The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1878-05-04
OUR STORY TELLER.
The MARKED FINGER.

A jealous man, Sir Chester Bowden.
Even when boy, superficial people said
was imperious because he was bar,
Stattwelve years of age.
Those who knew better, who had in
formation concerning the old family of
he Bowdens, had no need to be informed
that the Bowdens were hard, proud, i'm
perious, and jealous, though just, men.
They never did W rong, and yet never
seemed to be in the right.
AT the inquest it was s.aid old Sir Ches-
Ter accidentally shot himkelf. But the
county families we'll knew that he had
taken his own life.
Even many of the common people on
the estate had little or no doubt upon
this point.
The reason? Three months before the
crash his wife had fed from him. He
made no effort to seek her out, and it was
only his death and its manner which let
people into the secret of his love for her.
She had been pitied by her own SER
wants through her ten years of married
life.
She was very meek and mild, always
stood up when he entered the room,
and to the end of all she called him Sir
Chester.
He always called her Lady Bowden.
They never quarreled, and they were
always dull. She never smiled. There
was some talk of her having loved some
young farmer before she married so well
But that was, doubtless, scandal.
However, she fed; Sir Chester died,
shot, three months afterwards, and
young Sir Chester was nine years of age
At Oxford he made but one friend
and many enemies. Oxonians hate
Oxonians who are not CHEEKY and friendly
amongst themselves.
Boleyn Hever began by plying Ches-
ter Bowden, and ended by liking him.
But they were never familiar. For in
stance, Hever always wore piece of
fesh-colored plaster between the first
and second Joints and the middle finger
of the left hand.
Chester never asked the meaning of
the patch; and once when, while boating,
the plaster was rubbed away Chester
never asked what was the meaning of the
seven little tattooed stars he saw where
the plaster had been.
1hC AOWCfCf, Was very
simple. A rich old godfather, from
whom the poorish Hevers had expect
ations, and being an old sailor, had
elected thus to mark his godson.
Boleyn Hever, being naturally high
class man, entertained strong disgust
for these marks-a disgust which reached
morbidity, and he hid them with flesh
colored plaster.
n
At twenty-three Sir Chester Bowden
married one of the most dashing women
of her years. He was as jealous as his
father, and as proud; therefore he had
no fear of Lady Bowden being migrate
full. She was poor.
Boleyn Hever, his neighbor, had not
married, and was nursing his estate,
which had been left him when very
much incumbered.
At what precise moment Sir Chester
became jealous of his one friend he him
self never knew. He was too certain of
his own suffering.
He hated company, but he was bound
to give fetes, balls, etc.
1t was the evening before the first
anniversary of his wedding, upon which
occasion there was to be ball.
Sir Chester had noticed his wife anx-
ious all day, and his demon prompted
him terribly. Why was she anxious?
After dinner she pleaded sickness, and
went to her usual sittingroom, into
which Sir Chester never intruded.
An hour afterwards, he sent a servant
TO her with some inquiry concerning the
ball on the following day.
The servant returned, saying that my
lady was not in her room.
There was murder in Chester's heart
the next moment. But he only took up
Z. heavy riding-whip.
Mot in her rooml
IT, ,r-st trace he found of her was a
,,onn;i.oase .littering in the moonlight.
He drew . I;na ~ his minds eye from
the house to it, and tn. noe LII 'le same
direction.
To the grape gates" he mutt. red
straight line to his house."
On he went.
Suddenly, being on the top of a hill
lock, he saw Boleyn-there could be no
question about the man-and with him
8 woman hooded.
They were going towards the great iron
open-work gates, which, from their pat
tern, were commonly called the grape
gates.
He uttered horrible cry, which evil
IDENTIFY the couple heard, for they hur-
lied to the gates, to which there was No
lodge, and one of which was open.
They must have seen Chester leaping
towards them, for they ran.
He was within twenty yards of the
couple when they passed the great gates,
which were swung to with a terrible
noise.