Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1878-12-11
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I
Why, yes, sir; yes. Mr.. Maxwell
nearly everything gone. Ts be sure
there is five hundred year, and thai
place in Vermont that you settled on
you wife; you may save that ont OF the
wreck. A trihe-a mere nothing | an
aware. out Of such noble inheritan c.
as yeurs, Mr.. Maxwell; but still 1t is
ssmething. Halt loaf you knew. sIr'
-
He stopped suddenly at a motion 81
Recer Maxwell's hand. lie was law
YER and used to this sort OF thing, ano
WAS not much affected by the stsry he
had come frsm New YsrS to tell Mr.
Maxwell; his rich client had specialized
rashly. and had lest-a comaOn case
enough. A week ago hs was WORT
half million, tonight he was net worlI
dollar-that was all. There were hi,
wife's settlements. cfcOurse; hut they
were his wifc's-and Mr.. and Mf7
Maxwell were two.
# thought | had better let you kne"
about it at once, Air. Maxwell. the law.
yer said, it's sure to he in everybody >
mouth Tomorrow. And now. film Ia
catch that nine Fifty Up train. l had bet
ter he starting. Goodnight. sir
Good night. sir Roger Maxwell
said mechanically.
He was leaning against the low ron
gateway, his fvldedarns resting on its
carved top. an the black shadows o.
the becches shutting hun " like a pail.
Up the afenuc lamps cleaned through
tbs trees, turning the dark November
night into a fairy land. The wide front
Of the stately mansion was all aglo"
with illuminatisns, music, flowers ana
lovely women; and loveliest where all
was lovely, Its proud young mistress,
E,lith Maxwell.
TIVE men, stragglers from the ball
rsom. with their cigars lish'ed, came
dowx through the gloom, close to tho
motionless figure against the iron gate
only another shadow among the shad
sws-so close that he heard every word
they uttered.
Rather superb style Of things Eal
this, one said. When Rsser Max
well does things he does 1t we'll. Won
derful luck he's had; Eve years ago he
hadu't a rap, and thai wife Of his mag
nifcent Edith--is the msst beautiful
creature the sun shines on
'roc beautiful my friend, for-~she''
ice.'
'Ah! to her husband? Married fol
his fortune, didn't she? The old story
very poor, very proud, and sold 10 th'
highest bidder. Seton stesd to win hel
there snce, didn't he:'
1t was desperate firtaliOH-some
thing more, the knowing ones say, bu
Seton knew lie ter than to indulge II
the luxury Of a pennilcss vie. s.
Maxwell! appeared, made rich suddenly
: and-shs's Mrs. Maxwell tonight, anC
more Qusenly than ever. [ watches
her dancing with Seton half an hou
sgo. and. Well, 1 didn't envy Max
well. if he is worth half million. let
70 back " the house it's going 10 rain.
suppose Maxwell was to lose his for
tune what then?'
'>Iy good fellow, he would lose hi
wife in the same hour. Some wonel
, there are who would 90 with their hus
a, bands into begsar. but no. the loyel
Edith, and he's a splendid fellow, too
is Maxwell. There the the rain besiHs!
The shadow amoRg the trees stOo
d perfectly still. A long, low wind mO'
ed the trees. and rain beat its me
anchely dip, dip. Half an hour. a
heur, two passed, but the figure leanin
against the cate renamed still "a Ia
iron itself. Bat ho stirred at last. be
came conscious hc was wet tlrOUsl
and passed slowly out ol the gloom an
up the lamp lit avenue and into th
stately home that, after TO night, woul
be his no longer. Another halt hour h
tt was back int the glitter. dazzle an
r music of the priIlaut drawing room. hi
wet garments were changed. himse
whiter than marble, and almsst as sill
lie had not been missed; his beauiiil
three months bride shsne there
diamonds, silk and rosa resplendent-
!, and who was there 10 think OF the rlc
Maxwell? Only 4 cloud wnom sh
hsnored by marry. The fascinatn
Gerald Sef ton was by her side. Ho
}. could she fluid time to think OF anythin
SO plebain an mon mari while in his CT
tracing company.
But it was all over at last. I'll
E. lights were filled, the garland deed, al
Mrs, Maxwell was in her drawlng-roo
in The pale morning light. under Il
hands Of her maid. She lay ba'
. among the rose velvet cushions, langu
aud lovely, and looking around with
irritated flush at the abrupt entrance
the master OF the house. He did NJ
i: often iulrude; since the first week
:, their marriage he had been a melel hu
band and kept his plac tnerets