Shiner gazette. [volume] (Shiner, Tex.) 1893-current, 1901-08-21

that little more or less waiting did
not matter, And he had said he would
write-he was certainly man to be
trusted.
And on the third day letter came
Veronica could not guess what it had
cost Alan to write it. He did not want
to be harsh and cruel towards the af
fectionate creature, whose only fault
had been that she had not been drown
ed in the shipwreck, and yet he felt it
difficult to be kind to her who had
spoilt his life. He wrote that hence
forth she and the boy would be his
care, that he wished to allow her and
her boy enough to live in comfort but
that he could not bring himself to
come and see her. He told her that
he was parted from Joyce, who was
now lowering between life and death,
and that he would not burden her with
the sight of his unhappiness. He
would always be glad If she wrote to
him in any time of trouble or diff
Guilty, to give his advice and help; but
that most probably he should leave
England He told her that If she fol-
lowed his advice she would remain in
England, which was safe place for
her to live in. Besides, he would
rather that the boy was brought up as
an Englishman. There was a lot of
tiresome law business to be gone
through. His marriage with Joyce had
to be annulled, and the old general
would not allow him to provide at all
for his daughter They were going to
winter in Biarritz
Joyce felt keenly the difficulties of
her position, but most of all she felt
the separation from Alan.
Alan was seated in his Office one day
when he heard heavy step on the
stair. 1t was his old enemy Hutchin-
SON He was half drunk, but sober
enough to want to pick a quarrel. His
schemes had been baffied by the idiotic
straightforwardness of man who pre-
ferred honor to love. Naturally
enough Hutchinson could impose no
| hush money on a man who would con-
sent to hush up nothing, but who put
away the woman who was dearer to
him than life rather than fail in do
ing what was right. But Hutchinson.
baffed at every turn, still had his re-
venge. He meant n--tAe- end tor be
even with Alan, let 1t cost him what it
might. He came today to gloat over
his enemys misery. Some one had told
him that Alan's hair had turned grey,
and he wanted to see for himself.
But Alan was just in fit mood. He
remembered as soon as he saw the
man that he might have saved Joyce
the browning misery of marriage with
one from whom she had been obliged
to be separated. that he had deliber-
ately done his best to ruin her and
Alan's wrath burned hot within him.
He sprang up from his desk as soon
as he saw Hutchinson, and caught
hold of him. He gave him little
shake, and, looking him straight in
the face, said: You dog why did you
not tell me that Veronica was alive
when l told you | was about to marry
another woman? Why did you let me
do an innocent girl an injury?"
Hutchinson looked at him. He was
going to prevaricate, but his hatren
was too much for him. Because
hated you'll" he cried Yes, and hate
you nowl shall never be content till
see you dead at my leet, you villain,
who deprived me of everything | pos
sessed! And you dream that | should
forego my revenge! You fool, to for
get that you had me to deal with"
Yes said Alan slowly, 81 forgot
that was dealing with a devil and
not man A man might have had
pity"
"Pity" Hutchinson sneered. pity
towards man who ruined me? Not
l! But have not done with you yet,
you may be very sure of that"
Alan sprang at him. "You get out
of my Office this moment he ex-
claimed, "or will throw you down
stairs" He looked so fierce that
Hutchinson went at once
Six months had elapsed since he had
said good-by to Joyce-six months OF
ssch utter hopelessness that Alan re-
solved that he would leave England.
The firm of Dempster was going to be-
gin operations in Australia Any
Hiing, thought Alan, would be better
than this life. He would work hard
and live hard. He settled five hun
bred year on Veronica and the boy,
and made will leaving all else he
had to Joyce. She would not let him
do anything else for her whilst he was
alive. but she could not refuse ben
eft by his death. He knew that the
general only had his pension. He had
learned that he had brought his