Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1884-02-07

al go--to---the--bal l-
tonight, Marica," faltered Stella
through her tears.
mot go? You are crazy, child!
Why, your dress is ready; and Minnie
sent her diamonds in my care"
And she produced small casket,
and proceeded to open il. The spec
tacle of the Jewels upon their white
velvet bed brought the tears afresh 20
Stella's eyes. She wanted TO go-oh,
how she wanted to go! Never before.
in all her life, had any pleasure seemed
so desirable. She thought of her beau
tiful costume, and sighed plaintively
rs she repeated to her sympathising
but thoughtless friend the whole story.
'It's just too horridr' stormed Mrs.
Thompson; land say you shall 90!
Listen, Stella. Your husband did not
ed to let you 90 in care of Mr.. Thomp-
son and myself. There can be no
harm, dear. We will call for you in
our carraiage tonight; and, Stella, ii
MIR. Conway says anything, or is at all
| displeased, leave him to me. i know
how to manage him. You will come,
Stellar l shall be so disappointed if
you refuse"
And she pleaded so eagerly that at
last she brought the young wife over
to her way of thinking; and the result
OF the interview was, that the Thomp-
sons carriage stopped for Stella that
night, and, looking like picture in
her rich dress, she drove away with
hnr f,.;anIS 10 T,.c narolax,fa
1t was Il scene from fairy-land. For
two hours Stella moved about in n
maze of delight. She danced, and
promenaded, and sang, and was quite
the star of the evening; and all the
while, undreamed of by herself, the
black clouds were gathering over her
young head.
Once or twice the thought occurred
TO her:
Burton knows by this time whether
his speculation has succeeded or failed
whether we are to be very rich or beg
gars. But" and the red lips compress
ed themselves firmly, and n strange
light came into the pansy-blue eyes,
eff we are to be beggars, at least /
shall have the delightful memory of
this, my last ballr'
Poor child, it was indeed her last
ball! About midnight some one enter
ed the crowded ballroom in wild haste
and an eager voice asked, anxiously
for Mrs Conway. Old DR.. Dent, the
family physician of the Conways, camo
to Stella's side, pale and agitated.
You must come home, Mrs. Con-
way" he said, and Stella thought that
she had never heard him speak so
sternly. 'I-I-have bad news for
you"
She faced him with wild cry. Some
thing told her the truth.
my husbandp" she painted.
Yes, your husband (pardon me,
madam, if l seem brutal, but must
be brief, is dying. 1t seems that he
finished his business in st. Louis i'm
mediately, for he found on his arrival
there that his grand speculation had
succeeded, and he was millionaire.
He decided to return home at once,
that he might attend you TO this ball;
so he got on board the lightning eX-
press--which reaches her at p. m,
madam-there was collision. and
and-he is at your home waiting for
you.
Half an hour later she stood by lis
side. Waiting-ah yes, but the meet
ing would not be here, for Burton Con-
way was dead. And (pitful sight to
the heart-broken wifeD one cold hand
grasped velvet casket containing Il
magnificent set of diamonds.
He had died alone, while she, in the
midst of scene of rcvelry, had missed |
his dying words! All, she would have |
laid her life down gladly to have look
ed into his eyes once more, and have |
heard him say, 81 forgive you. little
wife!" But regrets were useless-it |
was too late!
A fortune was hers; he had won it |
for her and placed it all in her name;
she had, too, the coveted diamonds
but oh, how happy she would have
been in q cabin with him who lay there |
before her with deaths mysterious seal
upon his brow.
One year later beautiful Stella Con-
way was placed in an insane asylum, u
hopeless maniac, raving continually of |
diamonds and blood-money. and call
ing herself the murderess of her hus-
hanu