Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1884-11-04


who ls|s really too tired ior any new
exerklon. hesitated "a respond.
Nonldn'l some one else dos she
asked It last. aSome less important
person than Miss Trimmings mighk
be found to come here.
NO. indeed There's nobody 50
stylish and high-p priced. We must ge
certainly We must. Laurell But. by
the way. Mr. Crabtree says his nephew
your old bean. Baron Alverton- land
his wife are staying there now"
where ?" asked Laurel. bewilderel.
AT his clearinghouse. eople
say that his marriage didn't turn out
vel" Mrs. Pardon ratified on, unheed-
ing her niece's silence, '.for his wife
acted like crazy woman wien he lost
some Of his money last year--rated
him 50, it was really quite scandalousl
Did you see her on the beach last fall ?
Such white-faced thing! They say
she takes arsenic for her complexion
don't call her pretty. though she was
all the rage five or six years ago. 1
believe she lost her health-.too much
dissipation. I've heard that she's aw-
fully jealous of her husband. though
he don't give her the least cause and
bears it like q lamb"
X y
Laurel and her aunt were at Mr..
Crabtree's boarding house-certainly
quiet and luxurious retreat enough.
Laurel had been 10th enough to
come; but here she was, and Mrs.
Pardon, at least, was satisfied, for the
mornings were endless rounds of shop
ping and the afternoons momentous
periods of trying on new dresses.
AS for her niece, her greatest appre-
hension was that she should encounter
Baron Alverton; but little dissimi-
larity in meal hours warded off this
event until the very last night of her
stay in town.
She had been restless and could not
sleep. AT about Ii o'clock she thought
she would go to her aunt's room, as
that lady did not retire early, and get
certain book, which might divert
her mind and quiet her nerves, AS she
passed along the rich halls in her vel
vet-shod feet, door was flung open
and a wild-eyed maid rushed out.
"Oh," she cried, at sight of Laurel,
"won't you come in a minutep I'm
afraid she is dyiDgl"
Amazed, Laurel stepped within the
door. A little figure in blue writhed
upon the floor, yet evidently Mrs. AL
verton was partially unconscious.
Call her husband DOCTOR quick"
exclaimed Laurel
With incredible strength, she lifted
the helpless woman in her arms and
laid her upon the bed.
In the next moment of horror she
saw that Mrs. Alverton had ceased to
breathe.
AS she turned to escape coming feet
which she heard, she encountered
Baron Alverton.
White and shocked, he gazed at the
pallid face upon the pillows.
ut has come as feared" he cried,
clinching his hand upon his harassed
brow. "She is dead FROM an overdose
of arsenic"
And in few moments all the house
was startled by the sad truth.
The 1st of March Mrs Pardon Ard
ley became Mrs. Abel Crabtree.
1t was a strange mockery of fiowery
symbols and lovers vows to Laurel
Vale. Indeed, so strange a shadow
seemed upon all the world that she
would clasp her hands over her eyes.
sometimes. and ponder as if in night
mare that must break soon, or she
would lose consciousness forever.
Ever since that autumn day by the
rocking sea peace seemed to have de-
serted her. Outwardly she had long
been calm. but inwardly unrest now