In Luck at Last

lgarity so profound, that the connoisseur or student in that branch of mental culture thinks that here at last he has reached the lowest depths. For this reason one shrinks from actually naming

ing not immediately connected with the good of his fellow-creatures. Presently the music of the orchestra ceased, and certain female acrobats, who had been "contorting" themselves fearfully and horribly for a quarter of an hour upon the stage, kissed their hands, which were as hard as ropes, from the nature of their profession, and smiled a f

or a tumultuous burst of applause. Then the band, which at this establishment, and others like unto it, only plays two tunes, one for acrobats, and one for singers, struck up the second air, and the People's Favorite appeared. She may have had by nature a sweet and tuneful voice; perhaps it was in order to please her friends, the people, that, she converted it into a harsh and rasping voice, that she d

the end of the first verse. "That fetches 'em

head, to a man who had just come in, and w

e, Joe??

star

ave thought to meet yo

what are you doing, Joe? I heard

here. There's no position, Chalker-no position at all in the service. That is what I fel

ou doing then? Living

ith dignity; "I am not likely to trouble you a

usiness to lend money without a security, and all you had to offer w

ity too, if he does ju

was going to do justice? Come, Joe,

g was to be got out of it. It is only the idle and careless who can waste time over unprofitable friendships. With most men friendship means assisting in each o

ed itself to Joe at that moment was that Chalker had lately drawn a new will for the old man, and that he himself might be in it. He

won't help a fellow? You see my grandfather once a week or so; you shut the door and have long talks with him

Joe, and what is your b

ere's other business in the world besides his. Suppose I know of something a precious sight be

l, J

d shouted because the singer ended her first song. He looked so fier

isn't she

What do you mean b

will be thousands in it. And perhaps

Get on without

can't we two be friendly? Why don't you give a fellow a lift? All I wa

think I am going to betray trust-a solicitor betray trust-and for nothing? But i

than one difficulty which had been adjusted thr

ised at this newly-developed enthusiasm for art, left him and walked up the hall, and sat down beside the chairman, whom he seemed to know. In fact, t

r new singe

eek, loud voice, flings herself about, and don't mind a bit when the words are a leetle strong. That's the kind of singer the people l

. "That's her husband, is it? The husband of Miss Carlotta Claradi

know him

What was the real

me for her when we first put her on the posters. I made it myself-out of Chlorodyne,

ed. By Jove! Her

hold of the promising girls. It's a regular profession. Them as have nothing but their good looks may do for the mashers, but these chaps look out for the gir

will suit him do

s here every night to applaud and takes her

costume of blue silk and tights, personating t

nd he thought how beautiful is the love of husband unto wife, and he smiled, thinking that when Joe came next to see

her fringe, which was, so to speak, a prominent-feature in her face. She was tall and well-made, with large features, an ample cheek, a full eye, and a wide mouth. A good-natured-looking girl, and though her mouth was wide, it suggested smiles. The husband was exchanging a little graceful

married?" Mr. Chalker

ut a mont

A

ess, and gave no further hint of an

freezing glance at the barmaid, "are

side by side in silence, until they reached their lodgings. Then she threw

oe; and I won't.

re's a good girl." Joe spoke quite softly, as if he were not the least angry, but, perhaps,

readful, wicked thing even to ask me. And o

e are to be continually bothering our heads about honesty, and that rubbish, we shall be always down in the world. H

daughter, and my own f

are always grumbling

e music-" She laughed, as if against her will. "If anybody had told me six months ago-me, that used to go to the Cathedral Service ev

you wish you had stuck to the moldy old place

en, perha

ur husband cannot

and talk with barmaids

osters with your name in letters a foot and a half long-'The People

lted a

hat did any good!

your husband; and since I do not object, I should like to see the man who does. Show me that man, Lotty

and's ap

had been on other occasions most irritating t

boards. It is the husband's greatest delight, especially if he is a jolly sailor, to brave

ng good music, at the great concerts. T

hall be a great lady, Lotty, and you shall just command your own line. Wait a bit, and you shall have your own c

g, I should never get ladies to call upon me. And as for yo

do you ca

likes to be told that he is not a gentleman, wh

n when I see one. Go on with y

ether you like it or not," he sai

ook he

edness," she

pockets, "all the documents wanted to complete the case. A

nd I'm not the woman to step for

I've seen the will. There's no manner of doubt about it; an

, how much it is, if it i

: that it ought

e, if it was no

resource. He therefore replied

iress should have succeeded, but she was kept out of her rights. She is dead, a

uth, Joe? Is she d

replied. "Dead

way you got

the way,

d make him take up the case for

she would be certain to refuse, and then we should go to law, and very likely lose it all, although the right is on our side. The other way is for some one-say you-to go to her and s

she refu

lly standing before her. She might make a fuss f

, whatever they may contain. Suppose tha

hen did I ever tel

Suppose it is all true, how are you going to make out where yo

me fo

but-oh, Joe, you little think, you clever peopl

uld deceive anybody. Listen now. It's part t

nding his music-shop in Gloucester, and little thinki

other name, and you were picked up by strangers and reared under that name, i

ought h

merica. I'm

to pro

England on purpose

that you are the

d somebody t

a gentleman whom he judged capable

they ask me

The papers were only found the other da

as the r

er gran

s the gra

r?" he replied; "I wi

the real

will tell yo

on her hand, and looked a

be pla

with the smile of a lover, not a husband; "nev

not to be wo

? Oh, Joe, little I thought when you came along with your b

-an officer and a gentleman. Come now, what have you got to say

height. Well, he was a handsome

t to keep you, and if you could make me sing in a dozen halls every n

gether, my dear. Don'

. So long as his wife worked hard and brought in the coin for him to spend, w

. Here's a splendid chance for us. I must have a woman's help. I would rather have your help than any other woman's-yes, tha

treacherous, how lazy and selfish. But, after a fashion, she loved him; after a woman's fashion, she was madly jealous of him. An

id; "oh, if you do-I wil

lau

man has ever fallen in love with me before you? But then, my pretty, you see I don't talk about them; and do y

ant me to do?

d in America; you will claim your inheritance; I will provide you with all the papers; I will

en't people been sent t

advised and under good management. Mind you, t

but took her candle

night she awake

e that you know another gir

urce, although he was only half awake. "More than on

an hour afterward s

ha'n't say that I refused to do for you what

ll be seen that Jo

d and watched outside in an agony of terror. But Joe did not find what he wanted. There were in the safe one or two ledgers, a banker's book, a check-book, and a small quantity of money. But there were not any records at all of monies invested. There were no ra

fore he dies? Is he going to make her inherit it at once?" The thought was so exasperating that he slipped the roll into his pocke

tents that night, and put back the papers in the sa

being locked again. "There is nothing at all. Look here, my la

sn't carried off something in

practice, which was, as we have seen, to spend it at a ce

re attention to Iris. What a dreadful thing it is to have a grandfather who keeps secrets from

a magnificent coup dawned upon him, and fairly dazzled

the looking glass over the fireplace. He smiled. "I will try," he said, "I think I know by this time, how to get round most

just taken down. James was going about with that remarkable watering-pot only used in shops, which has a little stream running out of it, and Mr. Emb

t; he hasn't got any clew to the will; he hasn't got the certificate of his daughter's marriage, or of the child's baptism-both in the real name. He hasn't got anything.

ng yet about the investments? Odd, isn't it? Nothi

he key careless

so that, to get his share, he would have to try every kind of persuasion unless he could get up a case for law. But the other thing-why, it was nearly all personal estate, so far as he could learn by the will, and he had read it over and over again in the room at Somerset House, with the long table in it, and the watchful man who won't let anybody copy anything. What

ite won't fly, I'm afraid. Lotty must be the sole heiress. Dressed quiet, without any powder, and her fringe brushed flat, she'd pass for a lady anywhere. Perhaps it's lucky, after all, that I married her, though if I had had the good sense to make up

and Joe's fears were,