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2 , : LO o . ~ ~
- ADDIE’S “ILUSBAND. — - “149
_) semi-commercial speculation in which he is much interested, havine
“invested a large: sum of money and allowed his name to ‘appear aut
"the head of thelist. of directors. Tecdless:of time or distance he
~~ walks on, with:knitted brow’and absorbed senses: until he ig vicor-
ously recalled to reality by: a ‘grimy hand. makin ‘a snatch at his
oe watch-chain, which, however, ‘he ‘is. expert enough to rescue: but
"the. would-be thief wriggles himself out of his grasp... On looking
“yound he finds that he has strayed: into.the back slums of. Shore.
“ditch, into’a regular labyrinth of reeking streets, dark Janes, and
"courts, from which: egress. seems almost impossible:. Ie seeks in
"vain for a-policeman-to direct: him, makes inquirics right and left
"hut receives only'slangy,’ insulting, and sometimes almost threaten.
“ing answers,’ ‘At last he turns to a weather-beaten motherly-looking
old lady presiding over a sugar-stick stall at a‘corner of a lane, who
___ responds by throwing her arms. protectingly around him, and. mur-
““muring words soothing but tipsy-toned.: 5 2 ee
“<“ Tosh-yer way, did'shye, me love? | Mile-En’ Road; to b’shure:
bring ye there insh jiffy. Come ’long, come ’long, me lamb! Mile~
En’ Road—insh jiffy ’’—leading him at the same moment to the’
open door of a public-house opposite. -
_ le tries laughingly-to shake her eff; hut she clings to him with a
“+ grasp of iron. Being unwilling to use her-roughly, he is;about to
-*!“putchis hand into his pocket to: purchase freedom, when.a sudden
- drunken‘sortie from the house in question hurls them both off, the
’ “footpath and effects his purpose. :.'The row-soon looks rather. alarm-:
‘ing, people crowding from all parts, and the night ‘becomes hideous
with shrieks and imprecations. :
if
it
“notices ‘that two: policemen, : pluckily:trying;to:-restore order, are
— wetting rather ‘badly: handled; then: he: begins, pushing. his. way to
_, give them help, when an: unexpected backward. movement of: the
“““erowd obliges himto retreat,;-and a woman,:who has: been :feebly
_. struggling to get away, is thrown heavily against his shoulder,
“2 where’ she lics’ without movement... He: throws, his strong arm
.., around her and plows his way to an open hall dvor:a few yards
he further ‘down, where. he leansrpanting for a’moment against the
‘ va BETO yt EST is etai fest ype. Bae egg
oe’ Areyou hurt?” he asks: gently;.but, as she. makes no: answer,
“he raises the hanging. head, and the dismal yellow light of a: gas-jet
_,. in the street outside falls on the face of Adelaide Armstrong—a face
ue iid ; worn, ghastly, from:which' the bloom and life of youth have
CU flags f0bkb OLS ceih be nytipet: loon oaerborson: cars Soba tea cts,
~°""“Aymstrong does not recognize her in the least; nevertheless he re-
“" Inains' sizing with a ‘startled fascination into the unconscious face
* “‘until’she opens her ‘heavy eyes and looks straight into: his. ..1::!
. _, “Thomas Armstrong!’’’she says dreamily... os. 8) eyes
“'"" Great Heaven,’’ he cries;:t'is it-you?? ss. ak
-Ne'starts back,'’shaking her from him; she sways, tries to, save
herself, and‘is'‘on the: point ‘of falling when-he puts out his. hand,
and she grasps ‘it feverishly. 068 oe fo ro
~*~) think 1 must-have been crushed a little-in the. crowd;.'I feel
“Itig in the next house to this.’’» Then, seeing that he. hesitates, she
with Lti0} “Armstrong stands: by, watching a—
scene to.which he was well accustomed in’ his earlier days, until he —
< faint,” sho’ say gaspingly, »' Will: you—help me up to my room? »
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