San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-08-14
This story was commenced August III
copyrighted. Al Rights Ressiyed.J
A TRAGEDY;
OR
THE STORY OF THE CHAIN PIER.


manner of treating the fairer sex, it
was certain that he would, sooner or
later, fall in love and marry. From
what knew of him, from the innate
conviction of my own love, felt sure
that his marriage would be the hinge
on which his whole life would turn. I
was very anxious about it, and talked
to him great deal about it when we
were together.
''If you marry the right woman,
Lance" said to him, you will be one
of the happiest and most successful
men in the world, but if you should
make mistake you will be one of the
most miserable"
lie always looked at me with laughing
eyes.
II shall make no mistake, John. /
know that somewhere or other the
most adorable woman in the world is
waiting for me. shall be sure to find
her, and fall in love with her, marry
her, and live happy for ever afterwards"
But you will be careful, Lance" l
said.
''As careful as a man can be; but,
John, as you are so anxious, you had
better choose for me-"
No" | replied. II made so great
self that | shall never attempt it again.
Circumstances happened that drew
me over to America. | had large in
terest in some land there, and not caring
about the trouble of it, | went over to
sell it. | succeeded in selling it to
great profit, and as | liked America |
remained there three years. | sailed
for America in the month of October,
two or three weeks after the incident
of the Chain Pier, and | returned to
England after an absence of three years
and seven months. | found myself at
home again when the lovely month of
May was at its fairest. During all that
time only one incident Of any note hap
pened to me, or rather, happened that
interested me. Lance Fleming was
married.
He wrote whole volumes to me before
his marriage, and he wrote volumes af-
forwards. OF course she was perfec-
tion-nay, just a little beyond perfec-
ton, think; she was beautiful, clever,
accomplished, and such darling,-Of
course, l might be sure of that. One
thing only was wanted to make him
perfectly happy-it was that | should
see his lady love. Her name was Fran
ces Wynn, and he assured me that it
was the most pOetical name in the
world. Page after page of rhapsody
did he write and | read until at last
believed him, that he had found the one
perfect woman in the'world.
Lance wrote Oftener still when | told
him that was coming home. | must
90 at once to DuttOn Manor. | should
find DuttOn Manor an earthly Paradise,
lie said. and he was dOubly delighted
hnt I oh hn In, in
May it wore its faireSt aspect.
"a wife makes home Heaven, john"
he never tired of writing. II wonder
often why Heaven has blessed me so
greatly. My wife is-well, | worship
her-she is a fair, proud woman, calm,
fair, and lovely as a saint. You will
never know how much | love her until
you have seen her. She fills the old
manOr-hOuse with sunshine and music.
| love to hear the gentle sound of her
voice, sweet and low as the sound of
lute-the frOu-frOu of her dress as she
moves about. | am even more in love
with her than when | married her, and
/ should not have thought that posi-
BILE. Make haste home. John, my dear
old friend; even my happy home is in
complete without you. Come and share
its brightness with me-"
lie wrote innumerable directions for
my journey. The nearest railway sta
tiOn to Dutton Manor was at Vale Roy
al, pretty little town about three
miles from the house. If | would let
him know by what train | should reach
Vale Royal. he would be at the station
to meet me. And he said ,-Heaven
bless his dear, loving heart,-that he
was looking forward to it with untold
"When think of seeing Frances and
you together" he said, Il feel like a
schoolbOy out for holiday. | have
counted the hours, John, until you will
come"
had to 90 to London on business,
and while there it was impossible to re-
sist the temptation of running on to
Brighton. / loved the place SO well, and
had not seen it for so long. wanted
TO stand once more on the Chain Pier,
and think of my lost Heaven. How
vividly it all came back to me-tnat ter
rible tragedy, although more than three
years had passed since it happened.
There was the corner where | had sat
in the thick, soft shadows; there was
the railing against which she leaned
when she threw the little bundle in the
water.
| remembered the itful light, the
wash of the waves around the pier, the
beautiful, desperate face, and the voice
that had walled: "If | dare; oh, my
God, if l darel"
went to see the little grave. The
thick green grass which covered it was
studded with white daisies; the golden
letters on the white cross seemed to
burn in the sunlight: "Marah, found
drowned" had been to the other end
of the world, but no one had been to
shed one tear over the little grave.