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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 3, 1901)
16 THE OMAHA DAILY BEEt SUNDAY, NOVEMBEB 3, 1901, GzSZ NO OTHER WAY. (Copyright, 1001, by Dodd, Mead & Co,) ClIAI'TUfl I. The l.ndy'a Dllrmnin. Tho lady sat at tho open window of her lodging In King street, Govern Garden. It was a lodging over a print shop, the sign of which, a Silver Quill, argent In gules, dan gled from tho front of the house and creaked In the wind. Tho front room where she sat nd lived commanded a One vlow of tho trect; tho back room In which sho slept orcrlookcd tho churchyard of St. Paul's, whero funerals nil day long Inclined tho heart to wholcsomo meditation. Iioth In tho front and at tho back thcro was appar ent to' tho senses tho neighborhood of tho market, slnco tho time was lato Juno and tho season was warm and II do, ono perceived In tho mingled waves of fragrance tho crushed strawberry of yesterday; tho de cayed cherry of last week; tho trampled peas and broken lettuce leaves; the pungent spring onion; last year's russets, the cab bago stalks which lay In heaps and all tho things which aro offered for sale In that great market. It Is not, taken altogether, an exhilarating fragrance, but tho residents of King Htrcct aro accustomed to It; they hnvo It with them nil tho year round at every season; they no moro complain of It than tho people near Bllllngsgato complain of tho smell of flsh which hangs forever In tho air. Tho lady was a widow, quite a young widow; not moro than four and twenty; tho weeds which spoke of her condition were so modified, so to speak, as to betoken a wid owhood of two years, at least; they signified by their shape, by the manner of wearing them, by somo femlnlno cunning which would, bo difficult to cxplnln yet it was to bo dlscorncd by nn artful touch Invisible yet perceptible by tho hand which pats tho bow and smooths tho strings and Introduces some small chango Into tho form; n con fession of Christian resignation; perhaps, also, though this, be sure, tho widow would nover allow sho was herself unconscious of It tho thing was due to her dressmaker tho fact that she was at last Inclined tho mind sometimes works unconsciously and like a watch is only shown to bo at work by tho breathing, which in tho engine of timo Is a ticking to consider, dispassionately, and crjtlcally, yet with a certain sympathy any overtures which might bo made should such present themselves of entering ngaln upon the married state, which Is consecrated by holy church yet denounced by poet and satirist as offering fewer prizes than tho tato lottery. This morning, however, her faco belled hor dress. Thcro was no look of Venus In It; thcro was no softnecs of posslblo love. Her face, comely and attractive, of the soft kind; hor check like a peach, her eye largo, limpid and full of soft sun shine, was now disturbed and jangled, llko a harplschord out of tunc, with anxiety and doubt. It was full of care, and care had no busi ness with such a faco; It was full of trouble, and trouble was an emotion for which that face was not Intended by na ture; her Hps trembled, and they ought to havo emlled; hor checks, which should'havo remained soft and touched With tho tender hue of tho wild rose in June, changed color' as her thoughts wont wandering here and there, and always camo back to tho saiuo point. Whatever that was. the tears rolled out and gushed down her cheek. Had there been any young man present of reasonable feeling tor the sex ho would havo cast himself nt her feet, crying aloud that hor face was made for happiness and that ho would himself, nt any cost, take upon hlmsolf, with no other hope of re ward, than to see her onco moro freed from trouble, nil her cares, her nnxletlcn and the consequences, If any, of hor follies, If there had been follies; or of her misfor tunes, it there had been misfortunes. On hor table lay two or three open lot tors; sho glanced at them from tlmo to time, not na If to derlvo consolation or hopo from tholr utterances, but as If to hear their roproaches; as If sho could not chooso but look upon them. Tho lottcrs wore, In truth, accusing voices; they ac cused tho woman, yet not In words, of fol lies and oxtravagancos; thoy warned her. too lato, of what may happen to a woman left early In llfo without a guldo and counsellor; a woman who underatands nothing It Is n common falling with women of tho simple rules of compound addition nnd subtraction and therefore goes on spending without comprehension of what hor expenditure meant until the dav camo when sho finds herself nt the end of her fortune and with no means apparent of paying for her food and dress and lodging. Theso letters showed her that sho was that unfortunato person woman In debt, who cannot pay her debts, Or, If aha pays, Is left destitute nnd has no friends who will pay for her. Tho end of Hucb a woman la clear; sho must tnko Bholter In a 'prison, whoro In a short tlmo tho man ner, the language, tho dress, the thoughts of tho pollto world drop off from the resi dents and they nil becomo plunged to gether in tho ruck of physical wonts, physical suffering and tho sacrifice of all those scruples which, outside, ralso men and womon on a higher level. If bitterness and self-reproach and hu miliation aro wholesome correctives for the soul, oven though they come too lato to save from open shamo, then, Indeed, Isnbel Woy land this morning was taking a sovereign remedy against I know not how many plaguoy disorders and diseases of tho soul, such as vanity, self-conceit, complacency, pride of family, pride of rank, the self respect of which Is akin to arrogance, and the whole enumerable trlbo of cognato ail ments. The street below was crowded with peo ple; all day long and most of tho night there Is n full nnd flowing tide of human life flowing up nnd down tho street, which Is not, however, one of the most tnshlonablo resorts of London. In tho morning, from 8 o'clock till noon, thcro are the people of tho market, tho porters who carry baskets on their heads, the barrow filled with fruit and vegetables, which aro carried away to be hawked about tho streets of the city and uburbs; after noon thcro aro the people who walk oni the" plaira, a crowd of well- dressed people, yet not llko the beaux of tho park; thoy are country people, membors of Parliament, lawyers, actors of Drury Lano and Covent garden, poets and wits; in the evening they urn the people who fre quent the coffee houses, tho taverns and the gaining tables; later on they are tho pcoplo wno take supper after tho play and drink In tho night houses nniong tho ribald company of tho place. No sooner havo the rakes gono away to bed than tho markot people begin again, so that the wholo four and twenty hours thore Is In King street a continual flocking of pcoplo to Covent Oar den and a continued noise of footsteps, voices, barrows, dras and carts, with the frequent fights of hackney ccichmen, chair men and the porters of the market. The woman looked upon the street. The beaux walked delicately, their clouded canos hanging from tholr ruftled wrists; the por ters carried baskets of fruit upon their heats, rudely pushing their way within tho post; tba street criers, In never-ending -By SIR WALTER BESANT. procession, bawled their wares fruit from tho market, fish from Bllllnsgate; herbs for medicine; laces, gingerbread, needles and pins, matches, rabbits, poultry, bas kets, knives to grind and kettles to mend and the hackney coach rattled over the stones; tho brewoc's dray, with Its casks of beer, dragged heavily, grunting and groanlng;woracn with dlngle-dump hoops, fans hanging from their arms and ltttlo caps tied modestly under their chtns, slowly walked along tho piazza, whero they would meet their gallants; old tlemon, their ngo betrayed by the shaky kueca, st pped in front of tho fruit shops, of which there are many In Kins street. Tho woman's Christian name was Isabel. Her surnamo was Wcyland. She was tho widow of tho lato Hon. Ronald Weyland. only brother of tho carl of Strathherrlck. In tho Scottish peerage, and ono of her majesty's high commissioners for tho Han apcr, who died, unfortunately for hU wife, when still no moro than six nnd twentv. This bereavement fell upon her thrco years beforo tho morning when wo find her In King street. Sho had been living the llfo of a woman of quality nnd faehl n. without luUlclcnt means, nnd hor present difficul ties wcro tho result. Sho looked down upon tho dear, delightful epltomo of tho town; she looked, but Bho paid small attention; If sho noticed tho moving panorama nt all it was only to bbIc herself, with a sinking heart, how long It would be beforo tho sight of this free and cheerful life, this contemplation of tho world In action which fills tho young with longing, Inspires manhood and mnkes old ago forget Its cares would bo finally closed to her by tho shutting of a door In Imagi nation sho heard It slam, and tho turnlng of a key in a lock In her mind sho heard Its harsh grating. Tho thought of this possi bility transformed tho crowd below her; thoy wcro no longer common people, pre tenders of fashion, dcrat reps; they becamo glorified; happy beyond nil expression; en- SHE TOOK vlablo beyond al words. Truth to say tho current or nro in King street is a turuia stream nt best; thcro aro dens and purlieus nbjut Covent Garden of which men do not speak to women; which women, oven with other women, profess not to know cither by nnmo or by reputation. Dut to Isabel, this morning, tho stroot becamo a sparkling brook, bright and transparent, prattling over pebbles, In comparison with the murky stagnation of tho prison which awaited bcr. For, Indeed, the hour had at last arrived; tho tlmo certain to those who llvo beyond tholr means when tho Catchpole threatened and tho bailiff murmured nnd the creditor, a truculent nnd relentless person, held out his hand nnd sntd: "Pay mol I will wait no longer. Pay mol or clso " "Oh I" sho groaned, "I hnvo been a fool. Heavens! What a fool I havo been!" Sho had, Indeed, yet at such a crisis in her affairs Belf-reproach helped her not. A way had to be found somo way any way of borrowing, of raising money; of prolong ing credit; some way else her creditors sho shuddered and trembled. Sho might wrlto to them, she might call upon thorn and plead with them. It they would forbear hd would, porhaps, at somo future time but sho had no security to offer. If they would not forbear, it they took such revenge as was In their power, she would never bo ablo to pay them. Alas! She was herself tho daughter of a city merohant, sho knew what was thought nud said of the debtor who would not or could not pay his debts; sho know tho nigo, the thirst for rovengo that fills the breast of the tradesman who finds that he has m nil o n bad debt, Why, bis business, his profits, his livelihood, all depended upon the payment of debts; nothing can bo Invented or allowed by tho law which can be too bad for tho defaulting debtor; the prisons nro full of poor wrotches who would pay If they could, but, being locked up and forbidden to work, cannot pay; sho know that an appeal to tho mercy of her creditors would only harden their boarts, whllo It would only humlllato her 'with no result. She thought of night but whlthor? And when her slender etock wus gono what should she do next? And agnln she clasped her hands nnd walled. "Alas, I have been a fooll What a fool I havo been!" Sho took up ono of tho letters and read It again, although sho knew It by heart. Tho first .was from a draper on Ludgate hill. "Why," she moaned, "I hnvo been a customer of tho man over since I was a widow. Yet ho threatens me" It wAb true that she had ordered many things of him and hnd paid for most. Buti then, mho had not paid for tho last things, which wero costly. And now ho had written to her with words unmistakable. "Madam; I bog respectfully to call your immediate attention to tho very large ac count now standing unpaid In my books. I find that it Is now nothing less than 95 Ss Ud. I must, therefore, most ro luctantly request you to discharge this debt at once. I ennnot believe that tho widow of tho late Hon. Ronald Weyland aud the slstor-ln-law of Lord Strnthmana Is unable to pay a bill of 95 only. In deed, my own position forbids mo to wait. I have, therefore, to inform you that if within four nnd twenty hours I do not re ceive the money In full, I must take tho usual steps and issue a writ. In that case tho money must be paid In full with costs, nnd Immediately. If it Is not paid I shall have to Instruct my attorney to proceed as tho law permits and directs. "Madame, I cannot bellevo that a lady who has dealt with me for so long nnd until .this year with no difficulty about payment will fall to meet her Just liabilities. 1 could In ordinary circumstances wait your pleasure, but at the present moment my po sition Is serious, and I know not what may happen to mo unless this money Is paid. I have the honor to remain, madam, your most obedient and humblo servant, "JOSEPH FULTON." When she had read this letter through for tho tenth tlmo she laid It down upon tho table, and, with her chin In her hand, she fell Into another meditation of a most un pleasant nature. She was Interrupted by tho servant of tho house, who camo to tell her that Mr. Fulton was below and begged the honor of speech with her. Tho writer of the loiter followed the maid upstairs and entered without further cere mony. Ho was a man of short stature and of appearance displeasing. Although he was dressed as a citizen of substance and posi tion, his faco was marked by intemperance; his short neck lay In folds over his laco cravat; his checks were red and swollen; his noso was painted; these are all Indica tions of strong drink. Moreover, his volco was thick and his shoulders unsteady as If, which was, Indeed, tho case, ho had re cently come from a tavern. It Is not un common for a respectable citizen to show signs of drink In the evening perhaps In tho afternoon, but it Is not (happily) usual for a man of business to betray this indul gence In the morning. "Madam," ho sntd, "I camo to ask if you havo received my letter." "Sir, I havo received it. I havo read It. Hero It Is on my table." "And what, madam, may I ask, is your answer?" "My answer, my answer Mr. Fulton, I havo not yet thought of tho answer. The letter only arrived this morning. Perhaps UP ONE OF THE LETTERS AND READ In a month or two " "No, madam, by your leave. Not a month or two but a day or two." ' "Permit mo to remind you, Mr. Fulton, that when I ordered those things ono of tho reasons which persuaded mo to tako them was your assuranco that I should be allowed six months' credit." "I do not remember any such assuranco," ho replied boldly. "Come, Mr. Fulton, I think if you rack your brains a ltttlo you will remember that promise ot six months' credit, of which only six wcoks havo oxplred. My answer, sir, Is that I must tako that credit. I want that credit, and I must have It." "Madam, as regards that promise," bis volco grew thlckor, "I cannot remember It. How, then, can I allow It?" "Sir" tho lady's temper began to rise. "I 'perceive that you do not Intend to re member your promise. I have, therefore, nothing more to say I have no answer to give. You will do what you please. Dut I demand that credit." Tho roan's manner changed. He becamo suddenly cringing and he tried to be per- Buaslvo. He leaned over the tablo and es sayed a Bmllo which becamo a fixed grin. ''Madam," he said, "I am most unwill ing to press you. But my own affairs" "Your own affairs, sir?" "My own affairs, madam." He hesitated and spoke nt random. "They are in con fusion I know not what may happen. In fine, I am urgontly In want ot tho money." "Can a substantial citizen ot Ludgate Hill be In urgent want of 95?" "You mistake, madam." Ho rose up with dignity. "Every man in bustnoss is some times pressed. It Is not the amount It la tho occasion" ''I must take the credit you promised. I am sorry for your position." "As for my position. It Is more than as sured. I am a citizen, a freeman of tho Drapers company; my affairs aro on a largo scale. I am considered as the equal ot any merchant." he assured her with swell ing words and looks. "I must take that credit," she persisted. "Madam," bis face became purple; "I must have that money." He banged the table with his Oat. "I say that I must havo that money." Now hero the lady made a great and grlovous mistake. For sho ought to have referred the question to her attorney; there was nothing unusual in a credit of six months, and, which was moro Impor tant, tho debt would havo been found on examination to be due to the man's cred itors and not to himself. For, Instead ot be ing n prosperous tradesman, as he asserted, ho was nothing hotter than a man of straw, who Intended to get this money for himself and to dofraud his creditors. The man, In a word, might threaten, but he could do nothing. This, however, the lady did not know. "Oo," she said. "You will do what you please. Tho man hesitated. The lady pointed to the door. Her face and manner wero bard and unbending. "You will tako tho consequences," he said "Go." Again she pointed to the door. "You will take the consequences of rob bingyes, of robbing a substantial city merchant. Madam, a substantial " Tho lady rose. Ho said no more, but van ished. Sho sank back Into her chair. "Ot" sho groaned again. "What a fool! What a toot I have been!" She took up the second Utter. U was from her dressmaker, a certain Mrs. Dry mer, and was much shorter, yet to tho same effect. "Madam, I am most sorry to trouble you, or any of my customers. I can wait, as a rule, for a long time. Out your bill Is now, I find, upward of 70; this Is too largo a bill to run on any longer. The necessities of my business compel mo to ask for pay ment as soon as Is convenient to yourself. It Is with tho greatest reluctance that I press you for payment. Suffer mo to call upon you tomorrow nbout noon. Wo may perhaps find means to adjust this difficulty quietly and without trouble. I assure you that I havo assisted many ladles to get through difficulties and at tho samo time to pay me their liabilities. "I remain; madam, with much respect, your obedient servnnt, Patty llrymcr." "Tho letter is not threatening llko tho other," Isabel murmured, "but I know the f )' I I ) ivi pip m m h H 1 IT AOAIN, ALTHOUGH SHE KNEW IT DY woman. She is very resolute. I am moro afraid of her than of tho man, Fulton. What will sho any when I confess tho wholo to her?" Sho started and turned pale. For thore was a step on tho stair tho sound of a stop may bo a sound of terror to a debtor. Thero was tho step of her dressmaker tho cred itor who was going to call at 12. What should sho como for but to bog, to accuse and to threaten? A tap nt tho door and her visitor turned the handle and came in. It was In fact, uo other than tho dress maker, Mrs, Brymer, author of the short cptstlo you have heard. Isabel half rose; she gasped out certain words that meant nothing; sho sank back in her chair, sick and faint with terror. Sho had never be foro been dunned and she know not what her creditors could do. The woman was plainly drcssod. Sho was a little won an, nnd now old. Her face was lined and seamed with a thousand crow's feet. It was the faco ot a woman much oc cupied with affairs, shrewd and hard. -It was also stamped with tho wisdom that comes to somo women by experience and af fairs. Sho looked very wise, and as ln scrutable as an oraclo. Sho stood In tho door for a minute, looking with curiosity at her customer, as It sho would learn tho wholo truth from her face. Then she ad vanced n step, closed tho door softly and rapped tho table, not threateningly, but softly, .with her knuckles. "Well, madam," sho said. Mrs. Wcyland Inclined vher head. She could not speak. "I am very sorry, madam, to bo Importu nate" "If you can glvo mo time" Mrs. Brymer everybody knowB hor shop In Monmouth street thero Is no moro cele brated dressmaker In the wholo of London emlled quietly. There was no appearance of threatening nbout tho woman, sho was not uncivil or disrespectful, but her faco ex pressed hor resolution sho was como to got her money. "You aBk for time, madam. Truly, I would give you with pleasuro as much tlmo as you please all tho tlmo thero Is If you can show me how much tho hotter you woull be, If you had It or how much bet ter I should be. Tako tlmo, madam, If you plenso, but It Is not unreasonable to ask what security you havo to offer In case I give you time." "No, It Is not unreasonable. And yet nnd yet oh, Mrs. Urymcr, what answer nm I to make?" She began to cry ngaln; tho tears were real; they were not affected, but if they were designed to soften tho dress maker's heart they wero quite useless. A woman has very llttlo sympathy with an other woman's tears. Mrs. llrymcr took a chair and planted it opposite to her cus tomer. Then sho aat down Jlrmly nnd with resolution. "Now," sho said, "I havo como for an explanation nnd a confession!" "A confession?" Mrs. Woyland made a show ot sitting upright with Indignation. "Madam, I know a fow things, but not all. I know that you aro ruined; you havo lost, I believe, tho wholo of tho fortune that your husband loft you It was 1,000 at tho enrd table; you are In debt to others beside myself; If you cannot pay what you owe but, Indeed, I am sure that you know tho torrlble alternative." "Mrs. Brymer," Isabel ropllcd with some dignity, "If you know all this, there Is no necessity tor you to rehearso it; nor Is thero any necessity for mo to confess my affairs to you." "They are my own affairs. Your ladyship owes me the sum ot 90, with some shlll- tngs nnd pence. I can no moro afford to lose this money than you can afford to pay It." "Then, I do nol understand" "Madam, I vftll be plain with you. Let me know exactly the state of your affairs and I may bo. able to help you, but on con ditions. Hellove me, I know tho affairs of many women. You will never repent your confidence." "Tho only help I want Is money or time, and that you cannot glvo mo." "Thcro aro other ways bcsldo finding monoy or time. Let mo remind your lady ship that It you do not get help and cannot pay your debts, tho end Is certain. You can, therefore, do no harm to your nffalrs by lotting mo know tho truth, nnd you may find It to your ndvnutagc. My reason' for offering to help you Is nothing In tho world but to get payment of my claim." "Then can you help mo to pay youf claim?" "That you shall learn presently. Mean time let mo know your position" Thcro was some comfort In merely talk ing over tho position, even though It was with a threatening creditor. Isabel sighed. "Well, then, ask mo any questions you plcaso nnd I will answer truthfully." "Your husbnnd died some threo yenrs ago. Ho left you n small fortuno?" "Botwcen 4,000 and 5,000." "Is any of this monoy left? I bollove that there Is none." , "Very little. To bo frank with you, not moro than about 160." "What has become of It? I was right In saying that it has been lost nt tho hazard table?" "Somo of It. I know not how much. I kept no record. Somo nt card), somo In dress, somo this way and that way how should I know whero it has gono?" HEART." "And you have debts. What la tho amount of your debts?" "I owo Mr. Fulton, draper, of Ludgato hill, a bill of 155. He eald that I might wait tor six months, but, now ho presses. I owo you tho sum of 90. Theso aro the only largo debts. Thcro are also a few trllles." "Oh, Mr. Fulton presses you, does ho?" "Ho presses mo nnd threaens me." "Havo you anything besides that small sum of monoy?" "My dresses and a little Jewelry, worth I know not " "Humph! Your husband, however, had an elder brother Lord Strathorrlck." "But ho Is qulto ruined; ho has gambled away everything his llfo Interest in his estates, his pictures, his library every thing Is gono. Ho now lives in n corner of bis empty house. He can do nothing for me, oven it ho was desirous of helping me. Dut ho Is a selfish man, like all gamblers." "You have friends of your own, however. You nro not destitute of friends?" "Mrs. Drymcn, I will be qulto frank with you. My father, now old, la wealthy.. Dut he Is a nonconformist and bo Is austere. Ho has nover forgiven mo for my marrlago. Ho considered my husband a profligate bo couso he was a man of quality my hus band, the most Bober and sensible of menl UK. A. J-. faEAKLES, t, ke aioat Itcliable Specialist lit Dts eauea of Men. STRICTURE Curod with a new Horn treatment. No pain, no detention from business, URINARYthlncy and Bladder Troubles, Weak Back, Burning Urine, frequency of Urinating, Urine High Col bred or with milky sediment on standing. CVDUII 10 cured for life and 9 I rrllsalO poison thoroughly cleansed from the system. Soon every ktgn and symptom disappears completely find forever. No "BREAKING OUT" of the filseaso on tho skin or face, Treatment tontulnt no dangerous drugs or Injurious bcdlclnos. WEAK MEN trom Excesses or vie tlms of Nervous Do illty or Exhaustion, Wasting Weakness, With early decay In young and middle- tged, lack of vim, vigor and strength, ith organs impalrod and wtak. Curo guaranteed. CURES GUARANTEED CHARGES LOW My father would not consent to tho mar riage, so I ran away and was marrlod In May Fair." 'When your father knows your position ho will perhaps relent." "You do not know him. ' He might re lent if my ralstortuno wore due to other causes. But I havo wasted 4.000 nud more. Ho is n merchant who looks ution prodlgatlty with horror. I havo n brother as well; ho is moro austero than mv father and moro unforgiving. Ho looks to the succession. It ho finds out about tho debts and tho card table thcro will ha no longer any hopo for me. He will so represent the nffalr to my father that for giveness will bo Impossible It I can con ceal the truth perhaps my father may once more regard me ns a daughter." "It Is unfortunate. Would they oven consent to see you consigned to a debtor's prison?" "It would bo the cause of a final cutting off. My brother would find somethlug In tho bible which would sanction hardness ot heart. Bellevo me, Mrs. Brymor, I havo no hopo at all of any relief from ray own people If they learn tho truth about my affairs." "You owo ono creditor 95 nnd another 70; you havo in hand about 150 or thereabouts, with a llttlo Jowclry. And you have no prospect of asslstanco from any one. Truly, madam, tho position Is most sorlous." "It Is lndocd serious." "Then, madam," tho dressmaker drew her chair a little nearer and dropped her voice almost to n whisper, "wo must consider my method." "Do you really mean that you can find a way?" "Thero Is but ono way. And that way will terrify you at first. Do not start, nnd protest that you cannot, and you will not. It Is a way thut has been adopted by ninny ladles of fashion, though, for good reasons, thoy do not boast of It. At first It may seem Impossible, but I can show you that It is not only possible, but easy of execu tion." "What way Is thcro? In tho namo of heaven do not mock me. I nm already half distraught with trouble. What way7" "Madam, It la not known to you perhaps that you can transfer tho wholo of your debts, by marrying, to your husbnnd." "Dut who would mnrry a creature llko myself, who must confess to having lost In thrco years moro than 4,000, besides In curring debts of 260 more." "I can find you a husband, mndara." "A man who will consent to mnrry me? Impossible! And to tako over my debts? Impossible, ngaln!" "Quito possible, on tho other hand." "Is it n man whom I could marry? I mean thcro aro some men to marry whom would bo worso than death." "It will bo a man you can marry. Not a man of fashion, perhaps; not ono whom you would accept ns your lover. Dut you would lcavo him nt tho church door." "Who, then, could It bo?" "You might marry a sailor, unsuspicious, who would bo arrested I would tako caro of that on coming out of tho church doors. Ho would bo taken to tho debtor's prison; there ho would stay for tho rest of his llfo, and you would hear no moro of htm." "Would you havo mo lock up on Innocent young fellow for llfo? Flo! Flo! I could not, oven to savo myself." "Many ladles are not so squeamish. How ever, wo might find for you somo man al ready languishing In the King's Bench and without hopes of release. Such an ono, for a time, would willingly tako over tho addi tional burden of your debts. A fow hun dreds moro would mako no difference." "Could he not mako mo sharo his impris onment with him?" "Certainly not. You would be frco to llvo as you plcaso, savo that In his Hfetlmo you could not marry again." "Heaven knowa that I do not want to marry again." "In tho Fleot or tho Bench, thoy mostly dlo young. Tho bad air and tho drink kill them." Isabel llstoncd with a serious air. Tho method seemed to offer possibilities ot es cape. "Truly," sho said, "If tho additional bur don mado no difference, I seo no reason. Yet there Is a reason, too, Mr. Fulton has been hero; he has nlso written; ho Is In great trouble; he says ho must becomo a bankrupt. I thought that If I paid him all that I havo" Tho dressmaker shrieked. "Pay him all? Pray, madam, what will then becomo of mo? I know something of this man Fulton. Ho drinks; ho spends hla time In tnvcrns In stead of attending to his business. As for your making blm n bankrupt, no must in deed bo In a poor way of buslnoes for a city tradesman, and In Ludgato 11111, if a hill of 150 makes hlra bankrupt." "Well, then If I am not to pay him?" "You will pay mo Instead. I am hero, madam, to talk over your misfortunes, not tho misfortunes of this draper. Thero nro others, I suppose, who owo him money. Let him apply to them. Bellevo mo, madam, you must harden your heart." Isabel sighed. "I am sorry for any ono on whom I havo brought trouble. Well, thon can you find mo such a man already In prison, to whom another hundred pounds or bo of debt will mako no difference?" "I can find such a man." "Then oh, Mrs. Brymer it seems a djreadful thing to do." "There Is a third way tho surest of any. Dr. SEARLES & SEARLES OMAHA, NEB. SPECIALISTS FOR DISEASES OF MEN The Secret of Our Unparalleled Success is Told in Two Words: .WE CURE.. Varicocele, Acquired Blood Poison, Nerv ous Debility and all Reflex Complication! and Associate Diseases and Weaknesses of Men. , VARICOCELE Are you afflicted with Varicocele or its results Nervous Debility xd ar ywi nervous, Irritable and despondent? Do you lack your old-time eaortT and arabitloat Aro you suffering from Vital Weakness, etc.? There In a derangement ot the sensi tive organs ot your Pelvic System, and oven though it given you no trouble at pres ent, it will ultimately unman you, doproes your mind, rack your nervous system, u Ct you tor married llfo and shorten your exlitenco. Why not b. cured beftr It ll too late? WE CAN CURB YOU TO STAY CURED. Ws have yet to ses Oit Ctt-a Varicocele we cannot cure. Medicines, Eloctrlo Bolts, etc,, will nersr curs. Yoil ncod expert treatment. We treat thewoanda of cases where the erdtnarr phynlolia treats one. Method now, without cutting, pain or loss ot time. Dut It might be bruited abrosil and It Is always Ill-thought of; nothing but neces sity In fact cau Justify ft gentlewoman In taking such n step." "What Is It?" "You will not llko the thought of It at all. But it is the simplest and generally, the easiest plan." "What Is it?" Isnbel repeated. "Thero nro nlways lying In Newgate men condemned to death" Tho widow shuddered. "Oh, not thai!" "You guess what I would say. then. That makes It easier. I could And iom one, unmarried, friendless, who would not know who you are, to whom tho proroles ot drink In plenty until tho time cami would mako him qulto happy. I would say, 'Mnrry him.' In two or thrco weeks ha would bo dead." Again tho widow shud dered. "Aud no one would know and you would bo qulto free with nil your debts fallen off your back frco to marry again or to live ns you please." "But, oh, tho horrid thing! To marry n man going to bo hanged! To bo the widow of a man actually hanged at Tyburn!" "Why not, slnco no ono would know auv thlng about It?" "To mnrry n condemned fellow a mur derer n burglar a highwayman. Oh. I could not!" "You would marry him only In nam. You would lcavo him in his cell after the ceremony. A bottlo of rum would console htm for tho loss ot his bride. Indeed, for that matter, ho would expect nothing more than tho bottlo of rum." Still tho lady shook her head. "Madam," tho temptrcas ropeated, "you must harden your heart. I have told vou what to do. Thcro is a plain cholco be foro you. I can find you n sailor. Once get that fellow locked up, with debts ot hundreds keeping him there, and you are safe. I can find you a prisoner already hopclossty confined. He would be as good na tho sailor. Or thero Is tho condemned felon. Ho Is snfest. Tho only condition I mako is that you settle, Immediately, my bill In full. Does your ladyship agree? If not, there but I sparo you tho truth. You know bolter than myself what will happen." Mrs. Woyland looked out into tho street. Alas! To leave tho frco air of tho town; tho dear delights even ot tho strcots, not to speak of tho play, tho gardens, tho park, tho nssembly, tho card party how could bIio llvo away from them? How could she llvo In tho closo air, the dirt, tho noise, the conversation, of a debtors prison? Sho looked nt tho letters on tho tablo and her lips parted In assent; sho thought ot tho poor wretch Jingling his chains In tho con demned coll whom sho was to marry, and her check paled; sho thought of her austere father and her brother, nnd of their wrath, und tho relentless Justlco with which they hnd already cut her off and sho was ready to assent. Mrs. Brymer wntched her narrowly. The monoy duo to her was of tho greatest Im portance; sho had payments to make and bills to meet, tho loss ot this money would cnuso her great embarrassment. Dut Bhe said no more. Sho folded her hands In her lap and waited. Mrs. Weyland hold out her hand. "I ac cept," sho murmured. Tho other sighed with relief. Sho had saved her dobt. "You hnvo dono well," sho said. "Indeed thoro was nothing clso to bo done." "No ono Is to know," Isabel stipulated with u whlto faco and eyes full of terror. "Certainly not. No ono will know. You may mnko yourself qulto easy." Mrs. Dry mor rose. "Madam, tlmo presses; we know not when Mr. Fulton will Issuo his writ. Pcrhnps.lt is already Issued." "Are you going to net at once? It Is very sudden," "Wo must 'net at onco. I have already, madam, In your Interest, been up and doing; I havo found a young sailor and have prom ised him a bribe. But after all ho might bo violent; ho might brenk prison and es cape. Onco on board ngaln he would laugh at tho law. I will pass over the sailor." "Tho poor young man will bo looking for his promised wife," said tho sympathetic widow. "Ho will consolo himself nover fear. Well, I havo nlso found a man In tho King's Bench. He has no hope of release and will consent to anything that will glvo him a small allowance to live upon. I have ulso been to Nowgato. Thero Is a fellow under scntonco who laughed when I pro posed such n marriage. For ns much rum as ho can drink ho will do anything. Come, Madam, we will go first to the King's Bench." She rose. "I forgot to say that my con dltlons In return for this sorvlco are sim ply thnt you pay me my claim In full. That Is all. Do you promise?" "Yes yes I promise. O, anything any thing to relieve me of this anxiety." (To bo Continued.) Sitting Itoom Drama. Ohio Stato Journal: "Who comes there?" called llttlo Willie, tho sentry, in threaten ing tones, nn he brought his deadly wooden gun Into shooting position. "A friend!" nnswerod llttlo Tommle from behind tho rocking chair. "Advanco mid give tho countersign," hissed tho sentry, "or I'll shoot your head off." An ominous Bllenco followed this torrlblo threat, then Tommle Hold plaintively: "I've forgot. It." "You enn't remember nuthln'," exclaimed Willi" In dleiTJnt. throwing down his gun. "Cum over hero an' I'll whisper It to yer ngin." Consultation Vvcr. TrtB.at b- Mail) Call or address 110 H, UiH St. JDRI. BttAIlLBB SBAMLsM, OXAJIA, 9