, handing me a written paper.
l left the Office heavy hearted. Ten
pounds would be more than the half of
the little store left to me. Yet, would it
not be wiser to secure a refuge and shell
ter for twelve months than run the risk
of not finding any other situation?
walked slowly along the street towards
the buster thoroughfares, with my head
bent down and my mind busy, when sud-
denly a heavy hand was laid upon my
arm, grasping it with crushing force, and
a harsh, thick voice shouted triumphant
ly in my ear:
''I've caught you at last!"
1t was like the bitterness of death, that
chill and terror sweeping over me- My
husbands hot breath was upon my cheek,
and his eyes were looking closely into
mine. But before could speak his grasp
was torn away from me, and he was
sent whirling into the middle of the
road. l turned, almost in equal terror, to
see who had thrust himself between US.
1t was a stranger whom 1 had noticed
In the agency office. But his face was
now dark with passion, and as my hus-
band staggered back again towards us,
his hand was ready to thrust him away
a second time.
"She's my wife," he stammered, trying
to get past the stranger to me. By this
time a knot of spectators had formed
about us, and policeman had come up.
The stranger drew my arm through his,
and faced them defantly.
Hes a drunken vagabondr' he said;
che has just come out of those spirit
vaults This young lady is no more his
wife than she is mine, and l know no
more of her than that she has Just come
away from Ridley's Office, where she has
been looking after a situation. Good
heavens! cannot a lady walk through the
streets of London without being insult
ed by a drunken scoundrel like that?"
"Will you give him in charge, sir?''
asked the policeman, while Richard Fos-
ter was making vain efforts to speak CO.
herently, and explain his claim upon me-
1 clung to the friendly arm that had come
to my aid, sick and almost speechless with
fear.
Don't" 1 whispered; "oh! take me
away quickly"
He cleared a passage for US both with
a vigor and decision that there was no re-
sisting l glanced back for an instant
and saw my husband struggling with the
policeman. He looked utterly unlike q
gay, prosperous, wealthy man, with 9
well-flled purse, such as he had used tc
appear. He was shabby and poor enough
now for the policeman to be very hard
on him, and to prevent him from follow
ing me. The stranger kept my ham
firmly on his arm, and almost carried
me into Fleet street, where in minute