El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-12-02


spair. For twelve months things
had been going from bad TO
worse, and since his last wife's illness
he had gone deeper into the mire. A GU
rate who marrieS on the magnificent
income of $3.50 a year is either a very
gallant gentleman or a very stupid
one; but Agnes Courcy, so Keppel
thought, had been wearing out her life
as governess quite long enough, so he
persuaded her that a quick marriage
was infinitely better than a long en-
gagement.
For time all went we'll Jack KEEP
pei and his wife were perfectly happy
perfectly devoted to one another, and
until the children came there was no
difficulty about meeting the weekly
and quarterly bills.
Keppel had one great failing-a fail
ing which would have been virtue
had his pocket always been full instead
of nearly empty. He could not resist
giving away money to his poor-money
that he could not afford to give
But somehow things drifted on. There
were plenty of poor in Merton Somer-
ford, the little country town in the
south of England where Jack CHANGED
to be curate in charge Of a mission
church; and they adored Keppel
against him, so far as the ladies were
concerned. a huge, freckled-f faced
giant, with red hair, Jack was not what
one would call drawingroom man,
but his jolly, infectious laugh was al
ways welcome.
But on this morning. the gloom had
settled on his soul. He had worried
more than anyone knew, except per-
haps his friend, Dick Valentine, the
local bank manager who had pressed a
loan upon him out of his own pocket
when the twins had arrived. But at
last the crisis had come. Keppel had
for the first time been threatened with
g writ. He had been foolish enough to
go to money lender that he might be
able to pay the butcher and the baker;
and the money lender had come down
on him with the callousness Of his
kind, because he had failed in one
monthly payment
Jack flung himself into a chaf- and
sat brooding until the little maid of
all work entered with the ha'penny
London paper. YEARLY he glanced
over II. There were the usual head
lines Naval Review Cyclone Havic.
The Kings Visit to Aldershot. Con-
ference on the Veto The Northbor-
ough Murder. Airship Trials. Arizo-
ma Joe's Challenge Not Yet Accepted.
and SO Non.
The twins were romping in the room
above; but Jack had not the heart to
go up and join the scramble on the
floor, and presently Mrs. Keppel en-
tered.
She greeted Jack with her usual
cheerfulness, but he fancied that an
other blow was coming when she l.es;-
h1v 10
read a letter which had just arrived
from a tradesman who was himself in
difficulties. and who begged Keppel 20
settle his bill without delay. But at
last she handed it to him.
What can we do, jack
agnes" he said, 1--WE tnIst clear out
of Merton SoSerford. 1 must write 10
the bishop and tell him why l can.
stay here any longer; and yet ii drives
me mad to think that L must go away
leaving debts behind me-debts which
I may not be able to pay for along
time"
what shall tell Wilson. DEAR she
asked He is waiting
Tell him he shall have his bill paid
within a month" said KeFpel suddenly
She looked at him for an instant,
doubtingly, then went softly way
Inc door C1OScO
KeppeI took III ne paper again
then dashed it Town. and began to-
tramp the room. rnuttsriag fnickly:
Yes" he said at last. I'll do it!
No one will know, not even Agnes, un-
til it's over And then; well, then
don't care what happens!
That evening Keppel went for long
walk in the country and visited
strange battered old character who
lived at village some miles from
Merton Somerford. 1t was late when
he returned, and he was very tired.
But the evening walks continued, and
Agnes thought they did him good. He
came home in splendid spirits,
and he looked harder and leaner, and
there was a lightness in his step such
as she had not noticed for years. He
went among his poor as usual; he spent
quite recklessly, money which. Agnes
thought. should have gone to Mr.. Will
son.
But Jack Cried: Hang Mr.. Wilsoni
Haven't 1 said he shall be paid within !
a month? Listen. Agnes. I'm going |
away next week for few days. I've |
seen the vicar. I've told him I want !
leave of absence for urgent private rea- |
sons. He grumbled, but consented. |
Now don't ask me a single question. !
Be content to know that I'm going to |
try to get some money to pay all our |
1ebts-all of them"
Two days later Jack 0eppel had van /
shed from Merton Somerford.
Mrs Keppel, busy with the twins, |
went out very little during the follow
Ing week; and was rather glad when |
a friend called one evening to ask her |
to go to an entertainment at the as
sembly rooms-an ugly building used !
for lectures, concerts. political meet /
ngs and occasionally as theater.
It was a wet, stormy night and the |
hall was thronged. The entertainment /
was of kind that appealed TO Merton |
little comedy-a short |
finally the cinemato-
graph.
Sir Joseph Molloy generous if |
pompous gentleman, had paid for his |
portion of the entertainment, and a /
great shout went up when stout man, !