The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1878-07-04
THE MARKED FINGER.


Even when boy, superficial people said
he was imperious because lie was a
baronet at twelve years of age.
Those who knew better, who had in
formation concerning the old family of
the BOwdens, had noneed to be inform
ed that the Bowdens were hard, proud,
imperious, and jealous, though just,
men.
They never did wrong, and yet
never seemed to be in the right.
At the inquest it was said old Sir
Chester accidentally shot himself. But
the county families we'll knew 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 fled from him.
He made no effort to seek her out, and
it was only his death and it's 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.
lie 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 fled; 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 bypitying Ches-
ter Bowden, and ended by liking him.
But they were never familiar. For
instance, Hever always wore piece of
flesh colored plaster between the first
and second joints of the middle finger
of the left hand.
Chester never asked the meaning of
the patch; and once when, while boat
ing, the plaster was rubbed away, Ches-
ter never asked what was the meaning
Of the seven little tattoed stars he saw
where the plaster had been.
The explanation, however, was very
simple. A rich old godfather, from
whom the poorish Hevers had expecta-
tiOns, and beng an old sailor, had
elected thus to mark his godson.
Boleyn Hever, being naturally a high
class man, entertained a strong disgust
for these marks-a disgust which
reached mOrbidity, and he hid them
with flesh coored plaster.
AT twenty-three Sir Chester Bowden
married one of the most dashing wo-
men of her year. He was as jealous as
his father, and as proud; therefore he
had no fear Of Lady Bowden being un-
grateful. She was poor.
Boleyn Hever, his neighbor, had not
married, and was nursing his estate,
which had been left him when very
much encumbered.
At what precise moment Sir Chester
became jealous of his one friend lie
himself never knew. He was too cer-
tain of his own suffering.
lie hated company, but he was bound
to give fetes, balls, &c.
1t was the evening before the first an
niversary 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
linn terribly. Why was she anxious?
After dinner she pleaded sickness,
and went to her usual setting-room, in
! to which Sir Chester never intruded.
| An hour afterwards, he sent ser.
! want to her with some inquiry concern
ing 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
a heavy riding-whip.
No-not in her room.
The first trace he found of her was a
pencil-caSe, glittering in the moon
light. He drew line in his minds eye
from the house to it, and thence in the
same direction.
To the grape gates" he muttered-
"a straight line to his house."
On he went.
Suddenly, being on the top of hill
question about the man-and with him
a woman, hooded.
They were going towards the great
iron open-work gates, which from their
pattern, were commonly called the
grape gates.
He uttered horrible cry, which evil
IDENTIFY the couple heard. for they hur-
ried 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.
lie was within twenty yards of the
couple when they passed the great
| gates, which were swung TO with ter
rible noise.
Again Sir Chester uttered savage
cry. for he knew he could not open them
without the key, kept in his library, and