River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1888-04-26

tone. walked TO the hotel where her
noble smtor resided. and with the
most matier-of-fact GOODNESS. proceed
ell to ques.io the concierge about his
lordshnp.
The man was communicative. Yes.
MILFORD has had the granest suite Of
rooms since Christmas; nc spent his
money like prince. had the best Of
every thing and paid for it ruby on the
nail. Ali Milford WAS so Britannia.
he had ali that superb apartment real
ly only for himself aud his valet de
chamber-his man of confidence; and
Milford was after all. more oftcI alb
sent than in it,"
That's So" said Miss Dslia And.
having provided herself with return
ticket. she forthwith returned To Monte
Carlo in state of blissful security.
On the evening of that same day Lord
Eilz Maurice met her with an unusual
disturbance of manner aud restless,
eager look in his serene blue eyes.
Without preamble. he led her 10
sheltered arbor in the gardens. and
asked her point-blank: do you love
me?'
why do you ask?" said Della.
feeling the crisis had come. but un-
willing 10 commit herself by \ hasty
avOwal.
use-circumstances oblige me
to discontinue my daily visits To
Monte Carlo. because / may have 10
leave even Mentone at hours
notice; and to avoid-dclays-
slacles-if you love me. give your
self 10 me by an iIhmediate-a secret
marriage. ="
Certainly not" said Della calm
~. There is no earthly reason why
we should not become engaged in the
orthodox fashion. and get married
afterwards. with a breakfast. brides
maids and choral service"
Lord Fitz Maurice bit his lips.
bat if | should be away weeks
momths-with the sea between us?'
THAT would be bad. certainly. but
guess we've had about enough of
this place aud will be moving up to
England shortly. Wen meet you
there"
You do not love me-" he said.
presently-not despairingly. but rs
if weighing some contingent posslbili-
ty-'or else you wouldn't be so cruel.
You refuse 10 be my wife?'
Not at ALI I'll marry you. There's
my hand. Bat what's the use of an
informal. stupid. secret marriage? Pr
and ma are willing enough. You are
If age. of course. and. on the whole.
would much prefer wedding in Lon
don to one an this Outlandish place.
With true arIstocratic Difference and
gentlemanIy delicacy. Fitz Maurice did
not urge his wishes further. He
limited rather darby at the dangers of
procrastination, the insecurity of part
ings; but Della treated the question in
such sensible. practical manner.
even alluding in a pretty, pouting,
bewitching way to settlements and
all that lawyers fuss. you know
that he was fain to take a more hope
full view, and it was agreed that. if he
had not returned in fortnight. Della
would take her parents to England
without further delay.
When he left her. his leave-taking
was warmer and more regrettul than
she could have expected of him. which
did not prevent her saying afterwards,
half aloud: lie might have remem-
bered the engagement ring. any how"
When he had quite gone. Della
walked up TO Mr.. Benjamin J. w.
Muholland, and said to him:
Pa, J am engaged TO Lord Fitz
Maurice. but | won't have it spoken
about for fortnight. at least. He's
going away tomorrow. and my other
beaux might hang of if. they knew of
it,"
who's Lord Fiiz Maurice?" said
Mrs. Mulholland. from her rocking
chair.
I'm Introduce him. ma. when he
comes back. Aud SO the matter
rested.
Two days later. Monte Carlo was
startled by the news that Lord Fitz
Maurice had shot himself in his bed
room ut Mcntone in the small hours
of the night. The fact of the suicide
was confirmed in successive editions
of the papers. with the addition of
circumstantial if sometimes contra
dictory details. 1t appeared, how
ever certain that the noble
Lord hal retired early. spent
the evening in writing and burn
ing letters. had summoned his valet.
and trusted him with sealed orders to
be executed i'm England without delay;
had dismissed him. and committed the
fatal act few hours afterward. An
open letter found on his dressing table
left no doubt as 10 his intentions. and
removed all suspicion of foul play.
Miss Della received the announce
ment with natural horror, but on the
whole bore the shock with surprising
fOrtitude She had embarked on a
purely business speculation, had lost
her assets, and must face the loss. She
regretted. on one hand. that she had
not consented 10 the sudden and stolen
marriage. or at least decided 10 make
her engagement known. as she would
then have been either the widow or
the mourning faHcee of the dead Lord;
on the other, she thought of her ward
robe. of the approaching London sea-
son. and calculated that it was we'll
not 10 be hampered by the outward
signs of sorrow and the conventional
obligations of decorous regret. Her
last days mt Monte Carlo were enliv-
cned by The renewed vitality of her
former worshipers' devotion. and she
firmly refused to be saddened by any
more illusions 10 that poor wrctched
mans sioopid suicide"
With more difficulty than ON the
two former occasions. NJ. Benjamin J.
W. Mulholland had once more to be
uprootel from his pleasant haunts.
but Della rose to the occasion and The
1st of May saw her once more with pa
aud ma atthe Grand Hotel in London.
Spring was more suspicious than
autumn to the Mulhollands. They did
burrow their way into certain set;
they established a foothold in an outer
but not less agreeable circle of society;
they met. If they did not actually visit.
scions Of the great world; twice had
Miss Della seen her name in print rs
.The fair American debutante and
her parasol had attracted notice on the
80, - +, I-,.r 9, fhc lasf E,,,r- l., Haol