Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-12-11

nSsAAC HIS uSs1u WILD HI bll6 Quleb EILNSHuku, where there is no trouble or care. After a time had elapsed Brian again resolved to ask Mir. Frettlby for the hand of his daughter when for the second time fate interposed. This time it was rival suitor who made his appearance, and Brian's hot Irish temper rose when he saw another Richmond in the field. The gentleman in question was a Mir. Oliver Whyte, who had come out from England few months previously, and brought Q letter of introduction to Mir. Frettlby, who received him hospitably, as was his custom, and Whyte soon made him. self perfectly at home in the St. Kilda man. sion.
 Brian took dislike to the new conner the first time he saw him, for Mir Fitzgerald was a student of Lavater, and prided himself on his reading of character. His opinion of Whyte was anything but fattering to that gentleman, for in spite of his handsome face and suave manners, both Brian and Madge felt the same repulsion toward him as they would have to snake. Mir. Whyte, how ever, with true diplomacy, affected not to notice the cold way in which Madge received him, and began to pay marked attention to her, much to Brian's disgust At last he asked her to be his wife, and notwithstand- ing her prompt refusal, spoke to MT. Frettlby on the subject. Much to the daughters as-' tonishment, that gentleman consented to Whyte's paying his addresses to Madge, and told her that he wished her to consider the young mans proposal favorably. In spite of all Madge could say, he refused to alter his decision, and Whyte, feeling himself safe, began to treat Brian with an insolence which was highly galling to Fitzgerald's proud nature He called on Whyte at his lodgings, and after @ violent quarrel with him had left the house, vowing to kill Whyte should he marry Madge Frettlby. Fitzgerald went alone to Mir. Frettlby that same night, and had an interview with him. He confessed that he loved Madge, and that his love was returned. So, when Madge added her en- treaties to Brian's, Mir. Frettlhy found him. self unable to withstand the combined forces, and gave his consent to their engage ment. Whyte was absent in the country for the next few days after his stormy interview with Brian, and it was only on his return that he learnt that Madge was engaged to his rival. He saw Mir. Frettlby on the sub ject, and having learnt from his own lips that such was the case, he left the house at once, and swore that he would never enter it again. He little knew how prophetic his words were, for on that same night he met his death In a hanson cab. He had passed out of the life of both the lovers, and they, glad that he troubled them no more, never suspected for moment that the body of the unknown man found in Royston's cab was that of Oliver Whyte.
 About two weeks after Whyte's disappear ance Mir. Frettlby gave dinner party in honor of his daughters birthday. It was delightful evening, and the wide French win dows which led on to the veranda were open, letting in gentle breeze, blowing with a fresh, salt odor from the ocean. Outside there was q kind of screen of tropical plants, and through the tangle of the boughs the guests, seated at the table, could just see the waters of the bay glittering like silver in the pale moonlight. Brian was seated opposite to Madge, and every now and then he caught a glimpse of her bright face behind the great silver epergne ,gilled with fruit and flowers, which stood in She center of the table. Mark Frettlhy was at the head of the table, and appeared in very good spirits, for his stern features were somewhat relaxed, and he drank more wine than usual. The soup had just been removed when some one who was late entered with apologies and took his seat. Some one in this case was MT. Felix Rolleston, one of the best known young men in Mel bourne. He had an income of his own, scrib bled little for the papers, was to be seen at every house of any pretensions to fashion in Melbourne, and was always bright, happy and full of news. Whenever any scandal oc- cured Felix Rolleston was sure to know it
 
 one else. He knew everything that was going on, both at home and abroad. His knowledge, if not very accurate, was at least extensive, and his conversation was piquant and witty. As Calton, one of the leading lawyers of the city, said, "Rolleston put him l in mind of what Beaconfield said of one of his characters in 'Lothair,' He wasn't an in- tellectual Croesus, but his pockets were always full of sixpences' There was good deal of truth in Cations remark, and Felix always distributed his sixpences freely. The conversation had been dull for the last few
 minutes at the Frettlby dinner table; conse- quently when Felix arrived everybody frightened up, as they felt certain now that the conversation would be amusing.
 ''So awfully sorry, don't you know" said Felix, as he slipped into a seat by Madge; ''but fellow like me has got to be careful of his time-so many calls on it"
 ''So many calls in it, you mean" retorted Madge with adisbelieving smile. 'sConfess, now, you have been paying 8 round of visits,n
 "Well, yes," assented MT. Rolleston; "thats the disadvantage of having large circle of acquaintances. They give you weak tea and thin bread and butter, whereas"-
 ''You would rather have B. and S. and some deviled kidneys" finished Brian. There was laugh at this, but Mir. Rolles- ton disdained to notice the interruption.
 'The only advantage of 5 o'clock tea, ,n he went on, ''is that it brings people together, and one hears what's going on"
 ''Ah, yes, Rolleston," said Mir. Frettlby,
 who was looking at him with an amused
 smile. "What news have youq'
 | "Good news, bad news, and such news as you have never heard of," quoted Rolleston | gravely. ''Yes, I have a bit of news. Haven't you heard itG'
 \ As no one knew what the news was they
 could not very we'll say that they had, so
 Rolleston was happy, having found out that he could make a sensation.
 'tWell, do you know," he said, gravely
 fixing in his eyeglass, ''they found out the
 name of the fellow that wat murdered in the
 hanson cahg'
 VNeverln cried every one eagerly. "Yes," went on Rolleston, land what's more, you all know him"
 ssIt's never Whytef' said Brian, in a horri- fled tone.
 'sHang 1t, how did you knowF' said Rol.
 leston, rather annoyed at being forestalled. "Why, I just heard it at the St Kilda :, station.n
 " xtnh aas;1x, ayo,,0h n said Er4an xathaY