CHAPTER XXXIX.

Waikato Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1583, 26 August 1882, Page 1 (Supplement)

CHAPTER XXXIX.

To the dreary jjrave I go, ]ly fatal p.issions curst — 'JLhcro is no diink in shades below To quench undying thirst ; My face is hideous without, My mind is darkened within ; Black thoughts encompass my mind about, Of grief, and woe, and sin. Obadiah Sweetcomfort stood aghast for a few moments. Mean and cowardly by nature, a sudden terror paralysed his frame when hemetabeing whom hetlionght was in the land of the Dead. But this has only a momentary weakness. It was succeeded by a strange joy, and delirious pleasure, for now he knew that he had in his power the enemy he had just quitted. As at the flash of the lime-light the hitherto dark and blank scenes glitter with tinsel, so the gloom which had overspread Obadiah's soul when he had found all his schemes vain, mas at once dispersed ; now he saw that he would have the power to humble Hector Maciimis down to the dust. A fierce delight entered into his heart — a thrilling joy. Already he saw Hector ruined and Obadiah Sweetcomfort master of all, able to dictate terms to proud Bertha and her father. He now approached the wretched creature. "Mrs Macinnis," he said ; lam sorry to see you here." The woman looked very alarmed. "You don't come from him, "she said in ■low whisper. "No," was the reply. •'But you are his great friend," she said looking round as if she wanted to escape. "I am not," said Obadiah, "I hate him." He hissed the last words. ( •'Good, good," half screamed Prudence. 'jO ! how I hate him. He's a devil. But," she added, with a stirange cunning, "why.ido,you hate him ? Yon used to be his greatest friend. I have reason to hate him, what cause have yon ?" "Cause," said iObadiah— "he has de-cieved-me; he has proved a thorough, traitor.',' , „, ,' , , 1 , , The woman jlanghed wildly. "Who hasnt he deceived ?" said slid. *'Hehas deceived' she world. ,J3ut," again she spoke low'" r< have you any money: ?" - Obadkly Vlrgw Jwwlf, -* If ihe.gay^ her,,moriey alie mftfht be out of His,po^ r er. <. . , " ' ''Only.a^l^V^aid; Prudence ,pleai\ dmgly>. % l %M*. > j?-«l^%#t^y-' '91' i ( . r ' **" f^ " J ' -■• -*" .ai * 1 ' *1 * ••*} i j i« \. w •*<.*. ' "■ I « i'^ *li? ffir- it '• m*&

put new vigor into me. 0! if you knew the life I've led. I've slept out night after night, down in the scrub or in the gardens. 0 ! please give me a shilling-" Obadinh opened his eyes. To think that this woman who, .not so many years ago, had held her head high in the society of Grit should come so low. Could there be a better example of the degradation that drink causes ? "I won't give you a shilling," was his cautious reply, "but I'll take you to an hotel and give you something to drink, and then I'll see that you are made comfortable. I could never leave you in this state Mrs Macinnis." How her face brightened. She was to have some drink ! "But you mustn't let him know,'* she said, "lied kill me." And she looked round as if dreading the appearance of her husband. Obadiah descried an hotel not far off, and he walked thither, the woman following as fastas she could. Her eyes beamed with pleasure at the prospect. The old lady behind the bar was fairly nonplussed when she saw a respectably dressed man enter side by side with a woman of the loafer class. She told her cronies afterwards that they could "ha' knocked hei clown with less than a f dither — just a breath." Obadiah took no notice of her wondering looks ; lie simply told her to serve his companion, with whom he walked into an inner room. "J want a bottle of brandy,"' said Prudence, as the landlady placed before her a moderately filled glass. "Let her have it," said Obadiah, and the landlady at once brought m a bottle, and then left, closing the door. It was teriible to see the way in which Pmdencc disposed of the liquor. She filled the tumbler to the brim and swallowed it almost without stopping, tlicu poured a little water into a glass, and drank it. After this she seemed to become a changed woman ; her lace flashed up, light came into her eyes, and she appeared to be throughly lenovated. "0, the glorious brandy !" she said. " It's life to mo." " And now, Mrs. Macinnis," said Obadiah, who knew he had no time to spare, as he intended to go to Gut that evening ; " I would likc*to hear how you came to this state. I thought you were deai l, and so did everyone, although Hector Macinnis always kept his family aflaii'S to himself. We knew you had gone mad, and that,, you were in the asylum. Some time since, your death was cumounced in the papers. How is it then that you are alive ? There must have been foul play." " Foul play !" ciicd the woman, who was passionately excited. "Yes, there has been foul play ; almost everything except murder I went mad. Mine it a dicadful stoiy. But for all that I have sufluicd I have myself to blame ; I knew what kind of a man Ilcctor Macinnis was when he came courting me in the old days. I had plenty of other sweethearts, I can tell you. I knew how he had treated the poor woman who had absolutely kept him — to whom he owed life. But I was young and_ foolish. I got to love him, and gloried in fact that I had won his admiration I hcaul thcteniblc chaigcs that were brought against him when thatjpoor woman was found dead ; but I paid no attention lo them. When lie proposed I accepted him, and became his w ife. l^or a time he was kind, and we lived pretty happily. But I soon found out I had manicd a strange man. At times he would be kind and considerate ; then he would change, and I had to behave well to ensure peace. At night he was always tioublcd. I have woke in the middle of the night andheaid that man utter words that would make your blood freeze." Obadiah rubbed his hands in the utmost delight. The woman looked at him, and noted this. " I could tell you of things that would keep you fiom sleep for a week," she continued ; " but the time has not come. Then we luul no children, and that made me wietched. Soon I knew that J was to share the lot of her lie had deseited. 1 became but as a house-keeper to him, while he spent his time with others. Besides, as he grew rich and poweiful, he became ashamed of me, and took me out .is little as possible. Now I had always a temper of my own, and I could not bear with his insults at all times. You can gue&& what followed. For the last six yeaLS we led a most wretched life. We were tried of the bond that united us, and each desired to be free. But worse than this came. I tell you that man, who" was respected by the public, wrote such moral articles, has over and over treated me foully in his rage. And I lost my better nature ; I became like him. I taunted him with all I knew ; I repeated- the words he let fall when asleep ; I threatened to let the world know the skeleton that was in the house. My misery drove me to drink : It was the only resource left. I was driven almost mad by being so much alone. When he was out I slipped; and he always found me intoxicated when he returned. When he threatend and upbraided, I laughed him to scorn. I told him I was his wife ; that I had been wiser than the poor creature he had betrayed in the past. 0! if you could see the fire that burnt in that man's eyes when I tormented him. But he made me feel his rage I can tell you. I used to laugh, when I thought how the poor public were deceived about him. How little did the ladies to whom he discoursed so eloquently at penny readings, tea meetings, and the like, imagine what sort of man he was. But at last the drink told on me. One day when I was sitting in the parlor, I saw — yes, I tell you, I saw that woman, Janet, walk in just as she used to do when I was barmaid at the Garryowen. But she wasn't dressed as she used to be,"— here the womon shivered "She wore grave clothes, and her face was white like that of death. I couldn't speak, I couldn't move ? and she came up to me, and laid her hand on me. 0 ! God ! how I screamed. You'll say it was faucy, or delirium treinem. No, I tell you. it was Janet. I remember the cold chill that went through me when her linger touched my hand — ifc was like ice. I have never been right since. And there she stayed, and others came around about her, devils with long claws, and all over fire. 0 ! I almost see them now. Aud when I' slept out in the cold swamps "by the river she comes, and touches me, and the devils laugh. Of course you'll say I'm mail ; b,ui lam not !I am cot !, I, wish I was mad,. or dead. I cried;out to , her, and ,aak^d ljei why she,clicln't go ;to him ; butshcneyei 1 answered, -ancl 1 don't knbw t whab'f ollowe^' When 1 camejoi^-my* senses Isfpuiid «iy self in a celljyitli a.wo'man-w^jtoh^ugjjibe' and, t< after \a,- r^M|, r?lyk.Hew. y hp4hac gladly seized,th^qpp j oHunity,''arid^hac ,me ;confiu^d^in:^ttie sgMsfes<Jßi AMhat a^readlgil^ie^l^enl jihem dressed asM^-^Mei

creatures, ill-used by the warders, who would not believe that I was in my right mind. The doctor, of course, said I had temporary relapse, but it could not last long, and so they kept me there to please that fiend. Thatwasadded to my misery. To that he had obtained freedom at last ; that he was now disporting himself with others while I pined my life away ; that was agony uuspcakable. Bu 1 1 soon Jnade up my mind to escape. I had won the friendship of a woman whose ca&e was very like my own, and who greatly resembled me. Weagreedto escape some night when thowaiders were occupied with something else, and with this in view made ourselves appeal 1 very contended and happy. At the Yarra Bend they have a dance every Wednesday night, and that was the occasion we selected. The warders and the wardswomeu were busily intriguing amongst themselves and discoursing Avitli the guests, for the public attend. You have no idea how keenly I felt, when blight, handsome young fellows and beautiful girls came into the room, and glanced round at us with pity. They brought back to mind all the brightest and most beautiful moments of the past ; and, when the music stiuck up, they went whirling round the room, T felt the tounents of the damned. Each familiar strain brought up the past which dug its claws into my heart like a fiend. I wished to get a^ay, and watched a favourible opportunity when the attendants were dancing, to slip out with my companion, and, after scaling a fence, we made for the little biidge that crosses the river, leading to a wild park. It was a brilliant moonlight night ; the stream was sleeping in the lights and shaddows, nature was still, and no sound was heard except the attains of the dance music mellowed by the distance. We had reached the middle of the bridge when my fnend, poor Margaret caught my arm.' " ' Don't you see him ?' sheasked in an agitated voice. I knew at once that her madness had come on afresh. Poor Margaret was quite a young thing, and had gone mad owing to the deatli of hexintended. He was a fast fellow. He had ran hea\ ily into dept, and had committed.forgery, or something of that kind ; and when it was discovered he threw himself into the i n ci . " >So I humored the girl's madness, and said, " Yes Margaret, I sec him. Ho'& glad that you are free, and no doubt he'll join you when wo cross the river.' " But she didn't move a foot' although I had hold of her. I'll never forget her face as. 1 saw it that "night ;so wild, &o eager, •' ( He beckons me,' she fe.xid at last. ' Look at his. eyes, they'ie like balls of fire. I must go to Him. o', George, dear Geojge ! I'll be with you befoic long.' " She looked at me fixedly foi a few seconds, and then, without a cry or word she thiew herself over the haudiail, and in a few seconds I heard a terrible splosh, and &a\v the cruel river swallow up her form. In a few minutes she appeared aguiu, and, would you believe it, I thought &he was locked in the embrace of a young man. She wa& a beautiful sino-or ; and before the water closed over her for the last time, I heard her singing a snatch of some old melody. Then she went down, and I saw bcr no more. " Terrified as I was I hud sense o know that if I did not make haste the warders would bo upon rao , so, giving one glance at the place where poor Margaret had ended her wretched life, I ran across the budge and fooh was out of sight of tho hateful, asylum. I got to Melbourne, and, by some chance, walked past the Arr/us office. Lt struck me that tho best way to bailie tho pursuers would bo to become n domestic servant. So, reading a place where a woman was wanted for rough work, I at once appliud, and, as I offered to do tho work for almost nothing, I was eagerly accepted. My life siuco has been &peufc in such places, and as a vagabond. Yon will wonder how it is that I was not found out. Well, btrange to say, poor Margaret's corpse -floated a few days afterwards, some distance from the asylum, aud with it was the body of another woman about my age and appearance, but whose face was greatly mutilated. As we had escaped together, and Marjraret was easily recognised, the wise authorities came to the conclusion that we had committed suicide, and so the fact werp °iven in the paper.*, in which was also a formal notice of my death, without any cause being given." Here Prudence drained off another tumbler. Odadiah was rubbing his hands in glee. '• I feel I havenft long to live," said Prudence. "My health if {rone, and I am, as you see, a wreck. But before I die I will reward the man who brought me down to this." " Easily done, easily done," said Obadian, who was quite radiant. He's going to get married." Prudence started, and her face flushed crimson, imparting to her once more the appearance of a woman. "You can wait quietly," said Obadiah, " for a few days, and then attend at the church. When the minister asks if any person knows of a jusfc cauße or impediment, fee, you can just come forward, and at once down topples Mr Hector Macinnis, M.P., Executive Councillor, &c, never to rise again. 0, won't there' b« a fall of greatness ! I think I sec it all. Then you can make him keep you, a»a have as much brandy as you please.'' But Prudence did not respond ; nor did the mention of brandy on this o"casion cause her to exhibit signs of hilarity. A strange expre e sson crossed her face, a demoniacal calculation was in her oyes. She gazed fixedly into the vacancy. " Yes," she said at length, "it would be a great fall. Hector Macinnis would be no more. But," she added, in a voice that made Obadiah shudder, " that would not satisfy me," "'What would?" Obadiah asked. "To see him in gaol ; to see him on the gallows," hiseed the terrible woman. Obadiah drew back. "That may oorae," he said, "but this will be enough for the tiine." "Then you want 'me to do this?' 1 she asked " Ye?," said Obadiah, easrerly ; " and you shall' have a comfortable income ail your life." "That would bo a cheap bargain," said Prudence, "for my, life won't bo a, long one." • t , , , "But you wouldn't let him, marry another ?"'askpdObaaihh.;- . .. ,* '" ' , 'A jealous spasm came over^Pjrudenoe'^ face.,* 1!*1 !* \-' t , '„ [• . , '"•'' lj* Whq is it,?"', sftonasjked,,,- . v „ '',*?,' Be,rtha (^hite,'*'. jeplied-jpbadiah. . , ,' Tjie woman' seyes duated; >-.',** - " '^ . •» = !< ! < - l Seiv,/son ! a^ / s^e^hearfcj' 1 ' .ydie' * sai'dj Willie indeed"* pWftU !4ime 'fas'nofclpm'e-^-

She looked at him with an unearthly fire in her eyes. " The bottle's empty," she said. " I'll go and get some more, and then I'll tell you what. I'll do." " I'll xing," said Obadiah. "Don't mind," said Prudence, and she passed out of the room. Ho waited her return for some time, moving- uhcimlv in his chair. lie could not understand how this forlorn creature could hesitate about accepting his offer. She w ould havo to tako it, or he would have her arrested for vagrancy, and then the rnuider would be out. Of nourse the sensational tableaux he had been expecting would not take place ; but then he would achieve his ends for all that. Still Prudence did not return. After a while, Obadiah became alarmed, and went out into tho bar. Thoro were no signs of tho woman. The landlady was eagerly discussing the event with her daughter. "Where is the woman !'" he asked. "She's gone homo time," replied the landlady. '•Gone!" said Obadiah, his face the picture of dismay. "Before she went out she left this, sir," said the landlady's daughter, handing him a dirty piece of paper, rolled up. Obadiah glanced ovor it. It ran : "Our plans are counter ; you wiah to stay tho marriage ; I want it to go on. Then my revenge will be complete, and 1 can put him in the dock." Obadiah shook with rage. He had held the trump card and lost it. But now another &uipnse awaited him. Putting his hand into his coat pocket to pull out his purse, he could not find it. He tried every pocket, but in vain. Then the real state of tilings dawned upon him. Prudence had become an expert thief, and while he was listening to her tale had extracted the purse. It was full of gold and notes. Obadiah thought ho must be in a dream. Could such events be crowded into a few hours ? " I have lost my purse," he said to the landlady, apologetically. That good landlady was at once jubilant. Ever since the stsange pair had come in, she had stoutly maintained that Obadiah was a thief and vagabond, and no better than his companion. From this view, her daughter dissented. Her triumph w.is now so complete, that the los 9 of her money was as nothing to the gain in proving her superior astuteness. " I'll give you a chequo for it, however,"' said Obadiah, recovering himself. " Give me a cheque," said the landlady, raising hor voice ; " will you. I don't want any waste paper, thank you. No, you don't come that dodgo over Mrs Sniggles, who's kept this hotel nigh on twenty years. Clear out you miserable thief, and thank your .stars I don't give you in charge." Obadiah thought it was just as well to clear out, especially as ho had to go to. (Jiit that night. Before ho departed, however, lio took evoiy precaution to catch Mis Prudonco. Jle wont to the Detective Office, and gave a full description of hor, which was soon recognised by one of tho oJlieers. They promised to havo his bird safo in a few "days. He did not feel so uneasy about Hector's marriage with Bertha, for he felt certain that Prudence would fully avenge him. And with this ho was forced to be content, for what could he do excopt wait ?