A LEGAL WRECK.

Auckland Star, Volume XXI, Issue 183, 5 August 1890, Page 6

A LEGAL WRECK.

By WILLIAM GILLETTE,

Author of "Held by the Enemy," "The Profeasor," "The Private Secretary," (joint author) "Eameralda."

CHAPTER VIII.

.MISCHIEF BKEWING. Olivb did not return io; the Christmas vacation, but remained to pursue her arb Btudias privately. Ab the Baater holidays ehe came. It was the lasb vacation before her graduation.

Ed was at the Wiiliamsporfc depot when the train rolled in. lie helped Olive from the car-, carried her small bagrgago to the waggOD, and then pusfred his father aside, and lifted the trunk in. So stood on the platform when the Gap'n took up the reins to start, and Olive, who had thanked him sweetly, asked tho Cap'n if ho could not ride;hoa3o with them.

' Sartain ho can,' replied the Cap'n, you cays the word,'

Now Olive did not; wish it at all. But she wanted to start with this man in as easy and .friendly a manner as possible. She saw that he was dressed well, and had evidently taken her advice. She had promised to be friend 3 with him. Therefore she said the word, and the three drove back to Gap Harbour fcogafchei

But very soon ib began to be evident that 32d was assuming too much. Hβ evidently imagined he had some right or ownership in Olive; was constantly at the houee; watched her when she went out: seemed never to take his eyes from her. All night be..would remain outside, where he could command a view of her window. There wae no effort to conceal this. Rather did he seem to do it ostentatiously, And he Bpoke to her with a hint of.authority in his tone, almost as if sho belonged to him. It. could not go on. It-becamo unbearable. The Cap'n saw thab its muse end. ' I aren't a-goin , to have you troubled no more, , said he, one evening, after Olive had enduiecl tbi<s for a week and a halt. 'I shall give orders for him to sheer off.' She thanked him, feeling that if tho Cwp'n could end the afiair and save her a disagreeable interview with the fellow, it would be a groat relief. She disliked a scone inten3ely--although hoi , excitement carried her through pna when, occasion required. She bad some misgiving*, however, knowing Ed'e violent nature, and resolved to be near as band when tho Cap'n gave his ' orders,' that no harm should come to him.

It was not until the following evening that he had an opportunity of getting Ed alone with him in the little parlour, from the walls of which gaping sea monsters regarded the occupants with all tho signs ot a healthy appetite. He had sent Mazoy to the village for something. Olive had goua to her room.

The Cap'u sab still a moments, and then Jifl bejjan with hia usual directness .and simplicity. 'Ed'ard, I've been takin' obsarvations on your coime pretty reg'lur, an' it's a-takiu' of you into -waters where you doesn't bolong.' Ed stared at .his father. There was a short panae, and then tho Cap'n, looking hinx.calinly in the eye, went on. 'This young.leddy as jist went out were left with me, and I've tried to do the besb I knosv'd of for her. She's beon eddicated an' brung , up like a leddy an' she are a leddy, an' I aren't a-goin' to stan" by an' see the whole thing go to smash owin' to you. Therefore, once for all, I gives orders as you is to ah -w oft. .

Hid was up in an instant, liofc, furious. Hia chair foil backward on tho floor aa he iptauy. to his foot,: and Olive, bearing it, flew to the stairway and down. She stopped at. the foot of the stairs. Ed waa doing no violenco, but was shaking his clinched tist in his father's face, and hissing threats and oaths through his set teeth. Hie face was distorted with a fearful rasre, for to have the Cap'n presume to interfere in the ono thing for which he had struggled so desperately, and on which bis whole violent animal craving was turned, had roused his anger to the highest pitch. There was no telling what he would do in a moment. In the midst of one of bis violent outbursts he felt a touch on hia arm—a touch that, although light, caused him to turn quickly. • I want to apeak with you,' said Olive, in a quiet, intense tone. • Well—' began Ed, still angry. * Wait, please.' She looked at him until he was quiet. Then said, turning to the Cap'n, 'Uncle, 1 want to be alone with him.'

Oap'n Smith, after a surprised look, walked out of the room. Olivo followed him to the door and closed it.

Not long afber this, Edward Smith left the. house. His face was pale. The ecar on hia neck, where ho had boen cut; in a drunken fight, was blue. His oye3 were bloodshot. Hβ stumbled along the road, not knowing whether or not he wa? going in tho right direction. Soon he found himself in the village. Keeping on down the street until he came fco Bandy's, he turned to the rio-ht and went out to one of the deserted wharves. Walking to the end, he caught at one of the upright posts, and bowed himself over it. Ho remained there until the lirrbt of morning threatened to point him out, and then went away. Oliv6 had made him understand at last. During tho remaining few days of her stay in Gap Harbour she did not see him, though fhe had an uncomfortable feeling that his eyea wcro upon her. Once in the night, looking from her window, she imagined she saw a dark form sink quickly behind the old stone wall on the opposite side of the rood. She.felc a little nervous for a time, but tried not to think of it. With-the-rooming sun her self-possess 1021 returned. ■ The Cap'n took her to the train at Williameport with a light heart this time, for the term to come was a short one, and after it was over he would have her with him constantly. These vacations were unsatisfactory to the Cap'n. They were almost unreal. The end seemed to ruah toward him with incredible velocity—so fast, indeed, as to leave a vacuum in the calendar directly after it,'in which the following days and weeks were sucked out and swelled to three times their regular size, TO merely think of there being no end to which he must look forward with dread waSj a .happiness indeed. ; . Aβ the train moved out Olive kissed her hind to him from the window. As she pressed toer rosebud of a mouth «with that charming little neatly-gloved hand, and then, looking unutterable love out of those deep expressive eyes, madethedaintiesblittle wave toward the Cap'n, it is safe to say there was not one man within sight of it who did not envy that dear old ealt with tho white hair and round jovial face, and a few stray tears trying unsuccessfully to find a smooth path down his cheeks. One man who saw it was consumed with a bitter, a rankling envy. It was the son of the■whitJe-haireu sailor, and as the train moved out he came from the shadow of the station building and stepped on Voard of it. He took a-seat in the rear of the ear, and kept hi* eyes on Olive. When she changed to another train at Wickford Junction, he followed her, and was still watching her hungrily when they reached Portland. On the way down from there she saw him for the firafc time. He came and stood before her.

' Probably you didn't expect to see me here, , he said, ia a low, hoarse voice. «No, I did not, , she replied. • Shall I tell you why I came V leaning flown bo that bii-hot fevwieb breath was l»

her face. * It's because I'm to make you ' •I shall apeak to the conductor if you stay hero,' she said, rising to her feet and glancing quickly up and down the car. ' I do nob wish you to speak to me,' ahe added suddenly, as he was about to answer. He stared at her an instant in silence, and breathed hard. Several persons sitting near were looking at him. Slowly fcuruinayhe went back and seated himself near the ond of the car. She felt his wicked eyes upon her still, although she did not see him again. At a moderate-sized town he noticed two gentlemen conduct a young woman from the train, and with Hocae'diilicultypereuade her to geb into a carriage. Ho saw the conductor and one or; two train men stand ready to assist them, if. nccessnry. He opened his window and heard them urge tho poor.creature in gentle tonoa to talco a little drive with thorn, and visit a very beautiful country place. ' But I atn going to Newport,' she remonstrated. •* 1 ara goinjr to Newport. They expect me there. The roofiis alo oil engaged.'

4 Bub this is a much better hotel than the one at Newport/ feaid one of the gentlemen, kindty, 'and they are holding rooms for you —beautiful rooms, beautiful room*.'

She looked at the speaker raguoly—questioMingiy, then permitted herself to be assisted' into the carriage, and was driven away.

One of the brakemen explained, in answer to Ed's question, that there was a private asylum itor the insane soifce miles back in the country, and they- were taking her there. Ib wasn't ofton they brought the 'loons' around this way, bub oneo in a while they had a case como through on the train.

Ed kept his eyes upon Oliva all the afternoon. Ho changed when &he did and always took a seat in tho rear of the car she occupied. It was lute in the evening when •be arrived at Northampton. Edith Kimball met her- at the train, and she was unusually delighted to be with her friend once more, and felt, besides, a sense of great relief. For a peculiar nervoueness, an indefinable fear hud taken possession of her. There was a wickedness in those oyes that wore upon hor, and aho Was so sensitive that she folt it.

Ed also left the train at , Northampton. He prowled about the town for several nights, kesp.ing well out of sight, however. Then he left tho place. A desperate and devilish scheme suggested ibeolf to him.

(To be Continued.)

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