The Penn's Grove record., 1884-10-25

that so much talent Should have been
given to a rascal Do you know, by
the-bye. who that woman Is Of whom
Mrs. DermerelI is said to have been so
jealous l''
"Why, it's Lady Lexington" an.
swered the doctor. hurting Out as usual
the truth that came to his lips but
when he saw the stupetactlon on the
baronet's face, he bit his tongue 80
sharply that he pulled a grlnace. ION
my tongue ~ he cried, putting up his
hand to that member ; "wh0 cal have
set such a useless clumsy thing in my
head it's always playing me tricks"
"Do YOU mean to say that Lady Lew
ington's name is being associated with
this murderer's ?" asked Sir Richard,
in indignant wonder.
sOr course it's all moonshine. " STAN
mered DR.. Bable, stumbling oyer his
words like a man who has stepped into
a fiower-bed. "People talk folly be-
cause they are fools. Dermerell often
came here /; her ladyship was kind to
him /; and his wife. who was a hyster-
ical devil in petticoats, grew jealous.
That is all I've heard"
THAT is obviously the natural ex-
PLANTATION of the matter" said Sir
Richard, after a moments pause, dur
inv which he had recovered mastery
over his features and voice. Lady
Lexington never quite shared my infat-
uation about Dermerel, but she was
kind enough to receive him because |
wished it ; and am sorry now that |
put this tax on her good.nature. l
won't trouble you to see my wife, doc
tor If you will just leave a prescrip-
ton. that will do"
"But 1 can't prescribe without see
ing the patient" replied the doctor,
who perceived that he had got into dis
grace.
.'Oh, she Is simply feyerish, win
pulse capricious, and a bad headache
very much afflicted, in short"
"Well, quInine if fever sets in, and
q little dieting meanwhile. Of urse
if the prostration continues, | would
advise you to take her ladyship abroad
for a change of air and scene
THAT is what l think of dong" an
swered Sir Richard coldly, as the doc
tor sat down to write a prescription.
81 think it will be better that Lady
Lexington should not remain i'll Eng
land during Dermerell's trial. Well,
g0od-eYening, DOCTOR"
"Good-evening, Sir Richard, an-
swered Bable, who went out with a flea
in his ear, feeling that he should never
again be summoned to Torwo0d Hall.
When he had gone Sir Richard sank
into a chair and buried his head in his
hands, meditatlng Oh what he had just
heard. The shock to him had been
very great, for he trusted blindly in his
wife, and he now tried to rec0llect
whether she had on any occasion 80 be-
haved as to justify the aspersions of
slanderOus tongues. He remembered
that, during the first period of their ac-
craftsmanship with Dermerell, she
used often to speak his praises, but that
latterly she had ceased doing so, and
had ven spoken of him in terms Of dis
~paragement. No judge trying to get
at the truth through a clouded cause
aver looked sterner than Sir Richard
did at this moment. At last, uncertain
what to think, he rose and repaired to
his wlfe's room. There was only a
night-light in the large chamber, and
Lady Lexington lay, dressed, on her
bed, in a semi-comatoSe state, for she
did not Immediately realize that her
husband was standing by her. "Do
youfeel better, dear?" asked Sir Richard
twice before he obtained an answer.
you will save him, won't you ?"
was the reply which Lady Lexington
abruptly gave, as she sat up, rubbing
her eyes and staring around her wildly
"a strange dishevelled figure.
"Why should 1 save him if he is
guilty ?" asked Sir Richard calmly /;
and he felt as if something within him
broke. 1t was his confidence IN his
wife which was destroyed.
But he is innocent" continued she,
wringing her hands.
How do you know that ?"
"Oh, it Is all as plain as day" ex-
claimed Lady Lexington, speaking as If
to herself, for she did not look at her
husband. Its that odious wife of his
who killed herself, and did it so that
suspicion might point at him. She cum
ningly chose her time and her poison,
AZ oiO ihA AidIC I'LL DuJ IL. DuO ""o
a bad heartless woman, and 40 wonder
he hated her but he bore with her
patiently than any other man on
earth would have done, for he never
told even me all that she made him suf-
fer-o
Lady Lexington might have said a
good deal more, for she was talking
faster and faster, but her maid Han
nah suddenly entered the room, and
proceeded with gentle authority to
quiet her. Hannah, a middle-aged
serious-looking woman, was her mis-
~tress's contidante and deeply devoted to
her. She exercised a sort of ascend
ency w Sir Richard too and now
ushered him out OF the room, saying my
lady was feverish and ought not to be
disturbed. When the baronet had gone
out, Hannah locked the door and re-
turned hastily to the bedside: "My lady,
youn lose yourself if you go on in that
way" she whispered in alarm. NO
thing will happen to that man if you
only keep quiet and trust to me. WHAT'S
the use of getting yourself divorced,
and robbed of your children, andturned
ONs IA wy oNiOCOo Hh0 u DrHAdl Jul
ply for the pleasure Of making a fuss2"
but they say he committed MURDER"
walled Lady Lexington, who was weak
as a child in Hannah's hands.
swell, they'll find out he didn't, and
therell be an end of it," answered
Hannah bluntly. ''If things come to
the-worst we a bride the prison ward
ers to let him escape.n
sob, the prison I" calculated Lady
Lexington, with a shudder. do you
think it would really be possible to plan
his escape 2"
Eyes, my lady you leave it all to
me. You know | never liked Mr.. Der
merell from the first, and didn't APP
prove of his goings on with you but
helped and protected you both for your
sake, because you're dearer to me than
any of my own kin. my lady" Here
Hannah whimpered somewhat. We'll,
| heard Sir Richard and the doctor talk
about taking you abroad for your
health f; and if that's done, III stay be-
hind, and you'll give me some money
to bride those warders with. III sue
u.zI -. s.