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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Wingham Times, 1904-01-21, Page 74, MR .+ \\ INGJW MRS, JANUARY 21 A T*� ,owTwww*+7c***AsmFmm•wr . .'r.•7sr7icow. 0S. .Z.' A LAST WIFE A NOVEL; 0 -. BY 1VIRS. K LOVETT CAMERON, 2 Author of 44 Worth Winning." etc. Cseemed to be no passengers en the into the booking-officeupon the hard horse -hair sofa, upon platform, only one sleepy porter who which I soon fell into an uneasy { stared at me very hard as I went slumber, I to take uty ticket. "London, miss? Any luggage?" he said, peering rather curiously at me, j was roused by the sunshine cam - I drew my veil down lower over ing in through the uncurtained win - my face as I muttered an uninteili- dow, and by the entrance of the gible reply. same waiter who had shown pie into Presently the white lights of the the room, and who now came to ask engine gleamed out in the distance, ins if I would take any breakfast. .and the train rushed into the sta j ordered something to eat, and tion. I jumped into it unnoticed in then mechanically opened my travel - the confusion of its arrival, and in ling -bag, and sought my purse. Ira - 'five minutes more the deed was done, agino my horror when it was no- r and I was borne swiftly away into where to be found! I turned out all the darkness of the night, the contents of my bag upon the ' I shall never forgot the misery of floor, find. emptied my Pockets. All that journey. In order to econo- in vain! My purse was gone! mite my slender means, I had taken I had had a few shillings loose in a third-class ticket.A working man a small inner pocket of my jacket, jacket, a fustian acketket, and a woman out of which I had paid the cab - with a crying baby and a big check - man; of this there remained to me rd bundle, were my fellow -travelers. four shillings and sixpence -not a The man was unwashed and un- g kempt, and smelt of bad tobacco. farthing more. The woman kept drinking every Ave How I had lost my purse I could minutes out of a black bottle which not imagine; although I remembered she carried in a basket, and which now having opened my bag whilst in emitted a suspicious odor of gin.the train, and possibly my travel- , Sickened and disgusted, I turned ling companions, the dirty -looking icy face resolutely out of the open man and the woman with the gin - window, and tried to inhale the bottle, had abstracted it whilst I •sweet night scents of the woodland slept. . ,country through which the train was What was to be done? I knew rushing, till at last, wearied out that four -and -six would probably with conflicting emotions, I sank not even pay for the wretched room back into my corner and slept. I was in and for the simple break - When I awoke it was five o'clock, fast I had ordered. and the train was steaming into I sank down upon the sofa in per - Euston Station. There was not a fect despair, and then all at once cab to be seen; so weary and foot- I thought of what I would do. sore as I was already, with my long I would send for Captain Thistle - walk into Narborough, I was, per- by. Even as I made the resolve I force, obliged to go forth on foot to- blushed hotly at my own boldness. wards Bella's house in Chester But, after all, what else could I Square. When I got there a fresh cio? Ilad he not said that he would disappointment awaited me. I could help Inc and be my friend always; not rouse any ono in the house. In and to whom else could I turn in my vain I rang and rang violently first need? at ono bell and then at the other. I started up, and rang the bell. I heard the loud clanging through "Can you send out a telegram for h ass- • ,•theman who asked of the silence of the morning, but no me?"I , one from within answered my sum- wered my summons. mons. Then I recollected that as "Yes, ma'am, I will take it at Bella was abroad, the house was in once for you." all probability loft under the care of "I am expecting a friend from one servant, and that she most like- Hounslow; can I stay here, in this ly slept in the attics, and could not room, until he comes?" hear my frantic peals at the hall- "Certainly, ma'am." bell, more especially if her bedroom The waiter got me a telegraph -was at the back of the house. form, and I sat down and wrote: As I stood thus, shivering and I nearly worn out with fatigue, with "I am in great trouble and dis- chot tears of digappointntent and tress. Will you come to me at misery welling up into my . eyes, a once? "FREDA." P policeman came up behind me, and _asked me, somewhat suspiciously, Having despatched the telegram, I ft wastaken o weightmy what I was about. I hailed his - ap- felt that a , g pearance with positive rapture, and mind, and I sat down with some turned to him eagerly. amount of appetite to, eat my mod - "Oh! do help me!" I cried, pile- est and not over tempting -looking •ously, clasping my hands together. breakfast. "How can I get into this house? I It was twelve o'clock before any .•can't wake anybody up." ' answer came to my summons; but x' The man eyed me narrowly. I when at last, sick with anxiety and think he was debating in his own suspense, I watched a hansom dash mind whether a woman found alone suddenly up to the door, my spirits l' at five o'clock in the morning, ring- rose at once, for my lover was in- ing at a house door, should not, by side it. every known rule of his order, be de- "Freda! what is the matter? Good scribed as "drunk and disorderly," heavens! what brings you here in and be dealt with accordingly. But this wretched place?" he cried, as I suppose something in my dress and lie entered, voice must have shown him that I Ile looked pale and agitated, as if was a lady, for, after a minute's hes- my telegram had thoroughly fright- itation, he answered mo quite civil- aced him, as, indeed, I believe it ly; . had. For all answer, I dropped my "You'll not be likely to find any- head down upon the table in front of body awake, miss, for the next two me, and burst into tears. hours. You had best go to an hotel Mark Thistleby stood by, looking and wait." the picture of misery and distress. "But I don't know where to go. He was Very honorable, was my Can you tell me?" I said, despair- handsome lover. He did not move a ingly. step nearer to me, or call me by any "Well, miss, I do know a respect- loving words, or attempt to com- .able little family hotel in the fort me in any way. I dare say he Strand, as is very likely to be open was longing, poor fellow, to take me a at this hour. Should I walk with in his strong arms, and to pillow my you to a cab, miss, and give you the poor little sobbing frame against his „address?" breast. But he did not, forget that, I jumped at the offer with alacrity, in less than a week, I was to be the and presently we actually' did find a wife of another man, and that it was cab, and I parted from tho friendly 1policeman with exaggerated expres- stns of gratitude, a ltulle, which wore not, , however, a whit too strong for what I felt forthatl him at moment. The "little dingy hotel" turned out I to be a small inn, of a very dingy description. A sleepy waiter admit- ‘/ ted me, and showed me into a cheer- less little sitting -room, where, how - .r • Unless the soap you use has this brand you are not getting the best Ain for the °elegem liar. 245 ever, I was thankful to throw myself his apathy and coldness --"why! How can you ask ]the? How could I mar- ry the man? You know I did not love him. Oh! how cruel you aro. You know, you must know why I cannot marry him!" I wrung my hands passionately to- gether, and turned away from hire to hide shy crimson face. "Is it for me, Freda, that you have given him up?" His voice was low, and suppressed, and shook with emotiob, "Yes, for your" I answered, wild- ly and bitterly; "and you do not • t c seem to to "Not care! Oh, my God!" The words were wrung from him with a groan; I turned quickly to - CHAPTER XVI, wards him, and saw that he was deadly pale, and could hardly speak. I came close to him in wonder, and laid my hand upon his, "Tell ane why you are not glad? Am I not free now, and do you. not love me?" "Oh, child -child!" he cried, bit- terly, "I did not know my selfish- ness had clone you so cruel a wrong! I did not think that you loved rue so much. I thought that I alone should have to suffer for my weak - noes and my wickedness. And now, how can I ever atone for the misery I have brought upon you?" "Misery?" I echoed, trembling and terrified I hardly knew why. "What do you mean? I have been miser- able indeed, because I had not the courage before to break off my en- gagement; because I was base en- ough to think of the good things of this world, and mean enough to shrink from giving them up for my love's sake. But since I have known that you love me, sweetheart, Since me so,do your own dear lips told n you suppose that I have been happy day or night away from you? And your love has given me courage, Mark, for I am a sad coward. Had I not fled in the night like this from home, I don't think I should ever have been brave enough to break it all off; but now it is done, I have written to papa.. x shall go to Bella making, like the couple of young and stay with her a few months, and fools that we were, without a when are meet again Mark, you will thought of what it was all to lead to. "From first to last I 'was intense - and ntense- I -- 'Nervous Headache and Rheumatism Boththoroufhly cured by a course of treat• meat with Dr. Chare's Nerve Food and StdneyLtver fills. I These two great remedies of Dr. Chase are "used together with great success by many per- • sons. While the Kidney -Liver Pills awaken the action of the liver, invigorate the kidneys, . and regulate the bowels, the Nerve Food forms new rich blood, creates new nerve force and fbttilds up the system. MRS. C. BATTISON,. 373 Murray St., Ottawa, Ont., states:-"Fer some time I was a sufferer from nervousness, diad- ness, nervous headache and rheumatism. I had the rheumatic pains for about three years. Sev oral weeks ago I began the use of Dr. Chase's +Mrs. Bettisan Nerve Food and Dr. •Chase's Macy -Liver Pills, and have found thit these medicines worked together most satisfactorily in my case. i have taken altogether several boxes of the Nerve Food and now entirely cured of my old trouble. I sw of others who have used these prepare.. Is and been cured, and I Can therefore rtily recommend them." The portrait end signature of Or. A. W *St oh every box. too late for any demonstrative ex- pressions ssions of sympathy. I o sf P lY with ' the stood there, opposite me, ♦ 9 h whole width of the table between us, and looked indefinitely distressed and miserable. "What can I do for you?" he said, piteously; "for God's sake! tell me what is the matter?" And then I looked up through my, tears, and smiled at him. "I am very stupid, am I not, to cry like a baby? It is only because I am tired and worn out, and be- cause -edit. I ant ,so glad to see you! Nothing very dreadful has happened. I ata only like the naughty boys in story -books. I have run away from home, and I have lost my purse, and haven't got any money, cy, that andis why I have sent for you. Rather prosaic, isn't it?" "You have run away from home!" ho repeated, looking at me with a sort of dismay, "And -and your marriage? -'-Mr. Curtis?" "I ant not going to he married. x will never marry Mr. Curtis!" I cry passionately. "x am going to Paris to join Bella." Oh! why does ho not look glad? Why does he not cry "Thank God!" and reach out his arms to me -the dear arms in which I long to take shelter? With a mute dismay I look at him and see no joy, no gladness in his face; only a pale, miserable face, and sad, aching eyes, that look at me with an over -increasing de. spair. "You have broken off your engage - Ment, you mean?" he says, With a sort of dull bewilderment in his voice. "flow foolish of you. What has induced you to do so? Why have you done it?" "Why?" I cried passionately and angrily, for I could not understand and not an educated inhabitant with- got back to the sheltered bay on the in twenty Miles. Three' was. no wild Irish coast where I had so often met tt to her, I walked in vain at our trusting place, where i had told her to come every day at a certain hour until I retul•ned to her. "Lonely and sick at heart, I climb- ed the steep path to the cottage and you luny imagine my disumay when I found it empty and .dismantled. The windows were bare and curtain - less, and all the- furniture bad been taken away. The very garden look- ed uncured for and desolate. The sisters blur ceased to live there. I never could gain any information about them. Why Oe wherefore they left, and where they had gone to, has- forever remained a mystery to. Sue. At first I was in despair. I made every possible inquiry in the neighborhood. and advertised in all the local papers. "I came to the conclusion at last, that she bad become impatient and unhappy at my lone absence, and had confined her story to her sister, and that both together had gone to ingland, and were trying to trace me out there: but the fact of her be- ing in ignorance of my real name placed on insuperable difficulty in the way of her finding ale. "Time went on, and I heard noth- ing lice;and bydegrees of he , d gt ee my first grief abated, and insensibly I relax- ed tite energy of my efforts at find- ing her. Then suddenly I was or - sort beyond a little sea fishing, and no occupation of tiny sort ot• kind for ue three fellows, who were exiled there, besides smoking and idling away out' tune. "Whops it Was only natural that I should have got into some sort of uhischief, espe•c•iatlly as my two fellow officers in thi.3 lonely place were both alder than myself, and were gnat friends, so that they were ♦t'ry cinch together, while I was consequently left a good deal to myself, and event most of my time alone, "I used to take long solitary walks along the shore. .One day when I was walking on the sands at low tide, in a wild, lovely bay, about four miles f.•om home, I saw a young girl picking her way across the brown rocks left hare by the tide, The reeks were c'oin'ed with seaweed rubel very slippery, and the girl stumbled and nearly fell. I hur- ried forward to her assistance, and helped her to gain the firmer foot- ing of the flat, yellow sends. "She was quite young and very pretty, after the true Irish type, dark-haired and blue-eyed, and with a pretty. shy. wild -fawn manner which completely ('alit I at cot lar, I found t lt elle lived v, ili her sister, trim was many years older than her- self, iii a little cottage, whit% she pointed out to me high up in a cleft of the wild hills which carne clown abruptly to the edge of the sea. "They were the daughters of a gentleman -4-a navy captain, long re- tired from the service, and who had died a few years previously. But al- though a lady by birth and in ap- pearance, my little Irish girl had had ow or no advantages of educa- tion; she had spent all her life in that seaside cottage, and her sister, of whom, apparently, she stood in considerai:,le awe, had been her sole instructress. She was like a wild flower of her native hills, utterly un- taught and untrained, with no ideas beyond her narrow life, and with ab- solutely no knowledge whatever of the world and its ways. But an ium- pr!rssionable young fellow of One - and -twenty is blind to these disad- vantages in a young and lovely girl. When she looked at. me with her deep blue eyes, i forgot that there was not much meaning in them beyond a certain puzzled wonder ; when her pretty lips parted, I forgave them the silliness they generally uttered , and when her little head was pillow - ed on my shoulder, I did not remem- ber that it was as ignorant and as empty as those of the yellow sea poppies which covered the cliffs over lour heads. For it came to that at last; we used to meet daily upon the sands,and sit there for hours love - kno♦•' that I am a free woman.' My lover took my ]lands- the hands I had laid upon his -and begin with, I refused to make the the future for me but colorless de- pressed them passionately to his To ly foolish about the whole business. dered to join my regiment in India. Fresh scenes and interests served to drive the past more and More out of my memory, till at last those short six months upon the Irish coast became like a dint dream to ane; and it seemed to me as though toy love -making and marriage had never existed. "Until I met you, Freda, until I learnt to love you as I have loved no other woman, I give you my word that. I had almost forgotten that I was a married man. I never meant you to know it. I meant you to think, if you could, that it was your engagement to Mr. Curtis which stood between us, and yet I could not bear you to think that I had behaved badly to you. But now that you have given ul, all for rut' -I tun bound to tell you why it is that I dare not take the dear gift which you hold out to me. For your own sake, my darling, I dare not take your love -not until I know for certain whether or no my poor little bride is still alto . CHAPTER XVIII. I listened in silence to the end, and then my face sank down into my hands, whilst a low moan of pain es- caped me. So it was all at an end! -all my dreams, my hopes of happiness, all that. a woman looks for to make up the joy of life. I must give it all upl Even the dreaming was now for- bidden to me; there was nothing in lips• acquaintance of her sister. . I saw I spair. "Hush!" he said, in a hoarse, , her once at a distance; she looked And Captain Thistleby must find Oh tas k my voice, darlin "donot tam torture tell e. stern and hard -featured, and I had i his seemed -God forgive I dead, to g, an uneasy consciousness that site ; you? Did you not guess it when we would not regard ties? pleasant f hope, never for one instant entered parted with such agony under the tete-a-tetes upon the sands with a ! into m ytcalculation, Why should she d Shehadbeen young,and bo dca me n you not see that I Did apple trees? D e Shewould ld want to friendly 1 eve. o r mant to say to you, 'We must say know my intentions. iTow could a I strong, and vigorous; there could be farewell for ever; marry your rich •younger son, living with difficulty no reason why death should have man who will be good to you; make upon his pay, and upon the small i claimed her. Somewhere, I felt very yourself happy with him, and for -sum allowed him by his father, be ;sure, she still lived; and where that got me?' Did you not see that it i supposed to have any intentions? I "somowheme was, it was undoubted - was an eternal parting between us? did not want to marry my little ly Captain Thistleby's duty to dis- Do you suppose, love, that your en- love. Fancy my father's face had i cover, gagemont to a man you did not love • announced such a thing! Neither was all that stood between us? Did t did I wish to be awakened out of my you think that so frail a barrier fool's paradise. So I persuaded her would have kept me from you, so to go on meeting me on the sly, and slender a chain not have been so j would not let her introduce me to easily snapp8d? Oh, my love, what her sister. does your being free or bound mat- • "Timings went on drifting like this ter, since that which stands irrevoc- . for some months, and then at last ably between us -stands there still even I felt that something must be like the angel with the flaming sword . done. The girl was now absolutely 1.0 keep us from our paradise? Oh, devoted to me; she was ready to fol - Freda., my love, my darling, you may low ine to the world's end. It be - be free; but I am bound, helplessly I came clear to me that I must either and hopelessly." marry her or turn my back resolute - Whilst he spoke, a terrible present- ly upon her forever; for I must do iment of untold evil came upon me. myself the justice to say that, fool - My knees trembled, my heart turned ish and blamable as I was, no sick and cold within me, , thought of any other less honorable "Tell me, for Heaven's sake, what course of action towards her ever you mean?" I faltered. I entered into my brain. The man "I ant married." ! would have been a brute indeed, who The dingy room, the windows, the I could have harbored any thought of horse -hair chairs and sofa, the eom- wrong towards one so young and so mon-looking prints upon the walls, guilelessly confiding. No, it was ei- t3he dusty gas chandel.iee overhead, they marriage or flight, which pre - all swam and danced for one minute sentod a conflicting alternative to in a wild confusion before my eyes, ' my conscience, i had not the heart and then I sank down huddled up ' to leave her, and I had not the cour- upon the floor with my head prone , age to marry her openly. I took a. redu utt the faded carpet and remember- middlecourse,and married her se- ed nothing more. cretly. One other folly I had com- • mitted, that of concealing my real name from her. I was so afraid of n'hen I awoke to life, after that my father hearing of my love-rank- When swoon, I awoke to find may mug that I tooks this perfectly silly head pillowed upon Mark Thistieby,s anti needless precaution. I obtained breast, whilst he alternately sprink- three days'leave without. much dittt- led cold water upon my face, and culty, and I gave myself a fictitious mar - showered down kisses upon may un_ nano"' and under that name I lips. tied her; meeting her at a little sol - conscious. For a moment I remembered noth- rotary church far up among tate hills, ing-and could not think bore I came ♦where, by a strong bribe, I inducett to he in so strange and yet so pleas - according very poor old priest to marry us ant a Position. Than all at once according to the rites of the in- theRoman inemefry of his Words came back cozCatvcnle Church, and to ask no with a sharp, stabbing pain into may convenient. questions. roe the next ilia .cat thelittle ♦ e daysx lived two.g mind --"I am married," he had said) l away out O f I shrank slmudderrng y his arms, and rejecting his help, raised myself with difficulty into a chair. I think my face must have been nearly as white as when I lay senseless and helpless upon the floor, "I am better, thanks," I murmur- ed. "Tell me, now, everything.,• "You are not strong enough." "Yes, yes," 1 interrupted. impa- tiently; "tell nme at once everything there is to know." So Mark Thistleby, sitting down opposite me on the further side of the bare, desolate little sitting -room, told me then and there the story of his life's mistake. I will let it stand in his own words. "It Was ten years ago, Freda, When I was quite a youngster, and had only joined the army a few months, that I was sent to the de- pot of my regiment --to a little - t.ion on the west coast of Irelstaand. There is little to do ever at a de- pot, and less than ever if it happens to be at Such a desolate place as this was. There was not a decent' sized town within an hour by rail, inn close to her cottage, end wand- ered with her all day upon the de- sorted sands, Then I had to go back to my work. We parted with tears upon the lonely shore, and, Freda - I have never seen her again! "When I got back to the barracks, I found a telegram from my mother, telling Inc to come home at once, as my father bail had a paralytic sei- zure. I sent a note to my bride by a small village boy whom I have good reason to suspect never delivered it, and I started for England that night. "My father was desperately ill for six weeks before he died, and a day or two after his funeral, as soon as ever I could be spared. I Went back in hot haste to Ireland. All the time x had been away I had not dar- ed to write to my little wife, but now I was determined to own her boldly, and to bring her home to my mother, and throw myself and her upon her mercy and compassion. I (To be continued) CURIOUS FACTS. Nearly all the. sandpaper in use is made with powdered glass. It is estimated that the recent increase in the pay of the railroad employees throughout the U. S. affects 660,000 tnen, involving a cash outlay for 1903 of ,$38,350,000. The numl.er of persons occupied in the wo •Id's mining operations in 1901 was 4,700,973 of which number 1,624,620 were engaged in Great Britain and Ireland and the British dependencies. In the Hungarian town of Ujpest three girls, aged from eleven:to fifteen, have been convicted of opening the graves of several children and breaking the coffins in search of jewels. The longest canal in the world is that which extends from the frontier of China to St. Pett rsburg, 4,472 miles. In India there are 14.000 miles of canals irrigating some 8,000,000 acres of land. Chemistry students in the Heidelberg university are compelled by the roles of the instntion to insure their lives. Even those who merely attend the lectures and do not experiment must do so. ;"Ili'is considered that the agricultural in Italy has need to be greatly improved, and this will be brought about by radical reforms i t the methods of cultivation ' nof and the angmeutatmoproduction. After several unsuccesffnl attempts and three years' labor the unoaralled feat of cutting a ring out of a single dia• mond has been accomplished by the skill and patience of Mr. Antoine, one of the lapidaries of Antwerp. Great activity is now being displayed iu the extension of international tele. phones. Brussels and London and Paris and Rome are already connected and negotiations are in progress between the Russian and German governments. wmpnru 0.M rnuuuununv'munvuumervunnnn,11•• 9 oU])iiors A%egetable PreparationforAs- shnilating theFoodj andRegulae- ting the Stozi Iris endBowels of Proirates Digesiion,Checrfui- ness and Rest.Co ntai ns neither Opium,Morpliine nor Menai. NOT NATIO °TIC. 7trm Sal - 4Ax.Senui Roaidlo Sulk - ifniae Seed • iliyP,,m"..r- AlDitienaA'Sala• MOO Steel - (( ird Sur,' . aitrogan num: Aperrect Remedy for Conslipa- lion, Sour Stomach,Aiarrhoeti. Worms Convuisions,Feverish- ness and Loss OF SLEET'. I'.c Simile `Siiggnature of �k�;7t� I- ke NEW YORK. STORIA I'or Lnfante and Children. The Kind You Have Always Bought Bears the Signature of In Use For Over Thirty Years EXACT COPY OF WRAPPER. Tei 111 THE CENTAUR COMPAN\ NEW YORK CITY. TYVVVVVYVVVVvVVVVVVVVVVVVV ► ' ► . BoM ► r v i &► ► ► ► ►1 ► O. 0. ► 4 T. A. MILLS has decided to clear out41 IP -s.._! all his stock of 4 IP 4 ► . 4 le 04BoOSSShes and Rnbberst4 Pe 4 inside of 30 days. ► 44 Every pair is marked down to a clearing price. ' COST IS NO OBJECT Iv - to THEY MUST CO ! ! ! ►4 E Call and look through thk stock, and I am 11 C sure you will l your fall and winter I ► supply at prices never heard of before C in Wingham. 4 ► 4 4 ► 4 4 4 VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVYVVVVVVV 4eel ale IRV 4 ► ► ► e► f Must be Cleared Out in Sixty Days ! ► wAJ►Ail►wwwwwwnwwrwA►w,►wwwaw wwweuwwAA►e►AawirrlN►AI►.►A�i;AAI► The largest collection of orchids in the world is at Soltonbrunn, near Vienna. It. comprises over 25,000 examples of 1,200 varieties Fair Goods 4 4 4 4 4 4 A full line to select from. et • s a 4 4 The bulk of the cranberries of this country come from the part of eastern Massachusetts which lies near Cape Cod At a recent test in Germany of the Poliak•Virag system of telegraphy a speed of 50,000 words an hour was at- saved enough to purchase an elel.hant tamed. ! for the•local zoo. By patting aside their weekly pennies the school children of Atlanta, Ga., have It is the fence that has steed the test of time-istands the heaviest strain never !Nil did not believe my Mother would re-ect.rcntun • , . Saga -the etandard the world over. Order through our local agentor die �i1tt� LMi�tr fuse us her forgiveness. .But When I LIMITED, iR'atlkctrvflle, but, >lltot►treat, t�ttC. St. :t+rt *, lr.is. THE PAGE VUiRtrEeNGrf Oft.