REAPING A WILD OAT.

Patea Mail, Volume IX, Issue 1129, 24 December 1883, Page 4

REAPING A WILD OAT.

LITERATURE.

( Continued.)

1 She dares to think,’ said Amy, ‘ that I am so like onto her that I would consent to be a living lie.’

' Mr Mowera forthwith instructed the firm employed by him for that sort ol business to take the necessary proceedings against Mr Cratnbone. Amy had no desire to inflict avoidable injury on Cornelius. She had a wifely love for him, believed what he told her, and regarded him as a pitiable dupe of a depraved and wicked woman. But she did not interfere with the proposed action of the lawyer when he informed her that the fiist proceeding must be a. prosecution for bigamy. My boy shall not live to say that his mother shrank from the ordeal of proving her innocence. Cornelius must suffer for his folly, and he is not the only sufferer.’ ‘ It is in his favour,’ sii 1 the lawyer; ‘ that ho has sworn to a statement of hilegal guilt, and instead of csc.»cing or trying to escape, is wailing in London, and is prepared for the arrest.’ ‘ Sir,’ said Amy, ‘ you may, if yon can, inform Mr Crambone th »t I forgive him, even when I think of my buy. But he must never cro s s my path again, or communicate with me. Also, tell him that if he resides abroad, [ shall instruct Mr Mowem to settle on him a moderate income.’

‘ Madam, you arc generous.’ ‘ No, sir, I am only just.’ ‘We have the warrant. The arrest will be made to-night.’

It was a snd evening for Amy. It would require all her courage to face tin* public scandal. The day must come when she would have to tell her boy of the calamity that had befallen her, and which he, the innocent child, had to share. ‘ I conld ——’ But she did not onrse Cornelius, and ns she thought o' his arrest that night, ‘ Uncle says I ought to hale and despise him, but I pity and lore him, though he is as dead to me as if he were buried.’ Just then n servant came into the room, and tol l her that a person who did not give his name, wanted to see her for a minute on important business. 1 I will see him. I suppose, ’ she added, ns the servant left the room, 1 it is the lawyer’s clerk come to tell me that Cornelius is arrested.’

The stranger had a completely shaven face, and his appearance suggested that he was a cheap-jack out of luck rather than a lawyer’s clerk. Ho had on lightcolored trousers, a very seedy bnttonednp fnr waistcoat, and a black dress coat. ‘ What is my name ? Well, mnm, for a moment let me be Mr Split, for split is my game, or I should not be here.’

‘ What is your business ?’ * First, mum, if a party does yon good, why should you do the party haim? But I won't drive a bargai". And come what may to me, I shall bo quits with the party who has done me.’

‘ I have an engagement. You can write to me.’

Amy rose as she spoke, for the manner of the stranger was not reassuring.

1 1 will be short, mnm. First, mam, my name is Lucius Lennox Lomax.’ ‘ls it possible ? Ami you dare to come here Y ‘Yes, mum. And why mnm ? I will be short, mum ? lam the lawful husband of the woman who is bleeding Mr Crambime under the pretence she is not married to me, and is married to him. And this is not true, and I can prove it is false.’ ‘ Do I dream ?’ exclaimed Amy.

‘ No, mnm, I will be short, which I promised I would be. First, I was married to the aforesaid Doltie long before she set eyes on Mr Crambone. Second, we . did marry over again at a church not far off, she faking her maiden name of Ann Mnnns, and telling me that if she did marry me lawfully in England, Mr Crambone would give her five hundred pounds. Of course, according to strict morals, I ought not to hare done it; but, still, mum, I may ask, what js the harm of marrying your own wife over again, and getting five hundred pounds out of n party, who, according to strict morals, ha* done what he ought! ?' ‘ And what you tell me is the truth 7’ afke'd Amy.

‘Yes, mum; unci I’ll tell you the reason why I split. My wife, which she is by Inw, toM me Mr Crambone had detected all her tricks, and would not give her a sixpence. Then I found out that Mr Cmmbone had been parting to a galloping tune, whilst I was so poor that my only dinner was a bit of bread, helped down by the smell of food outside restaurants, which is nice, bnt not satisfying, and indeed quite otherwise Mnyt eif she had hem square with me I should not have rounded on her, which only shows, to put the moral short, that no booty makes a tender conscience, and causes a fellow to do the split, which is righteous.’

Within a week Mr# Lornnx had left England in haste, and Sir Loimx had received such a reward for his information that he could eat ns well as smell dinners. The illustrious maker of men of fashion wa# induced by a letter fiom the firm employed by Mr Mowem for that sort «f business to give np Mr Crambone’s bills on payment of the amount actually due for goods and money lent. Cornelius returned to bis residence, and was affectionately received by his wife. The relations who hofed that-tiny might share Unde Yoxall’s estate if the baby Cramhone was disinherited deeply deplored the domestic re-nnion, and doubtless agreed with Mr Quambnsh, who said ‘ that the best wind blows ill to some people.’ The lovers of scandal were grievons’y disappointed that a s usational trial for bigamy and an exciting divorce case did not ensue from the reaping of Air Cornelius Cramb jne’s very wild oat, {Concluded.)