CHAPTER XVIII. EMBEZZLLMENT.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 274, 20 June 1888, Page 6

CHAPTER XVIII. EMBEZZLLMENT.

In a snus little dwelling on iho - - Roticl, a short/ distance from the city of \V lived ;> woujati, young enough, nnd only escaping being beautiful by liei* coar^cno-^ of expiossion. She was evidently not a gentlewoman. Her manners were decidedly vulgar, her whole bfcyle loose in the e\bieine. She wn.s sitting in a wcll-furni.shcd room, talking to a young fellow who was, be it said to ins credit, trying to per&uadc her to quit the life .she was leading, but who met with little .success. 1 What is the use of talking that way to me V you are a bigger fool than I took you for,' she said. ' Yes, but Carrie, fool though I may be, it hurts me inexpressibly to see you ruining your youn<2; life in this way. Yon remember your promises on the ship/ said the young fellow . •Oh ! bother, Alfred. Things wore different then. I thought you and I might do well enough, but if I'd a married you, you wouldn't a been able to keep me. I should ruin yov\ in a month.'

4Oh ! Carrie,' pleaded <tho young man, ' you know i would have slaved night and day for you.' ' Slaved ! yes you would, and what good would it all 'do?— a paltry three pound a week at most. No, Alfred, the kindest thing 1 could do was to givoyou up. Now \on can keep yourself, and if yon can't, you know 1 told you long ago, if yon want any money I will givo it you — not lend it;, mind. And H you want anything else —but oh! Alfred, you arc such a fool! I've no patience withjyou.' 'And 1 shall lose mine with you, Carrie, if you talk in that way. Take money from you, indeed ! Have you no shame V 'Slrmio' Ha-ha ! not 1 indeed, my young greenhorn ; did I not always toll you 1 had none ? Why should I he Shamed '! I have plenty of money, a good house, houses to lide and wine t-o drink. Now, i-n't that better than being married and poor ?' . ' ?\o, Canie, and you know it,' .said her Jonner lo\er, bitterly- 'Oh! if 1 could j turn that stubborn heart of \om.s. Have yon torgotten that there is a Cod abo\e 1 who sees and heat > ' > 'Now, stow all that, Alf. \ouknow, f and 1 always told you so, that 1 beliexe m neithcj C!ocl nor devil Not 1 Such rot I indeed! And look here, Ma.^ei Alf, unlc— \ou w.uil evei 3 boue in your body bioke, "\ou'd best cleat out, foi 1 expeel Dakin will ' Hush ' Cavie, loi merry's sake spue mo. I hid it not been ioi- 'that wretch, we^ mi^ht h.no b( en happy ' 'Oh ' 1 am h.ippy enough, and I don t caie a -nap ioi him' theic! AH,' said the woman, -naiipimj; he) Jingci.s. I\\ hat m.utei- that"' It only makes you wotse than it vni l<-\ed him.' j ' !,o\ed him' Well, that's- good! and bee. an -e J ill n i hue him you aic eioss; well, >on .ne a eitre ' Now _\oud bcttei go Ki-s mi* it \ou like. ' \o. Came Lease this wietehodman arid come Ilk I. to me, and I will kiss ym. Do Mils ami I will -til! be ti ue to \<ui, and ne»''i" lepioaeh \ on with the past ' Oli ' 1 <iaie -dy ' If that, i-n t <j,um\ llete, d\ i* a glass' o wine before \on yo.' Ho -n>mg -he opcm'l a cupboard, took out ade'-antt) .md ula— a goud-si/«Hl tumblm and filled it to the bum, holding it to the ' uniiap[U \<>ung fellow. Heiefused it, -a> ■ j ' I would i.ithei dunk poihon than touch a I ( h oj t ol thai m. in sume ' ! •All iiiiln, Mi Independent Tin u J will' S.mnu tin-, she ' pitched' the eon tent- down hei tin oat, and loudly | smacked h'-i lips afterwatd-, c\e!aimm>_r ' K.ijmi ' Then she added, turning to, AMi< d, • Now , Ah. w ill .you go"' ' He u'-' md held out hi 1 - hand to hei ; she pushed it aside, thiew her arms round his iieek, and ki--ed him passionately. He icleased himself as mioii as lie could, the hot blood -pieadniLT o\ei hit- iaee and neck 'Oh' r.-iiiie, lai lie, how cunoii'' he died. ' on .no ctucl to me ' iC l nel, Mi ' V\ h\ , Da kin calls th.it bring kind. ■To him' \e- Oh, ( arne ' If sou would onh !oa\c him. 'Dont trilk such ioc, Alt. don t 1 -han't mXi lease im as long a- e'- uot a ->n i, Sotheie 1 Now )int kno\\ nit 1 , ami would a dont long ago if you adn t been such a tool ' Well, good-b\,, C'.uiie; 1 *cc I can do ikm'Ooil. I hope<!od m ills mescy will soon change n mil heail He took up his hat and left the loom and the house She went to the window, and as he pas-ed, died, s C-ood bye, old bobeifudes ' Then A\o '■auk back in a chair, pressed hei fouhead haul with one hand, while the other elur< h< d hor bosom. Was it t eel ing for him who had ]ust departed Was it lo\e, oi what ' Ah ' icadei, there aie tew women, howc\er bad they may appear, lmwesei <lcpiaved and lost in a ice, who have not some fcendei inner feeling Uiat will not be icpressed, <maw ing at. their hearts and \\\\\- iii H them to -till deepei dissipation ami debauchery Ti- -eldom, alas ' that stiength is touncl to thiow aside the e^il lite: and seldom, very -eldom. tin oppor UiuU\. Once wou.au falls into the abs--> ot sin, there is little, tar too little upnur tunitx foi hei to letutn to the path ot \i\tue. No, she must noon, deepei and deepei '.\n(i{ siuM« -wallowing m<he mue, a hopelo-s, helple-s outcast Sh.mic tli.it thi- should be i.o our Chnsti.in land ' l>akm enteied. ' \\ ha(, I :mw. (liinKiog ' and, |<o-inveh . (i\inu ' 1- the woild coming to an end, HeauTv ' ' i o"'on • kni)W,and don't care. \ou buite If 1 was cijmg yon needn't chad me >on made me what ! am, and if I think loi a minute ol what 1 was „nd nn^ht be still. \ou mus| come clmlling and tonnenling me 1 hale \oii. thci'!' With tins em phatu spueeli -he iii-hed out ot (he loom and up-tan- ' ' MM # \ L'oodiic-s '" mutteicd D.ikin- <i- ii he h.id any ' thih i- n new pha-e in hi r rluiuwlPi : 'what next"' \nd 1 came here tn br comloi ted 1> n hei ' lie comfoitcd hun-elt, hov\e\ci, with half a tumbler ol brand) and the like i(((UNtiM ot .i.'ilu and a cig.'ii He did not w rut long. 'Will, old >/(')//,' -aid Canie as she enteied, 'illn.ices of tears h;,'ii>U disappeared. ' What's the. latest- •>' 1 ()1| ' von've conic to voiu senses, h.i\e you, Uoauty 1 ' 1 -aid Dakm. 'Kiss me then.' It was now nearly dm k andl'/imc proceeded to light, the lamps and diaw dow n the blinds. ' W liat has brought yen out .so early, Ted"'" she M got jour note telling me lo )x) in ' Dakin filled his gla.s^ again nml drank it oil ; then he said : 'Can I tru^t you, Canie v Wo ha\e known each other some lime now and 1 don't think you huso had any Janli to Imd with me. ' I have always treated you kindly, haven't 1 T 'Oh, yes. You have alway- given mo plenty o'l money, plenty to eat. and diink, a good house, and let me do pretty much as 1 liked. l>id you brinp me some money v< ' You mercenary creature, yovi are nc\ei sattslied. You will have to diaw your horns in, young lady, ior I'm in a mess,' said Dakw, 'In a moss, Ted ? You !' 1 Yes, oven I. The fact is, i have, been going too fasst, and - but can I trust you with a big secret '! I want you to help me.' ' Tru.st me, Ted 'Of course ,\ou can. As to helping you, what can 1 do V' paid ( 'urric. ' Listen to me and 1 will explain. But mind, if you ever hreathc a word to any living soul of what I tell you 1 will blow your hratrisout, 1 wilKby (J— <l,'said Dakin threateningly. 1 Oh, no, you wouldn't.' said Carrie, not at all frightened ; 'for if you did you would be hanged, and you wouldn't look pretty dancing on nothing. ' ' You are too sanguine, my girl. Believe me if you split about what J toll you I shouldn't much care what I did, even if it did come to hanging. But swear you will never breathe a word to anybody and 1 will tell you.'

1 All vighfc, Ted, five away ; hub don't think you have frightened me into it,' said Carrie. ' You must know, Came, that you have been a pretty oxponaive luxury and 1 have been at my wits' end to keep you going and pay my debts as well, which have been 'heavy of late. 1 told you some time ago that 1 was engaged to old Turner's daughter. lie was to have taken me into pavtneiship when I nmiricd the little fool, and, know'inir Mmfc tins was to bo the case, i took the Hboi by of borrowing a few hundreds of the old gentleman's money from time to time, meaning to make it all straight by - and - by. This has been going on home time now, mid might have continued, tor the old ass can't undei stand his own aflairs much, and if he could, it would take him all his time to detect anything ; but by some tlukc or other ho has got Uncgiove, the accountant, to inspect tho books, and he is the very devil. 1 i liavo been at, the old follow repcatodlv ot late about my man iago, and he has alsvass put. me oil". Only the othei day, when I haw how things woio going, I presort him, when he said, ' Wait until 1 have an anjrcd my allairs, then we will begin ahesh,' and he looked at mo to stiaight that 1 winced and i>elio\e I giew a- »C(1 u> .i peony Since then I ha\ u hept out, of the old beggars way as much as possible, and 1 know be suspects m», even it he is: notfciue, for his whole mannei is changed. The time has come toi me to act, and shaip's the word. 1 Now, foi innately I have a good big .sum ' of money by me, for my last ' diass ' was a I wood one money that I should have b.mkt d and didn't - and 1 ha\c some \ah«iible | t )c\\elle>) and Irinkels. What I purpose ; doing is to place the whole lot in jour '< hands and boll ; it\ the only thing to do that I can sec, and the M>om» 1 go the j brttn. Theic i- a steamet lor Auckland to night ; li ( catch that 1 shall be in time, it I lwive luck, toi tho 'Fiiscoboat. It 1 once get to 'Fri-eo i don't can;. Now, Carrie, if 1 yet- fan ly away and I write to a on, will you join me .mil bring the needttd '' Carrie was silent. • Why don't you speak. 14 i » I "'' ''Old on; let me think,' said the mi I, who \\av tmninir o\e> in hey mind the ad-santage-and possible disjuhantage-. oJ hei poMtiow .i- it woiiltl be when left with this immt} If once she had it m her po*session, -he soon 1 evolved, I 'akin should ne\er «sco it again. W a 4a 4 - it- not as much hei- .is his v Can io na> not, </' im <///;/, a ii.v She ii-sually out boldly what " no 'bought : ]>ut this Mas (pule too tempting toi ho Co he must and it she did not piomisr lie would lca\o hci almost peiiml* -s. To what ' \\ h, it do all gh 1- so -miatud and -o lett come to 1 Will, said Dakin, who ssas giossing impatient, 'hase vuu made up youi mind "'" 1 \ i>s Ted, 1 was only thinking what 1 >hould do without v>u, she lephed .1sat on his knee and put hei arms aiound him Dakinwas -hai p. knowing, prided him svlt on h\^ knowledge v! women, but he w?n fooled now, He was nut \et\ demon-tia ti\e in Ins pa^.-ion. but he was toud of the j^iil 111 his way, though he did ihi eaten bei al tunes Hei usual plain de ilm^ and ojien %\ay oJ dking had madehimtiuat her. Ho was completely hoodwinked now, as lie desei ved to be ' I'oav Beauty,' -aid be, stiokm«j, hei buj>ht iiair, ' will you miss me, pet .' 'Ob ' Ted, you 'know 1 -hall. Mu«-t .sou go to-night ( Vcs,"pet, ye- l>ut jou have not juo-mi-ed ti> do as 1 asked Oul\ piomise inc. Came. I know yon will be hue," he -aid confidingly. ' I p\oiMse, Ted, ot vuui-)O. Onlywule and tell me whsre >ou are and that lain to come, and I will u>> to the end of the woild to you. Oh ' Ted, my daihng, <io not lease me." She knew ho ;/>»-'. 'Nos\, Beauty, don't tis to stop me e\ei\ thing dc])i^nd- \\\a>\\ \w\ ucUmg awji> . W hen we meet again we wi.l be |oll> , won 1 we '' 'Ah r sighed the tal-t Curie, 'ulna we meet ' v And now ( must go. Beauty • 1 s|\;ill he up again with the hap- bj -and I\\. Don't go out. Kiss me. and wlmi 1 comeback ' yvui shall gne me d tvn.vl hv\g Ro spying, he lett liei . And she, tu-t ha\ in«i rtcom-c lo the biaiuls bottle, -at down to think. 'Well, he 1- a doukes . I should asc ui\en bun uedit tor Ijettei souse- -lust Lo gu and lolc "I- bciss for a gu l, and (hen Lo g>M ej the -ug.-ii ' 'Es :i iool — mu-t bo." Tin* is what she thought ot the man who tm-ted liet. Then -he went on to speculate wh.it she should do with the moves It Alf wii-u t such a tool, -he thought, \silh what. ->ho would hase and svli.it lie was earning they might be v ei> eomfotlable And she would like this; but then Alf woi.ldn t base anything to no with her unless -*he was as pout a- .1 chui eh mouse. It he kness she had ati) money lie would not ha\e hci. It would 1)0 nice lv nuns, Alt. and lose him anil be potted h\ him : .md then -he svould hase to gise up the nione> . And Alt would scold hei it she dtank, and she must di ink. She would die it «he didn'tdunk. jNo, shecouldn t mair> AH. .shouhl hho do *' This ss.is her own house and immune -, she had taken good caie ot Uiat when she had -old her-eli. li the money was much, .^he com Id invest it and bsc on the inteiest. Tlitn she could h.ise w hom slui liked lo see liei, and would be sure to gel- lots ot pies-enK Oh 1 yes, she thought she could be very comtonable. lias ing settled this in her mind, she opened hei piano and sang a lively t-oup,, which, not being ot the choicest desciiption, ,slnll be heie omitted. Carrie was not entirely without accomplishment.-, but she had lost svhat little leliueuieut she escr had. She was a (io vcinmenl/ immigrant; where she came hum, why she came, svhat she had been, she would nes 01 say. Certain it was she could doth play and sing with a style which had its i.tsD'iation for the men who were in the habit ot listening to hci. Dakui's Iriend.s they weic, svho enjoyed the privilege of hci society when he was present, and when he was absent, too; but he didn't know this, and, as sho .said, ' What the eye doc-nt sec the heait doesn't grieso for !'