The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1885-02-12

your time here moaning over that boy,
instead of being at hand when you are
needed"
Am I needed?" she asked. Il left
but five minutes since, when you evil
dently needed nothing
Brandy was not provided for the
billiard-room, as ordered"
She paled.
sDid you order it of me or of the SER
wants? Fenton knows where the bran
dy is kept. Had you spoken he would
have asked me for the keys. Here they
are"
She took from case bunch of KEYS
as she spoke.
She did not move to leave the room,
but, on the contrary, threw herself
down upon divan.
She was trembling from WEAKNESS
and dread. Well she knew what would
be her life during the ensuing week, af-
ter the billiards and brandy. She
hoped it might be overlooked.
You will go below" he said in icy
command, ''and give those keys to
Fenton yourself. You will also preside
over my guests
''Is it the place for your wife in bill
iard-room among men reeling under
the influence of brandy?" she asked,
rising to her feet. Il am i'll, as you
can see, and need a few minutes
rest"
He laughed, but ungoverned rage
looked from his eyes. She had never
before gone so far with him. She had
never refused to Obey.
The next moment a sudden scream
sounded through the house, dying away
in moan.
Some gentlemen returning from the
dressing-room heard it; the servants
heard it, and rushing to their mistress 8
chamber, found her prone and insensi-
bic upon the rich carpet of her bou-
doir.
Blood lay in the corners of her deli
cate mouth, and her soft silk gown had
caught and snarled about her satined
feet.
Mrs Bribewell is taken suddenly
i'll, said her husband briefly.
But the look upon his face was a rev.
elation to one man, at least. In it the
life of poor Rose Lylendale was dis
closed, and Melton felt an impulse to
strike him to the ground and stride over
his body into the chamber where his
only love had fallen beneath this mans
abuse.
But few words uttered before an
ecylesiastic had raised wall between
them which only death could render
passable. But pride-that vanquisher
of mortal pain-brought Mrs. Bribe-
well again before her guests that night.
"a slight indisposition to which she
was sometimes subject when under ex-
element"
This was what she said with smiling
lips.
Harvey Melton did not believe her,
and he told her so.
They were alone.
He was not one of the players. They
sat in a remote recess of the saloon.
Without, the moon. lucent and ten
der, fell over thn onrdnre nf her. own
and the adjoining villas, and ''lit her
eyes with fearful power" as he asked
her why she had left him so abruptly
years before
Because | was already Mrs. Bribe-
well. We had been married two years
when we separated. He had been very
cruel to me. He agreed to give me the
boy, which he never did. He disposed
of the child, never telling me under
what management he was placed. |
was very wretched, and my health be-
gan to give way for & while, but at last
| grew to feel that he might tell me of
the child if l remained patient and
ceased to question him about Alf. At
last l accidentally learned he was up
among the mountains and streams
where YOU met me. The lad in the boat
was he.
AT first l did not recognize him, but
when you drew him into the boat saw
that it was my lost darling, and it was
joy-joy which made me laugh. You
cannot imagine my happiness. l ran
away with him the next morning. He
was neglected, poorly clad. Isucceed-
ed in hiding him for little time, but
at last we were discovered. Had | not
we might have escaped. But his faith
ar found US and was about to send the
boy back Rather than have him re-
turn to his former life, l fell upon my
knees and begged for a reconciliation.
At last it was settled, and | again be-
came Mrs. BriDewell. He had been
travelling, and it had never become
known that we had separated. Little
Alf was but six years old when you saw
him. He is now my only comfort"
She stopped.
What is the matter?" she asked
abruptly, rising to her feet,as servant
went running through the apartment.
Bells were ringing in different parts
of the house.
1T is Mr.. Bribewell, ma a'am,' said
the man falteringly; something has
happened-
She went down the room and cross
ed the hall.
Melton saw her halt, heard the tread
of feet, and saw men carrying some
thing. Two hours later the guests re-
naming in anxious silence heard the
end.
Harold Bribewell was dead.
The graceful woman who that eve
ming had assisted at that sumptuous
banquet, was widow.
He had fallen suddenly, while en-
gagged in his game, in an apoplectic fit.
The heavy draughts of brandy, of which
he invariably partook under excitement,
had fastened disease to which he was
predisposed.
Harvey Melton had never ceased to
love the fair Rose Lylendale. whom he
had fancied as care-free as she was
beautiful.
Should he now, when he had seen
the sadness of her life illustrated in her
face, when he had heard her sad story
from her own lips, should he love her
the less after this?
What had once been the love of a
boy, had grown into the deep devotion
of man. 1t had linked itself with a
sympathy which would make their life
lone grand sweet song"
So when. eighteen months later, she