Shiner gazette. [volume] (Shiner, Tex.) 1893-current, 1901-08-28
CHAPTER vGII.-(Continued.)

My Own Joyce: | am breaking my
self-imposed resolution to tell you that
1 am leaving England for Australia on
the Condor, which sails next week. |
cannot live this life any longer. Do
you know l come out at night just to
look at the house that contains you?
There is no joy for anything, and l
am afraid of breaking down under the
strain. | must work sweetheart; l
must do something. Life is too hard.
Joyce, l do not wish to see you again.
If | saw you again | should never
leave you; but l must hear from you to
know if you are we'll, dearest. l ought
to say to you that you should try and
forget me, and be happy with some
other man, but l cannot 1t is tre-
mendous selfishness on my part; but 1t
would kill me If you were to look at
another man. But it is not for that
l am writing, but to tell you I am
leaving Your own ALAN.
When Joyce received this letter she
sat quite still for a little time. She
felt as If her heart must break when
she thought of Alan. She knew what
his unrest meant; she knew that IL it
were possible that he could lay his
head against her shoulder, and feel her
hand upon his brow. all his troubles
would vanish. But this might not be.
Never again could they go through the
agony of another parting, never again
would they look into each others eyes
and see what it was costing them to
walk the path of duty-the only way
for them. But she-she must look
upon his face again. She would go
down to Southampton, and then she
would try and get glimpse OF his
dear face. SO that she could see for
herself how he looked.
She told no one of her project 1t
was not wise thing to do, but it was
a thing she must do.
Veronica was resting in her room;
the boy was with her. Now she had
4 nurse for him, and she had a pretty
house and all comforts; but she looked
more haggard than in the old days,
when she eked out a miserable exist
ence by teaching. Then there was
something to live for, nowshe-5had-
nothing.
She heard tap at the door that
been a frequent visitor lately-since
she had been prosperous. His visits
always left her poorer and sadder. She
did not mind the money, having
childish ignorance on the subject; but
she did mind the way he spoke of
Alan. She prepared herself for battle
when she heard his knock. He came
in, looking more bloated and excited
than ever. Lately he had drank very
heavily. Today he was sober enough
but he looked more angry than he had
done of late.
$50 that fellow thinks he Is going
to elude mel he said, as he c4me into
the ROOM but he makes mistake!"
Veronica turned pale. She knew he
was speaking of Alan, and that he was
threatening him.
What do you mean" she asked
boldly,
do you mean to say that you don't
know that that precious husband of
yours means to sail in the Condor on
Friday? | dare say he wants to de-
sert you, and to go off with that other
woman!"
allan would not do that" said vero-
MICA. quickly However much he and
she suffer, they will do nothing
wrong"
81 dare say he is a saint" sneered
Hutchinson. well, he will have a
chance of going to heaven quickly, for
I've sworn to do for him, and this is
my last chance!"
Veronica listened. Hutchinson had
spoken like this before. and 1t had
come to nothing; still, 1t was possible
that he might be desperate now. He
looked 1t, and II he meant mischief
to Alan she must warn him Not a
hair of Alan's dear head should fall
by this mans hand. Still. she knew
that she must not let Hutchinson sus-
pect that she was on the alert.
80 he sails on Friday?" she said
quietly From Southampton, is It not?
He wrote to wish me good-by."
at will be a longer good-by than he
knows Of" said the man. Lens me
two pounds. Veronica"
Veronica hesitated. he might De
assing for money in order to kill her
husband; but she had often lent him
money before, so she rose slowly and
went to the writing table and took II
out.
II suppose he has made a settlement
upon your" no asked. with cunning
leer. And poor Veronica, falling into
hs trap answered
yes"
"Then it'A ell right" he said, and
went out.