Condon globe. (Condon, Gilliam Co., Or.) 189?-1919, 1901-12-12
CHATTER XXIY.

CHAPTER %&fV.
l, Olivia Foster, take up the thread OF
the Btory--the w0ful. weary narrative OF
my wanderlngs after leaving my island
friends.
Once more found myself In London.
had more acquaintance with almost cv'
CRY great city ON the Continent Fortu'
natelys Tardlf had given me the address
Of Q boarding house. or rather a small
family hotel. whore he had stayed two
or three times. and drove there at once.
] went TO several goyerneas agencies,
which were advertising for teachers In
the daily papers, When a fortnight had
passed with no opening for me, ! felt
II necessary 10 leave the boarding house
which had been my temporary home.
Wandering about the least fashionable
suburbs, where lodgings would cost least,
] found bedroom In the third story OF n
house In tolerably respectable street.
In this feyerish 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 tho long days
shorter. Think what dreary life for a
young girl. | was as fond OF companion
ship, and needed love MS much as any
girl. Was II strange that my thoughts
dwelt somewhat dangerously upon the
pleasant, pear, nj days In Sarky
Now and Ia n, when yentured out
into the streets. panic would seize me,
q dread unutterably great, that | might
meet my husband amidst the crowd.
did not even know that he was In Lon
don; he had always spoken OF II as a
place he detcstcd. Ills habits made the
free. unconventional life upon the Con
tlncnt more agreeable TO him. How he
was living now. what he was doing.
where he was. were 80 many enigmas 70
me; and | did not care TO run any risk
In finding out the answers TO them. Twice
| passed the Bank OF Australia, where
very probably | could have learned II
ho was In the same city as myself; but
dared not do Il, and as soon as ! knew
how to avoid that street. never passed
along IL.
had been allowed to leave my address
with the clerk OF large general agency
in the city. Towards the close of o.
tober ! received note from him, desir'
Ing me to call at the Office at two o'clock
the following afternoon, without fail.
had a long time TO walt The office clock
pointed TO half-past three before caught
the clerks eye. aud saw him beckon me
up 10 tho counter. ! had thrown back
my veil. for here | was perfectly safe
from recognition. At the other end OF
the counter stood a young man In con-
sultation with a clerk. lie looked ear
nestly at me, but | was sure he could
not know me.
Miss Ellen MartlneanT said the clerk.
That was my mothers name, and had
adopted II for my own. feeling as IL !
had some right to ii.
YES" | answered.
"WOuld you object to so into n French
school as governessf' he inquired
mot In the least" | said eagerly.
"And pay n small premlum2" he add
ed.
"How muchY' l asked, my spirits fall.
Ing again.
"a mere triae," he said; "about ten
pounds or so for twelve months. You
would perfect yourself In French, you
know; and you would gain referee for
the future"
II must think about IT," replied.
"Well, there Is the address OF lady
who can give you all the particulars" he
said, handing me q written paper.
| left the office heavy hearted. Ten
pounds would be more than the half of
hn uk lnft 90 M
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 th0roughfares, with my head
bent down and my mind busy, when sud
denly heavy hand was laid upon my
arm, grasping II with crushing force, and
q harsh, thick voice shouted triumphant
ly In my ear:
"I've caught you at lastr"
II 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 whrling into the middle of the
road. turned, almost In equal terror, to
see who had thrust himself between us.
II was a stranger whom | 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
q second time.
"She's my wife," he stammered, trying
10 get past the stranger to me. BY this
time knot of spectators had formed
about us, and policeman had come up.
The stranger drew my arm through his,
md faced them defantly.
Hes drunken vagabondv' he said:
'he has just come out of those spirit
vaults. This young lady is no more his
wife than she Is mine, and | know no
more of her than that she has just come
away from Ridley's office, where she has
been looking after situation. Cool |
cannot a lady walk through the |
streets Of London without being insult
ID by drunken scoundrel like thatY
''Will you give him in charge, STRIP |
asked the policeman, while Richard Fos- |
er was making vain efforts to speak CO.
and explain his claim upon me. |
clung to the friendly arm that had come
o my aid, sick and almost speeches. with |
lear.
Don't" whispered; "ohl take me
AWAY quickly"
He cleared passage for us both with |
/ vigor and decision that there was no re-
listing. glanced back for an instant,
md saw my husband struggling with the
policeman. He looked utterly unlike a
gay, prosperous, wealthy man, with
vell-filled purse, such as he had used to
appear. He was shabby and poor enough |
low for the policeman to be very hard
IN him, and to prevent him from follow
ng me. The stranger kept my hand
irmly on his arm, and almost carried
ne into Fleet street, where in minute