Year: 1878

joining room to come and prepare his
wife tor burial. AS have said before.
Tracy Myrle was bad man. yet he was
not base enough to leave the woman
whom he had seduced from home and
friends. to be buried indecently and BY
strangers. when he had sufficient money
to do that, and answer his other purposes
beside. so he staid and surprised his
neishbors by having Maggie laid away,
as they termed it very gently. Then it
was that he threw off his old disguise.
clothed himself in q handsome suit. one
becoming a gentleman. Having put on
highly respectable appearance. he next
went to the pawn-brokers. and drew a
cool Thousand on his jewels. He then
hailed cabman whom he ordered to
drive him Immediately to the depot
The first eastern bound train bore Tracy
Myrtle rapidly away from the place
where a few hours ago such a scene of
shame and wickedness had been enacted
"a scene that were it known, would
brand the names OF two with intany
forever.


After travelling from place to place
until lie became tired OF roaming, and
longing for new incentive to revive
mis- languishing spirit, he very naturally
thought OF his sister whom he had not
seen tor about ten years. Remembering
what gay season he spent there once
before. he determined to visit her again,
and spend the coming winter with her.
So he wrote to Mrs. Dupont. annouuc-
ing his intention Then he turned his
face toward Georgetown. where his
sister resided


This sisters mere creature of fashion,
cared little or nothing for the real telic-
| ity OF home life, but lived under the ex-
citement Of a continual round OF pleasure
both winter and summer. She had two
very beautiful daughters, aged respec-
lively eight and ten but. poor little
things. they we're never permitted to join
the family in social manner, neither
were they allowed ever TO leave their
nursery without their governess, who
out of pure compassion would take them
out walking every day that would admit
of it, without ever consulting her own
feelings.


Mrs. Dupont, dare say, loved her
children all that such worldly minded
woman as herself was capable of loving
Yet it was noticeable fact that she never
wanted to be troubled with the care OF
them. Therefore they were excluded
almost entirely from the society of the
family


MIR. Dupont was one of those meek
lnoffensive men. who never crossed his
wife it he could help it-because he fel,
that it was always the safest tor his
peace not to. He invariably let her have
her way about anything when it wal
first mentioned. from the fact that he
would have it to do IN the end; usually
he was spared all trouble in this par.
ticular tor he was seldom ever consulted


She was one of those women who did
not think it wise to let the husband
know everything that she was going to
do. Size believed that women had opin-
IONS. and that they had a right to exer-
| else them.


This was the place, then, that Tracy
Myrle was going to spend the coming
winter. Yes, he was going there to
mingle again with the crowds OF youth
and beauty, which usually thronged heI
brilliant halls. just as he had done in
the olden time; aud if possible he would
deceive some other fair young creature
just in the same manner that he haG
done two other women; but what did il
matter to him; his little stock of money
was nearly exhausted, and if he coulC
find girl with another half million,
he would play the devoted to perfection
This. then. was what prompted HIM tt
make visit to his sister. and not broth
erly love; and from the depths OF Ill,
heart pity the innocent girl who ma,
fall victim to the snares of this low
principled man.


Tracy Myrtle was fine looking maj
when free from dissipation; he wal
as gentle ir his manners when he wanted
to be, as a refined, cultivated woman
and any one to be in his company for Al
hour. when IN one of his pleasant, ,affabl'
moods. would never dream how mucl
sin he could cover with smile.


When Mrs. Dupont; received he
brothers letter, saying that he intended
making her visit at such a time, sh'
was almost frantic with delight, par
ticularly AS he was widower, and ther'
were two or three splendid catches ou
this season. Consequently most mag
niticent ball was thought OF Immediately
which would be given the night after hi
beauty of her extensive circle were to bt
present on the occasion. For a weel
before this expected visitor made hi.
appearance everything was IN such ,
confused state. that to enjoy one moment!
peace under the same root with Mrs
Dupont. was simply impossible. The
madames temper ragged at such an i'm
moderate temperature. that Mr.. Dupont
glad OF an excuse to escape the fury o.
those intolerable days, made = flying
trip to Baltimore to spend few days
with his sister. To this Mrs. Dupont con.
sented very readily, as she wished to
procure large number OF articles from
that place, which she could not obtain
nearer home and beside she said that me n
were perfect nuisance at such 4 time
either always in some lady's way or else
forever meddling where it did not con-
cern them.


There was only one individual of all
the household who did not appear the
least disconnected, and that was the un.
presun,ing little governess. and she
kept quietly out of the way of every body
and devoted herself entirely to the chill
dren, whose loneliness she pitied so in
tensely.


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