River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1878-12-19

e. lives. How can we ever thank your
"By getting well quickly replied
, laughing. How is the little SOM Rather
| small child, but healthy, think"
Poor wee thIng!" she said, tondly
kissing the sleeping child. "Ah, here is
my husband' and she started M joyful
~.
"The doctor, Gerald she said.
1 rose and apologized for not having
come sooner, and we sat down and had a
{ long friendly talk together. At length 0
neighboring church clock warned me to
take my departu1e-indeed, that had
far exceeded the Limits OF an ordinary
professional visit-and rose to depart.
"By the way" / SAID, turning as | was
on the point of quitting the room, lean
you by any chance tell me whereabouts
Vulture Court islp
"Vulture Courtln replied the man
'sWhy this is Yulture Court"
"Indeedm sand. "And what is your
numberln
He told me, looking rather surprised
at my questions.
excuse me-" ! continued, "if ask
you what, maybe, you may wish to con
ceal; bur, believe me, | am no idle ques-
toner. must ask your name"
Certainly" he replied, 'to one who has
| been as kind +, us as you have been, DIR.
Herbert, would not refuse it, though
might to others. My name is Gerald
Connington.'
| l started; surely that was the name on
the letter-that letter which had on my
mind to deliver to its owner for so many
days past. I felt l must go home i'm
mediately and see about it, and shaking
hands with my friends, I set OF home
ware at once. On opening my desk,
where l had placed the letter, / found
that my memory had not deceived me
! Connington was the name.
| sit is for them, then--for my poor
friends How strangely things turn out !.
! | mused. Perhaps the old man was her
father. In her state, however, she must
not be subjected to any sudden shock
| must speak to Conniagton first, and get
| him 20 break Inc matter to her. ! hope
the letter may contain something more
| than bare farewell. | must go back to
| Vulture Court at once So back start
ed on my mission.
| / found Vulture Court in an uproar-
women screaming, children shrieking,
and two men lighting in the midst OF a
noisy group, and just as l entered four
stalwart policemen appeared, and began
to disperse the angry crowd.
"You'd better not go down there, SIR"
said one to me; "it's no place for gentle
man like you, especially at this hour"
80, I'm doctor, and have patients
there" replied; but Tor all that, did
IL, II, 4
to espy the squalid enc and her brother,
who conveyed me through the excited
crowd in safety. AT the door of the
house met Connington.
"What, back again, doctor! Nothing
wrong, ! hope?" he said.
mo, nothing How is your wife?
Il have something of Importance to tell
you. Where can speak to you alone9'
I asked
80, here" lie replied. "Mrs. McTag-
gst let's me sit in her parlor when she is
out; and out she is, fortunately"
And he showed me into a miserable
little room, containing a four-legged
table and five or SIX chairs, digniied by
the owner with the name of parlor.
TELL me, Mr.. Connington, was your
wifes name Hoilingsworth2" l asked, as
we seated ourselves before smouldering
fire.
He started.
"Yes!' he said, eagerly.
"Ihen you have not seen the papers
lately2" / SAID.
THE papers" he replied; is it likely,
doctor2" with sad gesture.
"1'hen you do not know that MIR. John
Hollingsworth. of the late firm of Hol-
lingsworth 6 Co, of Fleet Street, is dead
that he died. indeed, under very pain
full circumstances2'
Dead, is he2 Well, heaven forgive
him He has been my bitter, remorse-
less Zoe, DR.. Herbert. He knew our state
of poverty and want-knew that we were
we'll nigh starving. My poor wife, there,
went to him not month ago, forced her
way into his presence-for he had sternly
re 'usRd to see her since her marriage
with ne. poor artist land on her knees
begged his forgiveness and help! lie re-
fused both, cursed her to her face, pray
ing Heaven that the child that should be
born US might prove as undutiful TO her
as she had been to him. The excitement
and grief was TOO much for my darling,
and She was taken i'll that night; and you
know the rest, doctor
And he groaned and hid his lace in his
hands.
"Mr. Hollingsworth left packet in my
care for your wife, | said, after a pause.
sin your charge then you knew himl'
cried Connington, in surprise.
81 met Mr. HollingswJrth but once"
answered, sand bur a few moments be-
fore his death, which was a terrible one"
"How so2'' he asked, apxiously.
HE died by Liza own hand" l replied,
in low voice.
"HorribIe!' said Connington, in tones
Of deep distress" But tell me alI!'
And told him of my first and only
interview with his father-ln-law, and its
tragical ending.
"Tnis packet, 1 trust, may contain
something to your advantage" | said,
producing the letter.
"Not here he said, hastily reading
| his wife's name on the cover. Let me 60
and prepare her for the news, then let
her have the letter. Harsh and cruel
as he has been to her, she still loves him
ncarlv, and this will he a terrible shock
TO her"
4
/ and took me up stairs. There were traces
of tears on Mrs. Connington's face as
entered the room, and her hand trembled
sadly as she took the letter from me, and
when her eyes fell on the well-known
writing of her father, smothered sob
broke from her. AS she opened the
packet a bank note fell to the floor
lit was for thousand pounds, and
there were live more Of the same in the
| letter, which ran thus:
"HV Ddughter:--I am ruined man,
and about to die! loved you dearly
far more dearly than you imagined. You
were my idol--the one thing existed for;
and when YOU left me, for while my
| love was turned TO hate. have been
cruel and unfOrgiypg, and, before / die,
| | would atone to you for it. as far as hes
! in my power. What | enclose is yours
/ by right-should be yours, for it was
your mothers fortune, and all I have
saved from the wreck Of my property.
| FAREWELL May Heaven bless you and
yours. Forgive and forget me. Your
/ father. j. HoLLNGswRoTH.
A deep silence took place as Gerald
/ Connington read the last words of the
self doomed man aloud, broken only by
the sob5 of his wife, whose grief for her
father. eat off from the earth by his own
hand, knew no bounds. she forgot, for
4