Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About Plattsmouth weekly herald. (Plattsmouth, Nebraska) 1882-1892 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 22, 1891)
WEEKLY KERALD: PLATTMOCITiL NEBRASKA, JANUARY 22 1891 3 I AVENGED AT LAST; Or, a World-Wide Chase. A STORY OF RETRIBUTION. 1IY "WAMASII." (COPYHIGHT. I8UU.) iiutr ni.c nrogy nennatea ere bho spok j. "I have to go to Franco to seo abo.it my properly." "P;-ope:-ty what property?" asked Mr. Emerick. i "Dj:i'tyj:i know th-.it I am heiress to Undo B i ' proporty at Arnior.9, worth nearly fivo hundred thousand "francs?" asked Mrs. Bregy. "So, how should I know tnat7 in rno faco of this good fortune do you still conic to mo and consent to call mo hus band a-ain?" asked Mr. limerick (or as uch wo still must know him) in an as tonished tone which to the woman had the rin? of cronuineness about it. "If I owned half New York you would ! he as welcome to it as you would be to a I! Zzrl'7 . " VniEV TOIJ LEAVE UK RE TO-NTOIIT TOff itUST MAINTAIN YOUR COMPOSURE." share of my last crust," answered the faithful woman. "Then you do love me truly," said the merchant, as ho kissed her fondly, "and sinco you are going1 to Franco I will accompany you and marry you again itDrouu." "That will Indeed bo a pleasure." said tho woman, with great feeling. "Whon do you sail?" asked Mr. Emer ick. "Two weeks from to-day on the La Gascoigne. Can you bo ready?" "Yes, I can get my business settlod up by that time and can accompany you." So they parted. The poor, deluded woman going to her home under the false belief that she had regained her ausoands lovo, ana tnouovnor a man to dream of the five hundred thousand francs which he now coveted with all the greed of his hardened nature. CHAPTER XVX Thus It happened, that although Mrs. Bregy and her husband had been parted for upwards of tw nty years, he still held tho same power over her which he possessed in the past and could control her as easily as ha had done whon he first made lovo to her on the benches in Washington Park. With his wilo Alphonse Bregy's se cret was quite safe. Known a3 Mr. Emerick ho was free to go and come as be pleased without the world being any tho wiser regarding his identity. Yet ho was about to play a desperate game, and it would tax his deceptivo re sources and daring spirit to the utmost to carry it through to a successful issue. Tho world must learn at once that Mrs. Bregy had n:ado a mistake in his iden tity, but tho reat must trunspire grad ually. Xo suspicions must bo raised One of the first whom Mrs. Bregy Bpoke to after telling her son of her dis appointment was Mrs. Delaro. That good lady was very ready with her sym pathy, yet she was really glad that the poor woman's mind had at last been set at rest "You will not of course delay your departure to France, now?" she said to Mrs. Bregy. "So," replied that lady. '"It is our in tention to leave as arranged, and there is one delightful circumstance connected with my visit to Mr. Eraerick'a which I must mention." "Indeed, what is it?" asked Mrs. De laro. "It is this," said Mrs. Bregy. "Al though I did not find a husband in Mr. VT TOU LADIES WILH ACCEPT MT ES CORT " Emerick I found a friend." (How well the natural cunning of her race was serving her at this time.) ' "That must be very agreeable," said Mrs. Delaro. "It happened this way. I told Mr. "Emerick I wa9 going to France, and as be also Intends to go there this summer lie has resolved to start at once and ac company us. IIo also knows many peo ple at Amiens aad can be of great serv ice to us. " As Mrs. Bregy spoke these words the stately Armida walked in, and after tho congratulations of the day she asked Mrs. Bregy if they expected to spend 'the whole of the summer In sunny 'France. '1 really can not tell," was the an- 11 M - Bill '11 111 II ' ' I WA'VAU fans rcr a yrara study wniie l am la boring with tho lawyers at Amiens." "Then ho is poing to act on my ad vice," said Armida, in a pleased tone of voice which her mother thought seemed almost absunt-mindod. "I do not know whoso advice it is. but that is the determination which he has expressed," answered Mrs. Bregy. "And aro you not going to b.j in Lon don at all during tho year?" asked Ar mi I a. "We may go thero, but it is almost impossible to toll what wo shall do un til the vexatious questions of law are settled,' responded Mrs. Bregy. "If you should go there," said Ar mida, " ou will either find us or hear of us at th j Hotel Motropolo, Northumber land avenue." "Th"n I will make a note of it," said Mrs. Bregy, as she drew a little book from her pocket. "Now, 1 must go. for I have to go down to the lawyer's." She had not been gone long when Mr. Blodger called. Since his old friend, Wilcox, died he had ceased to carry his scrap-book around with him, and poetry seemed to have vacated his soul for tho timo be ing. He had grown very prosaic, and, as he said "to Mrs. Delaro, ho wasn't feeling very well and as traveling seemed to bo the order of the day, thought he would take a trip to Europo right away. "I have sent a good deal of soap over there," ho said, "but have never been myself, and I think I will go and sea what tho place looks like." "We are anxious to make an eariy start," said Mrs. Delaro, "but have been waiting to get some further news of our friend, Mr. Lovel." "Mr. Lovel?" queried Blodgor. "Seems to mo I have hoard that name." "Surely, do you not remember the handsome Englishman whom you took for my brother at Long Branch?" asked Armida. "Certainly, I da What has become of him?" said Mr. Blodger. "He went down to South America dur ing the early part of January, and has never been heard of since," replied Armida. "Did ho goon pleasure or business?" asked Mr. Blodger. "He went on business. Mr. Lovel is the gentleman to whom Mr. Wilcox left so much money." "Bless my life to think that 1 am ex ecutor and don't know that,' said the bloated bondholder. Adding by way of excuse: "Well, I lelt every tning to tne lawyers to settle and I know they are men 1 can trust." Here Mrs. Delaro ventured to remark that she did not think it would be any use to wait all summer expecting news of Percy. The body which was found in the river must have been his and the poor fellow is undoubtedly dead." "But what will become of all that money, mamma?" asked Armida. "Oh, let the money rest, my child; some one will claim it some day," was the answer. "WelL then, if you ladies will ao- cept my escort, we will arrange a date to start to Europe. 1 suppose you win not obiect to mv takinir Stephen Blod ger, Jr., along?" said Mr. Blodger. ".Not if you take the precaution to warn the steward of the ship to lay in an extra supply of provisions that boy has such an immense appetite, it would be awful if the provisions ran short in mid-ocean in consequence or it," said Armida, in a joking manner. "Armida, please be serious," said her mother, gravely. "Oh, I must break out occasionally, mamma, or I shall grow melancholy."' Mrs. Delaro accepted her daughter's an swer as an indisputable fact. The result of the conversation was that Mr. Blodger was deputized to make arrangements for their early de parture by way of LiverpooL He lost no time in doing it, and that very day he socured berths on a Cunarder sailing the last week in May. When the day came everybody was ready, and, as the noble ship steamed down the harbor out on to the broad Atlantic, Mrs. Delaro's mind was full of thoughts re garding the occurrences of the years since her beloved husband was torn from her side. "Will my purpose ever be fulfilled?" Bhe would ask herself. "And must that villain be permitted to still roam this earth without paying the penalty of his crime?" During her life on board ship she had ample opportunity for undisturbed com munion with her thoughts, and some how she had a presentiment that the de sire of her life would still be accom plished. Often she wouldfahnoet give voice to the lines: - The mills of the cods jrlnd slowly. But they grind exceeding small." Then with renewed hope in her breast she would join the merry throng of pleasure-seekers and endeavor to drive her thoughts Into a pleasanter channel, though none but herself knew how much the effort cost her. Upon arriving in London they went immediately to the hotel which .Armida had named to Mrs. Bregy, and at once commenced to "do" the city and its sur roundings. niodcror was delighted. Day after day he would trudge around with un tiring zeal, and he insisted on dragging Armida along with him, until she grew tired of it all and excused herself from most of his excursions. Mr. li! lger spont a great deal of his time at tuo American Exhibition. He was interested in some patents being exhibited there and also mot a large number of his countrymen. Some of these he would often invito to spend the evening at his rooms in the hotel, and, as Mrs. Delaro occupied a suite of rooms on the same floor, he frequently introduced a number of Americans to her. This led to receptions and parties of various lands, and finally, finding that the incessant whirl was too much for her, she decided to leave the busy city for a time and spend a few weeks at Bournemouth, whither she and her daughter went On the other side of the channel, Mr. Emerick, in charge of Mrs. Bregy and her son, was busy at Amiens, exerting his utmost endeavors to procure a settle ment wit lira. Bregy's relative, .so. M to avoid tne necessity oi expensive ni- gation. His knowledgo of the world was of great value to his quondam wife and she was placing implicit faith In his ability to push matters to a successful issue and sottlo everything favorably Her judgment was correct and it did not take Ion? for them to secure the large legacy. But no sooner was a final set tlement effected than Emerick proposed to Mrs. Bregy that she should dispose of tho property and turn it into cash, after which they could return to Amer ica. This 8he did not appear quite will ing to do, as she preferred to remain in Franco, at least long enough to permit Eugene to finish a course of studies in Paris, in which city ho had already se cured tutors in various branches. It should bo understood, however, that Mr. Emerick did not show any un due haste in advising Mrs. Bregy to dispose of tho property. Ho took mat ters coolly and resolved to let affairs run their course up to a certain point. But his plans were precipitated some what whe.n she inquired of Mr. Emerick how soon their second marriage was to be consummated. This, was something about which Mr. Emerick was in no particular hurry. In fact, he told nor "I do not know but that I will resume my original name of Bregy and thus avoid the necessity of our marrying again." "I wish that you would do so, Al phonse," said his fond wife. "The only happiness 1 seek in the wide worla is to have you call mo wifo again." After a pause he said: "I think that I will go to Paris and see Eugene. I may then explain the whole circum stances to him personally." "I do so wish you would." "To-morrow, then. I will go to Paris, and will probably make a clean breast of it to our boy." When the morning came ho took an early train for the French metropolis, and the same evening sought out his son. Eugene had happened to take his apartments in a house where thero were a number of other young students, and had yielded to their invitation to see some of the fun of Paris. "Life." they termed it. Under this baneful Influ ence his French blood had warmed up. and before many days had passed he was rushing headlong into the mael strom of questionable pleasures. Itdid not take his father, with all the expe rience gained by all his own course of life, more than a moment to note me change. A glance was sufficient, and yet, strange to say, his father rejoiced at it, for this was the condition in which he wished to find his son. He knew that Eugene's nature was not strong enough to stand the temptations of the fastest city in the universe, and compre hended fully that he would now be a pliable tool in his own hands. Unnat ural as such rejoicing may seem, it was quite sincere on the father's part. As for Eugene, he could not understand the change of fronton Mr. Emerick' part. During the passage across the Atlan tic and throughout the remainder of their journeying there had been a re serve between the two almost amount ing to coldness. Still Eugene did not trouble his befuddled head much to divine the cause; he noted Emerick's cordiality and willingly accepted it for what it was worth. Any one who had seen Eugene in the New York grocery store a few weeks ago would not have recognized him again under present con ditions. He had rigged himself up pre cisely after the fashion of his new found associates and was now a correct type of the Parisian dude. lie also fell into their ways with alarming alacrity and could already consumo as much wine and smoke as many cigars as any in the crowd. He was not only like them in respect to enjoyment, but also In study. It is one of the remarkable things about Parisian students that no matter how lato they remain out at night or to what extent their midnight orgies'may be carried they are always present at the lecture and generally pass successfully through 'their course of study. Mr. Emerick did not confide the se cret of his wife's recognizance to Eu gene at ence. He proposed to wait until he saw fully which way the boy was go ing. His nightly sprees were becoming expensive, and he was running through a great deal of money. In fact, Eugene was fast approaching a financial dilem ma, and had already written to hi mother to send him on a further supply. Of course his mother sent it at onoe, but still she wondered why he needed it. If he made such drafts as that on hi slender stock of money left from the sale of the store he would soon be en tirely dependent upon his mother, and, notwithstanding that she was ready and willing to find him all be wanted, she could not help speculating as to why it was he spent so much. The Sunday after Mr. Emerick joined Eugene in Paris, they both went out to the races and on their way home Eugene told Mr. Emerick he had bet his last napoleon and lost it. He need not have told this, however, for Mr. Emerick had watched him carefully and knew as much. Yet he did not betray his previous knowledge when Eugene told his tale. They were roll ingalong the Champs Elysees when the conversation took place, and, as they turned off toward the street where they were going to take dinner. Mr. Emerick was about to tell Eugene that he wpuld &iUt him to anv extent when that ouuer man interrupted him with an ex- nrnKinn of iov. Euirene bailed the driver to stop and before Mr. Emerick knewwhat had happened a decidedly fast-looking Parisian belle was being handed to the carriage. Simple as the wp.urrence mirht seem to any one .naintfd with life in the French metropolis, it meant a great deal with Mr. Emerick and convinced him that he would be able to carry out the scheme V, k,il i n mi nil v ith the greatest of ease, so far as finding a dupe was con irned. To have seen the manner in which th father and son spent the afternoon nil eveninc one would hardly have imagined that they were the same pair whe kneeled so devoutly at tne servic la the MaLelalo -la tae naeraiiw. Still, they only did as thousands of o.hers did whois religion was a weekly aff.iir, ocojpying about two hours each Sunday. They had kneeled nnd s.'.t sido by side in that beautiful and Kolcmn edifice in tho morning, and at midnight they jingled glasses together in a third-rate dance-hall, railed the fivoli. situated on a sid strout near tho l'laco du Chateau D'Hau. Tii y hul for a few moments drawn aw.iy from the crowd inside, and worn sitting in the .sha.l" of some trees at a liulei t.iblo i:t-;i le tho main hall. H eh was excited with wine and tho older h.il b votn.: eo;:ir)ui Un live. "Eugene," ho said. "You are having a pretty lively timn of it over here. Rather moro lively thaii weighing tea, anyhow.'' "Well. I should say I am,' was tho re sponse, in a maudlin voic ?. "And what do suppose this fun is go ing to cost you?" as;;d Mr. Emerick. "My head is in no condition for fig ures and I couldn't tell you," replied Eugene. "it seoms to mo that if you move along at this rate much more it will re- 1. p&i i "LET US NOT TROOill.r OUR HEADS WITBt THE VULGAR DETAILS OF LIFE." quire a pretty big bank account to keep you goinir," said Mr. Emerick. To wmcn remans laujjouo rvjnreu, iuscun comical tone: "Let us not trouble our heads with the vulgar details of lifo at this time. 'On with the merry dance' is tho order of the hour. We will discuss finances to morrow." With these words he took his un known paront's arm and walked toward the ball-room. CHAPTER XVII. When Eue-ene awoke tho next day his mind was full of the follies of the ono whir.h had nassed before it, and in his sober moments he soon came to the knowledge of the fact that he had fool- ihlT nlaeed himself in an un pleasant predicament from which it would take a considerable sum or money to extricate himself. The amount of his debts was not a very large sum in the eyes of many, but Lugeno bau not beoa possessed of woaltu long euouga to consider the sum it would take to fttl with his creditors as an insigni ficant amount He disliked very much to accept the proffered assistance oi Air. "Rmeriek. but he saw no alternative, as be m ust h a ve the money before the o ven- ing of the next day or risk arrest Tinrinr the evenintr he met Mr. bmcr- lck and, as they sat at one of the little marble-topped tables in a caio near to the Grand Opera House, he broached the subjeet of his difUcultios. IIi3 listener seemed almost prepared for it, . .-TV 1 for he asked in a moment: "iiowmucu will it take to entirely wipo out your debts?" "About five thousand francs.' an swered Eugene. "That is but a small sum. I will ad- HTwn it. to vou in the morninj? aud you can tide over your trouble." After thpsn words Mr. Emerick was quiet lor some moments. Eugene thanked him. but otherwise made no reply. Having, aa it HfPmed. frot his thOUShtS ' into shape, Emerick leaned over the tablo and speaking in a low voice saia: ju- fTOTia I have somethinsr to tell you which may affect your future if not told at onoe." "Indeed! what is It?" inquired Lu- gene. "Nothing serious, i noper Without any farther rr lerence to tne nature of his news, Mr. Emerick said: "Your mother's recent acquaintance with me came about, as yon know. In a rather extraordinary manner." Yea. so I have understood," said Eu gene. "As you must know sooner or later. I may as well relate the circumstances to you at once." Whereupon he proceeded to speak of the occurrence at the dock yard gate in Brooklyn and the subse quent interview at bis rooms in New York. When he got to the point where his wife again recognized him he said: "Your mother made no mistake. I am her husband and your father." When Eugene heard these words he flrnnned the wine srlass he was raising to bis lips on to tho table and ex claimed: "Then why did you cnange vour name?" "I have already had to refuse your mother an answer to tnat question ana for the nresent must decline to answer you. When tho proper time arrives vru Kh all learn mv reasons." This was a.11 the satisfaction which Mr. Emerick gave. Eugene was mystified beyond measare and hardly knew what to say in reply, but he contented himself with observing: "Well, you may have good reasons but it seems to me like unneces sary mystery between father and son. "In due time it will all be explained . n.a n to you," said his latner. un r-ugene was full of grave suspicion. He had himself led such an open, honest life that inch unexDlained and Questionable actions on the part of his father gave him grave apprehensions tnat ne was nnt tfe mm of interrltv for which be passed in the eyes of the world. He made no further allusions, nowever, nntll lita In the evenin? when he and Mr. Emerick were sitting in the rooms of the latter. The conversation had turnod on Eii Irene's friends, the De- laros. It was Enirene who first men tioned them aad if he had been, more observant n would nave noticea a strangn l-.)ok pass over his father's face, which almostHeenieil llko an expression of fear. He told his father all about tho accident which threw him across the path of the Delaros, and he spoko of Armida in such t'-rms of praise that his father felt constrained to ..y: "You beeni to liavo a soft place in your heart for this lovdy creature whom you de scribe. '" She would soften any one's heart," respon le l E:i;en'. Mr. 11 in rl'-.i did not betray in words any knmvlel re of her of whom Etrreno spoko until lv:;ene continued: "Vou ouht t. M il tuis lovely Slio is the most h'-auiiful woman 1 ever saw, nnd as ple.ix;mt i:i li'-r i.iann rs :.h sbe is beaut. fill i:i form and feature." "What di 1 yu s iy her name was?'' asked .Mr. Emerick. unconcernedly. "Arsnid.i 1) l .ro." "Why. that is tae numo of a young lady ivliorn I met at Lonj Branch 1-st sea on," si i Mr. Emerick. "Doub! l'j.ss the same person, for they spent part of the season tlii.-e, and I think Mrs. P sail that she stopped, at the West L.nd fltc-1. ' "Then she must Iks tho same, for that is whero I met her. There was with them an Englishman named Lovel and a Mr. Wilcox?" "Yes, 1 havo heard then speak of tho Englishman." said Eug-no, "and Mr. Wilcox 1 know very well myself. Ho died 'only a short lime, since and left all his wealth U thL) Percy Lovol." "A deal man can not liavo much uso for money," mused Mr. Emerick, whilo aloud ho added: "I wonder what will become of it all?"' "It will doubtless find an owner some day." Eu,'.ron) responded. "It would bo a very cornfortablo sum for a poor fellow lo ret hold of, and would enable; him to dispense with tho necessity of resorting to vulgar labor for the rest of hi- natural life," said Mr. Emerick. Tiirnin? his eves directly towards PiifTrnuV facn hn lislv-ofl: "What would you do. Eugene, if ynu were possessed of such a sum as that fortune repre sents?" "Pionoso to Armida Delaro as a first Step." wa; the answer. "An I if sha re'uso you, wuat men asked Emerick. "In that c ase tho money would give mo very little pleasure, for thero is no other woman on earth whom I would care to marry," answered Eugene. "If you had that amount at your back you would not bo Ions in finding one. anyhow," was Mr. imcricic s nexi. re mark. Then as Eugcno did not appear ready with a reply he leaned over to him nn.l w h isnrsrcd : "How would you like to get a sharo of that wealth?" "Very well. II 1 couia como ij iv Hon estly," said Eugene. "Come, now. don't put on such strong moral airs, Eugene; you know that so long as you get it, you would not care how you came oy it. As Eugene heard these words be stared at his father with fire gleaming from his eyes and said in an angry tone: "It is a lucky thing lor mo mat i not meet ray fathsr wntu my morais wprA fnrmeii or it would be difllcult to surmise where my career might havo led me. If those are your sentiments do not try to graft them into me." "Your lit of morality win pass away in a few moments; then I will talk to you," said Emerick, in an exasperating lv cool voice. And sure enough, when Eugene had, as ho thougnt, cooiea uowu. he spoko ngnin: "You know that you need money, unless you are going to live on your mother's means, and by a simplo act on your part you can get a good fortune of your own." "Explain your meaning, saia isugen. "My meaning is simply this," said Mr. Emerick. "Percy Lovol, tho En glishman, ist'.-d. His next of kin may never bo found, and that money win ue waiting for some one to claim it. I know a man who resembles Percy Lovel as much as two peas resemble each other, and. as the money will never do the State any good, I propose ;that he should personate Percy Lovel and claim old Wilcox's fortune." 4 "Great God! What kind of man are toiiV asked Eugene. "Surely, you are not my father?" He spoke 1 All iiiv hut in English, so that tho bv-standers did not understand him. "Do you expect me 'to take a hand in such work as that?" All that 1 shall ask of vou is taat you procure me a specimen of Percy Level's handwriting." From the manner in t,oh Mr Emerick snoke. it was plainly visible that he still believed Eugene to be asauming his attitude of offended morality. "I could not if I would." said Eu This remark encouraged Mr. Emerick, an that. h smiled, and resumed In a ranid. earnest manner: "You can do it t t u All that vou have to do is to go over to London, tell Miss Palirn that vou are wealthy, and claim her hand. Then watch your oppor tunity to open her writing aesK ana H. lAA . ... 4- take one of 1'ercy lotci i lenoia ouu. I know she has lots or tnem. "No sir. I will never stoop to such underhand tricks." said the younger man with emphasis. Finding that he could not induce TWT.ft to helD him through in his v. K VinMinir out orOSDectS Of DCUCUiQ n., " " m.ith to him Mr. Emerick thought he wnuid resort to another plan. His ac- w!,. y,aA snnn invented one. but as WW - he proceeded to unfold it he little VrtMtv how true niS lUDTOSiuuu , ..cnvjinw " -aid he. "that this En glishman should not be dead after all and that he 6houid turn up w uo money? Then, as a natural conse quence, he would marry Armida Delaro, hw would vou feel about that?" "I would feel like killing the pair of them," responded t-ugeae. x no pros nnaMciiinn of an immense sum of money had failed to rouse Eugene's Inward nature, but when that inslduous worker of evil, jealousy, assumed the -in of his mind, he took a different -. Tiddns. he was rettin? warm with wine and his words flew thick and fast "Never." he said, "shall any man wi4w Arm ida Delaro but Eaeene Breer. If she refuses me she shall never live to refuse another. Hmonctf could hardly have Lellev4 that so slight a hint would have cauned such a change of front, but he Inwardly chuckled at the result of his apparently accidental suggestion. "Such a thing is more than posMlble, he said. "Thero are many gentlemen traveling through that country who might resemble Percy Lovel in dress and appear. meo and become th victims of an accident. Besides, the body found in tho river was badly decomposed, and the identity was only presumptuous at the best." These words only Increased Eugene's eagerness and in an Impetuous manner he exclaimed: "I will start for London to-night and survey the field. If Armi da refuses me as a poor man I will stop at nothing to make myself rich enough by some means to have a fitting re venge." Thus did the polished old villain, steeped in sin. commence to drag this splendid specimen of manhood down to his cwn level. The first step was being taken aiiJ uffRnn was to tasto boiiiu of hat raur aweetnoss I n crimo which U-ais the taster f.om one deep water to another until finally he gets beyond hie depth and sinks lorover. Euirene was as good as his word. 1 no next day he started to Calais, his debts all paid and a lotter of credit for a con siderable sum in his pocket to defray his expenses in the Bomber metropolis of tho world. Mr. Emerick took another route. Amiens was to be the scene of tho next efforts in behalf of this Prince of Sin. When ho related tho resultof hisvislt to Paris to Mrs. Bregy ho did not ad hero strictly to the truth. He told her that Engeno was progressing favorably with his studies and that ho had gone over to London for a few days by way of a little recreation. Mrs. Bregy asked him if he had told Eurreno that he was none other than Alphonso Bregy and. upon receiving an Cirmative response, she said: inen dear husband, we can again bo as we once were to each other husband and wife in truth." "Yea. there is now no obstacle la the ray," he replied. "My happiness is complete," ex claimed tho delighted woman, throwing her arms around his neck. Having suc ceeded in working his too confident wifo up to this pitch, the unprincipled schemer continued in his deceptive mariner to still furthor delude the trust ing creature. "Do von prefer to remain in your na tive land, my dear," he asked, "or shaU we return to the country of our adop tion?" "That is something of which I have been thinking ever since you left me a week asro, and 1 have arrived at the conclusion that it will be better for us to take up our permanent home in America," she replied, lo hear tme from her lips delighted Mr. Emerick, for it meant the sale of the Amiens property, and there was no desire nearer his heart than that "Still, we need not hurry," he said. "Wo will spend a short timo in London this season. It is point? to bo a very brilliant one and should not be missed since wo are so near." "That will bo a very pleasant way to spend a few weeks. Still, I should like to sever my connection with this old city. For, delightful as it Is, and full of so many reminiscences or pleas ant days and hours, there is now no more pleasure in it for me. Why, some times I am afraid to walk about for fear some of ray angry relatives should leap from concealment and fclay me in broad daylight. fx great is their disap pointment at not being able to wresi the property from m':,"said Mrs. Bregy, in an alarmed tone. "Then tho best thing to do is to dis- poso or your un:wi aivj. uji . . . . 1 . I A A 1 have nothing but tho hard casn to vasu care of. In that way it will 00 mucu more easily handled." "That is exactly what I havo made n-n w toLel3 to (in iu vou had better commence negotiations to-morrow. As soon as every thing is settled we will leave here." These words, as they feU from Mrs. Bregy's lips, filled the old deceiver's heart with fiendish glee, and he readily answered: "I will push mat ters as fast as possible, and even if we have to make a sacrifice we will let the property go." "Any thing to be rid of these sur roundings," she said. Mr. Emerick was true to his word, and in less than ten days every thing was settled, and he, as Mr. Bregy, waa in sole control of the confiding wom an's wealth. Their first steps were di rected to Paris, where a few days were spent in a whirl of pleasure. Mr. Bregy, as the ex-merchant was now known, seemed as though he could not do too much to give his newly-recovered wife pleasure, and all the days were days of happiness to her. Yet what a cruel awakening was in store for herl They had not been in Paris a week when a letter reached them from Eugene, saying that ho had not found the Delaros, as they had left London and would not return for a few weeks, but he was very much delighted witn the great city, and, having met Mr. Blodger, was haying very pleasant timo of it Upon receipt of this a discussion took place as to their next movements, and it was decided to spend a few weeks in tho south of France. They went to Nice, and every thing seemed to pro gress satisfactorily with them until about two weeks after their arrival there, when the newly found husband grew moody and sullen, and one day, when Mrs. Bregy fondly asked the cause, he told her that his affairs In New York were not quite all settled when ho left that city and be feared he should have to return immediately to make an adjustment "Not without -me?" faltered the faith ful woman. "Yes. You can remain here a few weeks, then go to London, and I will return from New York to meet you there," he said. In a moment Mrs. Bregy burst into tears, and seemed as troubled as a- , bride of twenty might have been under similar circumstances; but after a time she was consoled and consented to do aa Emerick asked, (le he Cesttaaeel 'i 4