The Bozeman weekly chronicle. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1883-1889, 1886-09-15
Whole No. 18o

by Branksome and Fosdyke went tnFo1gn
the wide streets Of the quaint old city. Inc
first place we visited was the postordca.
There was a batch Of lettsrs here for kos-
dyke and one or two for Branksona. but
there was no further news from GTeaF
Lorton.
let us go to the HcteI d'Apgletsrre," said
Fosdyke, when we had done our sightseeing
at the cathedral Suppose that We lunch
there. and have look at the newspapers
sBy all means was the simultaneous re-
nlv az Branksorne and myself; and before
long we were seated in The cosily-furniahed
little salon of that we'll known hotel. The
friendly waiter brought the latest copy OF
The Times---six days old-to Us and Brank-
some after courteously offering it to me,
began to peruse it with the hungry aNldlsy
of a man who has long been shut on from
news o. the outer world.
Fosdvke ami ] turned over the old illus.
tratei papers which Uttered the tabse and
the weIl-thumbed register OF vtsitors from
all narts OF the world, while ever and anon
Branksome gave us the particulars Of some
incident of interest recorded in the Journal
Suddenly a cry OF horror startled me nnt OF
the placid frame OF mind in which ] had
been awaiting my luncheon. IL was Drank
some who had uttered i. looked up and
saw him with white, paDic-stricken face,
holding th. n .wspaper towards FoS lyke, his
hand trembling with emotion. de Was ap-
parently incapable Of speech
"In heavens KRme, what IS tue matter
Branksomel Are you illF' cried the lawyer.
aOh, nv God! nv GodI" he groans4, +read
i'll read It for yourself Nas there ever
anything so dreadful in this world
Fosdyke did not seem to understand.
snatched the paper from Branksomes fingers,
and after d moments delay ] found the
dreadful news which had moved him so
deeply. This was the paragraph "itch
read:
SUDDEN DEATH Our Lorton corre-
spondent telegraphs TO US to say that a pro-
found sensation has b en- caused throughout
the district by the news Of the sudden death
of Mr.. George Mauleverer, the Australian
millionaire whose purchase OF the Oreas
Lorton estate was recently announced. in our
columns. Ii seems that Mr.. NJ uleverer was
found dead in his bed yesterday morning,
and the appearances indicate that he died
during fit Of epilepsy, to which it is ru.
mored that he was subject. Ii is not thought
likely that any inquest will be held, Mr..
Mauleverer had only recently settled IN Eng
land, his vast fortune having been aecumu-
lated in Australia, where he was we'll known
as the wealthiest of the squatter aristocracy.
He leaves behind him a niece who resided
with him at Great Lorton Hall Mr.. Mau
leverer during the short period Of his resi-
dence on his Yorkshire estate bad endeared
himself to his tenantry by his hbsrallty.and
kinciline,s. He had, however, been in ailins
health almost ever since his arrival in Eng
land Nothing is known as yet as 20 the dis
position of his immense wealth.
We sat utterly paralysed by the sudden
blow that had thus fallen upon Us Eyea |,
although had no great reason to feel drawn
towards Mauleverer, was stunned by the
greatness and unexpectedness OF this
calamity. Fosdyke manifestly7 agitated
and increduiouS, unable to realize what il
was that had happened As for Brank-
some, his face was ghastIy. All the bright
ness had faded out OF it, and he sat with
drawn features, pallid lips and eyes wide
open, staring into space After that muffi
cry of horror he had seemed to be liseranl
incapable of speech.
Il don't believe i'll" cried Fosdyke at last
at is some ID Internal lie of the new.
papers Eh, Branksome, don { you think
so, tooi For Gods sake, man, don't let thi
upset you! I'll telegraph ut once He
started up as though about to leave rho roan
Tor that purpose.
Branksome feebly raised his hand 70 slsy
him.
@Dont CO." he said almost in a whisper.
"for- the love Of heaven do not 1eave r.e
yet
There was something in his tone that mads
the feel thet ! was de trop had no righ
saw, 10 intrldc upon such grief and horror
as his got up quietly and stole out of ths
room. ] went out into the street where th=
snow was lying. ami walked up ard down
bareheaded, regardless o. the cold, try ,ug g
collect my thoughts and realize what it was
that had happened
And my first clear idea was one Of which
at the time | felt ashamed. of which ! am
even more ashamed now ate the lapsa ot
years. forgot all about Mauleverer him
self and only grasped the idea that a. last
the obstacle which stood between Dasv
and myself had been removed. There was
nothing now TO prevent our maITiag.
Nothingl Yes. remembered myself There
was the dark shadow of Mauleverer's god.
Even now-from his grave felt well assured
that with his dead hand he woald strive TO
keep ms asunder
The thought Of Daisy had quickened nv
intellect, and saw that there WAS a. least
one step which ought 10 take went back
to the little room where I had left Brank.
some and Fosdyke. found them engaged
in conversation of the m lst elrnest dese,i
ton, carried on in those low tones VIII ch.
when the shadow of bereavenent lies heavy
on man. be naturally adopts They looked
up when / entersl as though they scarcely
relished my intrusion. Fosdyke at all events
could scarcely conceal his impatience made
hasty apology. and seizing my coat and
hok Iaff
the telegraph Office writing a message to my
darling, in which expressed my sorrow at
hearing the news of her bereavement, aud
my hope that within few days We might
meet again
As | waite while the clerk checked the
message, my thoughts were naturally busy
with thHt solemn event, which had in a mo.
ment robbed Mauleverer Of all his wealth
and reduced him to the common level of om
poor mortaTty. He had been dead now Just
week Probably this was the day of his
funeral. Ny imagination took wings across
the storm-tossed Northern sea, and saw 10
fancy the funeral proc ss'on starting from
that gloomy old hal anlong the Yorkshire
wolds, with one slight girIiSi figure, draped
In black, following the coffin Of the man al
whose riches all the world had wondered 20
my darling" | cried IN my heart. awhy am
] not with you TO heln Won to bear your sor.
row. and to drive away that sense Of Ioneli-
ness which is never felt SO keenly as by the
side Of an open grave."
And then like fash OF lightning. there
dartesl through NV brain the remembrance
OF the words spoken to me by CIR. gson in the
railway carriage, and all Of the sinister Dor.
tents that hal attended my visit ~ the hall
UP 70 that moment had regarded the rel
m1i1 death as any other persol. would hav
lone l. " % had read the paragraph in The
Iine Bu now in instant. saw ii ali
Fooi that was. not to have seen IL soone~,
Maiileverer had been nurderadl
Murderedi hut how aud bv whoml One
man there was whom suspected above all
others But be was here. more thar a sbo,,
sand miles from the spot where The evil de-.
nad been lone Even If could have been
told hy a revelation from heaven that
Flinter had slain Mauleverer. sbould have
had 10 acknowledge that the thing was i'm.
possible Tire arm'of thu assassin NAV be
long; but L cannot reach acros, hundreds
OF leagues of stormy sea in order TO strike
IT'S towards blow. Yet While reflected on
al the perplexin@ cnutradistory facts. nv
conviction that Flinter was guilty grew and
grew, until It took possession Of nv whole
frame, and quite suddenly the explanation
OF the difficulty which had troubled me
became clear to my mind. He bad an
npLica-some one whom be had left De
nlnd him at Great Lorton and through
whom he had slain the man be professad a.
ve with so dog-like a fidelity.
An! Mr. FIinter.n said to myself, with
bitter snale ON my lips, Syou little thought
what pitfall you were digging fos yourself
wnen you lured me on boafSts the GolIen