The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1885-03-21
"And how does he appear to regard


"And how does he appear to regard
his wife's whims?"
with extreme indulgence. | see him
looking ut her peculiarities of dress,
with the kind of smile with
which fond parent regards the trick
of spoiled child"
"Spoiled child, indeedr' here joined
in a sharp-nosed, thin-lipped elderly
dame who had evidently thus far been
holding her tongue with great difficulty.
Il have no patience with him. Why |
don't he make her take off those fal-de-
lals MAUD hasn't told you about half
of them) and dress like ChristianP l
would, mighty quick, if were he. But |
as he don't should think that compan-
ion of hers-Mrs. Gregg-who seems to
be sensible person, and to have some
influence over her, might prevail upon
her not to make show of herself. y
perhaps she is the sort of woman
who can't be prevailed upon," said
Bell.
Il guess you are right" acquiesced
Mistress Maud, with emphasis. 'She
has very determined look at times
about her mouth, though it is a small
and smiling one. And her big, dark
gray eyes meet your gaze almost deti-
antly.n
"DeliautlyP Impudently, l call it, )"
resumed the sharp-featured lady, land
I'm sorry for her husband, | am, for
altogether, I've no doubt he has pref
ty hard time of it. I'm sure if l were
man / shouldn't want my wife tag
ging round after me every step took,
s,1I do
Whims, eternally devisin' ways and
means, in spite of her pretended devo-
ton, of attractin' attention"
THAT is false!" said a voice from the
drawing-room window, and the next
moment Mrs. Gregg, a tall, pale wo-
man, clad in black robes, stepped out
upon the porch.
''False!' echoed the unlovely spin
ster.
Yes, 'false;' and to my mind the
time has come when the truth should
be told / can not, in consideration for
her, take the dreadful responsibility of
keeping my mistress secret any longer
Ladies, that splendid looking fellow
so bound to the side of his wifc-would,
had it not been for her angelic love and
devotion, have been long ago the in
mate of lunatic asylum. Don't be
frightened, he has never hurt any one
but her. For years he has been subject
to insane paroXysms whose fury he
vents upon the being he loves best in
the world Once over them he is as
sane as YOU or ]. For several weeks
past these attacks have been much more
frequent than ever before. But no one
has suspected them, even in this
crowded hotel, for having, as you have
already suggested, Miss button, some
thing of the tiger about him, it is but 6
stealthy bound, noiseleSs, heavy blow
or two or thrce-received without {
murmur-and then he sinks into pro
found slumber from which he awake'
utterly unconscious of what he ha
done, to laugh as you do at his wife
whims. That fantastic turban con
cealed wound in the left temple; thu
long gloves covered bruised hands ant
arms; the scarf was tied about swollel
neck, and the wards of illusion wrapped
around her slender throat tonight hid
the marks of cruel fingers. MADAM
Whimsr Madam Saint, l say! HE onl
hurts me, she prays, when | threaten
disclosure. He only hurts me AM
docs not mean to do it, as you wei
know, Gregg, for he loves me, he love
me dearly and | adore him. What h
| does in the wretched moments that h
. is not himself / can bear, but to
= parted from him forever-oh! that
could not bear She came here in tn
hope that the waters might do hiI
good. but he has, as l have told you
| -, 20 4 10 n.
= perience it would be crime for me
: remain silent any longer. Give II
" the name, please, of the best physical
: in the-my God! what was thatP' 81
= broke off suddenly to exclaim, as
pistol shot rang out upon the air, an
! then she fairly flew back through IL
y drawing-room, out into the hall, an
J up the stairs that led to her mistres
. apartment, followed, almost as swift
J by the horror-stricken women who hs
q been listening to her story. THROWN
IL open the door of the sitting-room 81
y entered, leaving the others huddled t
l. gether in the threshold. TOO lat
l; too late." she cried; ''look there" Al
~ there on the floor, beside a cout
a which held the form of his wife, |;
~ the lifeless body of Luke Halpin. II
le has killed her in one of his insane m
a. ments," continued the companion in
. shrill, unnatural voice, land findil
VI her dead on awakening has taken !
e e own life with the pistol l thought
y had so carefully hidden from hi
az az And see, see, wringing her hands VIII
40 40 the tears rolled down her checks, c
30 30 what a pitiful sight-she play
.. Madam Whims' to the last. :" A
"' pressing silently forward they saw Il
:, the dying woman, with some wild id
, of hiding the act that had cost her
n n life. and shielding him who was dear
~ to her than that life, had with her
~ strength draped a gauzy shawl o.
- the knife-wound in her breast, but
~, ~ tell-tale blood had dripped throu
10 and stained the white silk dress
H. wore with spots ofvivid red!-Marga
nc nc EytiRge, IN Detroit Free Press.
The Kansas CITY Times relates