A Wasted Love

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume V, Issue 1233, 25 January 1905, Page 4

A Wasted Love

OHAPTER XXV. : Continued

Martha Hoopor held the lamp as. high v aa her trembling band permitted, and as a its light fell upon, the man's face, she v > soreamed and shrank back against the t wall. The visitor stool for a second looking at her with an evil grin, as if he wero onjoy- s ing her consternation, then took the lamp j * horn her and dosed the door. ] "How d'ye do, Martha?" he said; | "kind of a surprise, ain't it? You'ro , ; hooked all of a heap with joy, aint you ?" , tibe leaned against'the wall, staring at him as if he were a ghost. v " It-is you, Jake 1" she gasped at last. L "Of course it's me," he retorted with a I mocking laugh, " Did you tako me for ■ my brothor, who died beforo I was born ?" A , " I—l thought you were dead 1" she V panted, eying him with hopeless horror, H "I daresay," he sneered, " iho wish was W father to the thought, eh? Well I ain't W dead; though, for the matter of that, Jam F' noarly, for the want of something to oat \ and drink, Gome, unglae yourself from ' that wall and do the hospitable. Is this the 'way to welcome tho wanderor? 1 Where's the fatted calf, and the red, red wine?" • ' . • , She went along the wide passage, with hor hand against the wall, as if she had j soarcely strength to walk unaided, and led tho way into the room in which the two girls had sat. Jake looked around. ' "Hump, pretty well, but itjsn't.my >-I idea of comfort.' Me me where there's ■u afire." , t He limped before her into the kitohen, and setting the lamp on ins table, stir* led the fire with his loot. . •'That's better," he said; andnowwhat •' have you got to eat and drink-specially ,;' drink? Don't stand there gazing as if 1 >" were ft stuffed pig. Lord, you're the Bame > ' frightened, soared, rabbit-headed individ* , ual you used to be.'' She drew a* long breath and went to a cupboard and brought out the dinner she j Jpko eyod it critically and swore with \ i dißgast. "Cold chop.! That's a cheorfut dinner for a hungry man; aud you dou't ;' mean to say you aint got anything, better than that?" he continued as she placed a ~ jug of water on the table.,. I She shook her head. 11 Not a drop of gin even, or rum I Well \ I'mdashedl" '_ He flung a ohair to' the table, droppod into it, and drawing the despised chop to- '; ward him, prooeeded to despose of it as t dog does. Having oaused the obop to Vanish, h( * wiped his mouth on the table cloth, tool l i ; a glass of water with a wry face, and lit ar evil looking pipe. " ind so you thought I was dead ?" b( ■ said, staring up up at the shrinking womar /, with a sinister smile. » "Yes," she said. "I heard so." / " Ha 1" he retorted, drawing at bis pipe < and puffing but a thick volume of smoke ;, which seemed to' fill the small room, am « ' made the woman' cough and choke ' "That's what most wives say wnenthe; give their husbands' the slip and want ti ? get married again, By the way ate yoi married again ?" i/ Sho shook ber hand, still staring at hin fear seemed to have almost deprived her c her senses. ""') " That's jast as well, though I shouldn' have minded much, You see, you'v gone off bo, my dear Martha I Lord 1 t think that you are the girl as used to com tripping down the lane to meet me at tfa ' stile—tck, tok I l ' and he clicked his teetl The wpman'B eyes filled with tears, an ' she put her hand to her throat. ' / "Don't, Jake 1" she said, ~ "Don't what? Don't go baok to ol times, eh ? You want to forget 'em, I suj \ fyse; M yoo've forget me. '"I. have never forgotten you I" eh said truthfully, and with a shudder. He laughed. t ',' You looked as if you had when I can ' 1 in,'" he said. " But I Buppose I've alten a bit, too' 1 he added. " Yes when a man been knooking about the world getting a , * of the rough and none of the smooth I gets the paint knocked off. I ought have appeared atDrury Lane, but I nev got a chance—never 1 Men who couldr <* hold a candle to me got on the Londt boards and made their fortune. Bat lu 1* was dead against me!' And yet they ca i r jed me tho Gentleman Stroller I" he look down at his, fustian, mud-stained clotht ', , for a moment, then he looked up ffi < angry impatience. " Butwhat do you care ? You that we and deserted me, when my luok was '' tho worst, and because I hadn't a

~BY CHARLES GABVIOE, .

oonoy I" " No," sho murmured," I would have tarvod with yon, and you know it. It vas not, till you drove mo away, till I wns ifraid— -" her hand uuconsciously yont up to a soar hidden by hor smooth, bin gray hair. Jakp scowled up at hor. " Well, that's enough of old timos," he marled. " \Vhat are you doing for a living now? You seem pretty comfortable." He glanced round the plain but neatlyEurnishbd kitchen, with its spotless dressor and shining tins aud covers, its red dimity window-cnrtaius, and tidy fireplace. " Yes, you're comfortable enough I" She made a gesture of assent. To be continued,