THE DUKE OF ARCANUM.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 270, 15 November 1898, Page 6

THE DUKE OF ARCANUM.

| CHAPTER XVIII. (Continued)

By CASLETON LONG.

Mrs Tiernan was only too glad to accept the invitation. The supper smelled so good that a refusal was quite impossible in her tired and hungry condition, so she drew her chair to the table, while Imogen seated Pa-get and Geryl. The food being served, and the tea poured, the conversation was renewed.

'But you haven't told me where you saw this counterpart of my husband?' 'When Oi was on me way to Mrs Hawley's to wash for the lady this mornin'.' Then, after taking- a sip from the cup which she held to her lips, Mrs Tiernan added: 'Oi'm shure, dear, Oi don't remember the sthrait.' 'How did he look, and how was he dressed?'

'Very gentlemanly, ma'am, in a dark suit.' He looked loike he used to before the throuble was come to yez.' 'Well, Mrs Tiernan, you don't think my good and innocent husband, if he were living, would have kept away from me all this time without letting me know a word concerning himself, do you?' 'Oh, ma'am, but he moight have been away, and when he he heard of the great foire that has ruint so many people, he kern back to sarch for yez.' 'But he would be runningl a great risk in doing so.' 'An' it's'a brave man he is, ma'am. 'Well, it is strange, and you seem so confident of it, but I should have to see him face to face to believe that it was Stanley. You washed at Mrs Hawley's to-day, did you?'

'Yes, ma'am.' 'She is the button-hole maker that I have heard you speak of?' 'Yes, ma'am; Oi've talked to her so much about yez and the little tots that she says she's kemin' down to see yez. Oh, she's a foine lady; ye'd think a hape o' her Oi know. She earns eighteen dollar a wake, ma'am, think \o' that.' 'She must be smart. Does she earn that amount making buttonholes nlone?'

'Ob, yes, ma'am; that's a great > trade, you know. You niver saw anyithing loike the -way she makes 'em— co illigant and parfect; ivery stitch ■tfst aloike, and so fast, too. Why, ma'am, before the foire the great scores' down town sint her the most ill'igant robes to have the buttonholes wrtrked -because the dressmakers couldn't make 'em. It's a regular trade loike washin' an' oirnin', only it's more 'ristocratic, ma'am.'

Imogen, smiling at Mrs Tiernan's remarks, replied: 'I wish I had some ingenuity. If I could only exchange my icmsical talent for some substantial profession like that I should like it. I have not touched a piano or guitar in .so long I have forgotten what I knew. Has Mrs Hawley a piano?' 'Oh, y.ss, a foine one, ma'am.' 'Does she play?' 'Only a trifle, and when Oi told her of yer mwsic larnin' she said she must kern an' jiee yez.' 'Perhaps we can exchange music for buttonholesi, and buttonholes -for music' 'Oi think she wud be very glad to, ma'am, and its a sinsible one for yez. Eighteen dollars a wake wud be a great lift to yez—l'll hey another cup o' tay if ye plase, ma'am.' 'Certainly,' said Imogen, taking the cup which was passed to her. 'When I can make eighteen dollars a week you will come and live with me, won't you?' 'Oh, ye hey yer hands full wid out me, darlint.' 'But you could take care of the house and. the chikVen while I made buttonholes, then Imogen burst into laughter, in which she was joined by the washwoman. The children, catching the infection, also laughed and clapped their hands. The meal being finished, Mrs Tiernan assisted Imogen in clearing up the table, and washing the dishes, after which she retired to her own room. Then the children were put to bed and Imogen was again alone with her thoughts and needlework. The subject of her thoughts, it may be readily imagined, was the strange story Mrs Tiernan had told her in regard to her husband. She did not doubt its correctness in the least, and jfc was pleasant to think that Stanley was searching for them, as Mrs Tiernan had suggested. But how would he ever find them? She must devise some means of making her location known to him, and, further, she must also search for him. The work lay in her lap almost neglected. Now and then she would take a few stitches, but becoming so absorbed with her thoughts, they gradually grew less and less frequent, and finally ceased altogether. It troubled her exceedingly to thing that Stanley was so near and yet knew not where to find them. She would not dare to inquire for him, nor he for her. Perhaps in his search he had even passed her door. But she knew his perseverance, and this gave her hope that he would yet find them. It Avas the only hope she had, and a slim one at that, for it seemed now that only a chance wind could drive their barks together again.

For the few succeeding' weeks before winter* came, when the weather would permit, Paget and Geryl were allowed to play much of the time on the walk before the house, it being thought possible that Stanley might pass and recognize them. Moreover Imogen went daily for a long walk herself, and invariably upon different streets, making up for the loss of time •by toiling later at night, but she saw nothing of him.

A few days after the conversation at the supper table between Imogen and Mrs Tiernan, Mrs Hawley called Tipon the former. As she seated herself in one of the cheap, uncomfortable chairs in the one little room which constituted parlour, sitting-' room, dining-room, kitchen and bedchamber she said, with a pleasant smile: 'That good old soul, Mrs Tiernan, has told me so much of this in-

teresting little family, and of your sorrows and troubles, that I felt a desire to come and see you. I am Mrs Hawley.' The lady, who was about Imogen's own age, seemed so friendly and so much at ease that the latter felt at once that she should like her.

'You are so kind, Mrs Hawley, in coming to see me; and I am very glad to know you. Yes; Mrs Tiernan has often spoken of you. I think the desire for acquaintance must have been mutual, for when she told me that you were coming I felt greatly pleased, but feared that you would not r-n.re to vi"'^ <""'■»•■ —!'■--

fire burned us out, and what you see are the few things rurnisnett us uy the Relief Board vo commeuce housekeeping with again on a. small scale.'

'You have had a great deal of trouble. I know. We all have more or less of it; but ifc does seem as if .you had had more than your share.'

'I have had a great deal, I assure you,' Imogen replied, in a sad tone. 'No one knows what it is who has not experienced it, but I am feeling brighter and happier now than at any time since my troubles began. I have been so successful of late in having plenty to do.' 'But you look weary. Mrs Tiernan tells me that you sit up and work half the night.'" 'It is true I have to work quite late.'

'I am afraid you will break down. You must think of that, and be more careful of yourself.'

'I do think of it very much.' 'Is there no easier way by which, you can make a living1?'

'I am afraid not; I am so out of practice in music'

'Mrs Tiernan tells me that you are a fine pianist. I am very fond of music myself. I have a piano, but I cannot play much. I wish you would come down and try it. You may use it a.ll you wish. I should thn.;k that you might easily get some pupils.'

'I thank you, deeply thank you, Mrs Hawley, but I am afraid that in i the present condition of afEairs in Chicago, following such a terrible calamity, from which nearly everybody has suffered more or less, that we would starve while I was struggling to obtain a class.' 'Perhaps so; but you could rely on me for one of your pupils.' 'Then you are anxious to have instruction?' 'Yes; I should like to be one of your class.' 'And I am also anxious to be taught.' 'You! What are you anxious to be taught, pray tell?' 'The trade of a button-hole maker. That is something which would be of far greater utility to me than music' Mrs Hawley smiled. 'You are an ambitious little mortal. I should be delighted to do anything I can for you. If I could be the means of assisting you in a way that would render your work profitable, or less burdensome, I would gladly do so. But buttonhole work requires close application and considerable skill. I do not fear that you lack either of these qualifications.'

'Then we can exchange ideas if not talents,' suggested Imogen. 'I should, in return, be happy to teach you all I know of music'

'But, Mrs Edgcumb, you cannot spare the time. It >vill take you some time to become an expert buttonhole worker, and after giving- such (necessary time to instruction and practice as you will require, you will find that you can ill-afford to spare any for music. So I will agTee to pay you for my instruction. 'Oh, no; but I will spare it. It is only a fair exchange. I am more desirous of learning your trade than you are of learning my art. I will practice of evenings, and do my regular work during the day.' 'But you cannot make buttonholes at night, it would ruin your eyes; moreover, it requires the best of light to make them nicely.'

'Ah, I did not think of that.' 'But you can come and teach me music of evenings, though.' 'Yes, so I can. I can put Paget and Geryl to bed early, and Mrs Tiernan will be willing to sit here with them, I know.'

'What a good old soul she is.' 'I don't know what would have become of us had it not been for her. She so kindly shared her rooms with us when we had no place to go, after the fire had driven us out and destroyed what little we had. And when our little boy died she was the only one to come to us. I hope I shall live to repay her.'

I think you will. You are full of pluck and energy, I see. Misfortune some times pursues us until we lose all hope, but if we continue to battle against it, the tide is sure to turn. I V~e been interested in you ever since Vv% Tiernan first spoke of you, and I feel more so now that I have seen you. If there is any way I can assist you, do not hesitate to make it known.'

Imogen was touched by these kind words, coming from one she had never seen before, and her eyes filled with tears. Her lips quivered with an emotion which she could not suppress, and gathering her apron to her eyes, she wept. A moment of painful silence ensued, which Imogen herself broke with an exclamation which was choked and spasmodic:

'Oh, Mrs Hawley, if you only knew how glad I am to have such a kind friend! Everybody has seemed to turn against me. I once had friends, but when trouble came they deserted me.'

Mrs Hawley came to Imogen, and, putting her arm about her, said: 'It's jthe way of the world—with most people, at any rate. But you will not find it so with me, my dear.'

'I do not doubt it in the least,' answered Imogen. Then, drying her eyes, she said, apologetically: 'They are tears of joy and gratitude. . It has been a long time since they were shed for such a cause. I hope you will pardon my weakness, Mrs Hawley.' 'Say nothing more; let us be friends. And now tell me when you will come and take your first lesson and play for me.'

Imogen hesitated for a moment, glancing at the quantity of work lying upon the table. 'Let me see; this is Wednesday. I don't think that I can come before Saturday—Saturday afternoon. Will that be agreeable?' 'Perfectly,' replied Mrs. Hawley, who, after a few minutes further conversation, took her departure.

The mutual instruction thus so auspiciously arranged for was begun on the following Saturday, and continued regularly twice a week during the winter and spring. When summer came Imogen had made such progress with her trade that Mrs Hawley declared she could work buttonholes in the finest of fabrics as skillfully as she could herself, though not so rapidly, and frequently when there was a rush of work she gave her a large share to do for her, paying her the same price which she herself received. In a short time it proved quite a revenue, and then she decided to find

a more comfortable home. Tbe one little room, which she had occupied for so many months, was cramped, and, as warm: weather approached, she found it very uncomfortable. Moreover, Mrs Tiernan needed it during the summer. The latter, however, was loath to have them go. They had made her surroundings so cheerful that she dreaded the thought of being- alone by herself ag-ain. Their companionship was so agreeable that it far overbalanced the inconvenience which she sustained by the deprivation of her scanty room. Finding1 som.e pleasant rooms near Mrs Hawley's, Imogen engaged them and took immediate possession. She had saved some money, the proceeds of her new trade, and' with this and a credit which she obtained she bought some articles to embellish her new home. By this time, afEairs in the burnt city had begun to assume an air of activity. Buildings were appearing like mushrooms everywhere. Thousands were coming to the city of such wonderful recuperative energy, and every one seemed full of business and enterprise. In a short time after her removal Imogen found herself firmly established in her new occupation. Her work was so much admired that she was engaged exclusively by a large establishment. But, to take this situation, she was obliged to go to the store daily. However, this inconvenience was readily removed by persuading Mrs Tiernan to come and make her home with them, and care for the children in her absence. After two years of privation, poverty had at. last disappeared from the little household. Their home, to be sure, was not as comfortable as the one which they had possessed at the time jof Stanley's misfortune, for it had taken several years to accumulate what they then possessed, but they were comfortable, and not incessantly pinched for the necessaries of life. There was but one factor lacking to make them perfectly happy —the husband and father, of whom they had heard nothing in so many months. There seemed to be a void without him, and Imogen felt herself to be constantly upon the point of expectation. They never gathered around the little table without something being said concerning him. Imogen had not encouraged the children to believe that he was living, or would ■ever return. Ons the contrary she spoke of him as being forever lost to them, for she knew the trouble that their innocent little tongues might cause if made to speak by the catechising of designing persons. She merely alluded to him tenderly, and expressed a wish that he were again with them. Secretly she cherished a belief that he would some day be restored to them, but it was a silent indulgence of hope, without expresion, and sometimes she almost feared without sufficient warrant. When ever reference was made to him, Mrs Tiernan would persist that she had seen him on the morning described while on her way to Mrs Hawley's, but Imogen treated the matter in conversation with the utmost incredulity. (To be Continued.)