Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-07-30

\ terminated in 1890, 1891 and 1892 There will
be fine political fight on this clause, and the
prospects are that there will be no agreement
| upon bill which will bind the two branches
|
MONTMORENCrs SECRET.
The Fatal Curiosity Of the Wife OF q
Mysterious Billionaire.
| From the Evening Sun.
"And you are not happy, Hortenser"
| "HappyF'
morenci uttered the word cannot be adequately
expressed in cold, pulseless type.
| "Happyr'
| She moved rapidly across the great drawing
room to where her husband stood under the
great crystal chandelier with its myriads of
wax lights casting soft glow over the rich fur
nishings of the apartment.
| "HappyP'
The lovely woman looked like queen as she
stood there in her superb toilet and looked with
proud disdain full in her husbands eyes.
| "Happyw
| THAT'S what said"
| There was a suspicion of you-make-me- tired
| ness in Herbert Cecil Montmorenci's tone as he
| carelessly tipped the ashes from his cigarette
| upon the rich gobelin tapestry carpet with an
air of well-bred ease.
| He was a tall, handsome man. was Herbert
Cecil Montmorenci, and he wore his dress suit
| with that indescribable grace which is so char
acteristic of your true aristocrat and your En-
glish society actor.
There were no flies on his style and bearing
Have not surrounded you with every lux
ury which mans ingenuity can suggest and
money buy?" he asked with slight sneer lust
| playing around the corners of his well-bred
mouth. Have l not gratifed your slightest
whim regardless of the cost? Is there a better
| dressed woman in all the circle of your ac-
| quantance? Have / not built palace for you
| to live in and filled 1t with the richest and
| most beautiful works of art which the wide
world could supply? Have / not surrounded
| you with a multitude of servants to do your
slightest bidding? Have l begrudged you
| money!"
| "Ah, there it is again." said Hortense in q
| tone OF great WEAKNESS. Money, money,
| money! 'Iis the thought of that which SO
Ir1ghte1s me. Where does 1t all come from?
Why, oh, why won't you tell me, Herbert?
Why conceal longer your business from your
| wife? You cannot but know that your silence
| upon this subject fills me with dread forebod-
4 lngs. Remember. Herbert Cecil, / have seen
| Jim the Penman.' and cannot help drawing
| my own conclusions about how you acquire
your enormous wealth SO mysteriously and SO
| rapidly. Have a care L am a woman and
| have all a woman's curiosity. 1 will not much
| longer remain in ignorance of the matter
Il a
With his face as white as that of one Of his
own marble statues which graced the drawing
l room, he answered.:
| SOFTLY, my tigress, SOFTLY Do not go too
| far or l swear to you by the rich blue blood OF
| my ancestors you will rue the day YOU ever
married me. / have spoken. Good evening,
| madam"
With a low bow ne left the room, and passing
| through the double row of liveried lackeys in
the great hall entered his carriage and was
whirled swiftly away.
1t is in the private office of the great detect
| i've firm of Simpson, Ferret & Simpson. A
yelled lady is engaged in an earnest converse
ton with the greatest detective of the age.
| Theophilus V. Simpson.
''And can you then discover the nature Of his
business?" she asks in tones of suppressed ex-
| element
| Madam, myself will shadow him if need be
| day and night but l will discover ALL
| Enough said. When you have obtained the
| information / seek come to me and / will
| double this sum- and with these words the
yelled lady slips into the detectives hand a
large roll of $1,000 bills.
| Ill
| Again we are in the palatial home of Herbert
/ Cecil Montmorenci, the mysterious Millionaire
| Herbert and Hortense are sitting tete-a-te te
/ at the table in the breakfast room. 1t is fur
nished entirely in light blue and white. The
| walls are covered with silken draperles and
dainty aquarelles of fishing and hunting scenes
| There Is an air of refinement and subdued lux
| ury everywhere.
"Once more. and for the last time. Herbert,
| ask you to tell me what your business il"
| says Hortense as she toys with her golden tea
spoon and glances across the table at her hus-
| band.
And once more, and for the last time, re-
| fuse, answers Herbert with grim smile, as
he daintiiy wipes his mouth with point-lace
napkin.
| "You positively refuse?"
Il positively refuse"
| Enough"
The lady stretches forward her dainty Jew
elled hand and touches golden bell A state
| ly butler enters with noiseless tread
| johnson, tell Mr.. Simpson / will see him
| here at once"
The butler disappears and in the next mo-
i ment ushers iii Theophilus V. Simpson the
famous detective. He bows politely to Mr.. and
Mn Montmorenci and stands waiting in 81
| lence.
/ You have followed my instructions?" in
quires Hortense eagerly of the detective.
| i have, madam"
| "And you succeeded?'
| Il did"
'.And his business?" she asks. rising part way
| from her golden Louis XIV chair in her increas-
ing excitement.
There is a dreadful pause and silence sc
| intense that 1t seems to fill the room to suffo.
cation and be trying to burst the limits of the
walls and escape into the world at large. This
lasted fully thirty seconds. Then the detective
leans forward and in a voice trembling witt
the intensity of his emotion says in hoarst
| whisper:
He is the head waiter in Coney Islant
hotel"
With the smothered shrek Of stiied mania,
Hortense fell prone upon the Assyrian Garrett
Herbert arose quietly, calmly lighted a cigar
cite, and. turning to the detective, said in
tone OF cool villainy: II have played my gam.
tory" i
Then pointing to the PROSTATE figure of Hor
tense he smiled sardouically and left the roou
with the well-bred ease so Characteristic of tn,
| true aristocrat and head waiter
Fearful Stroke of lightning.
From the Macon (Ga) Telegraph, July 81
There was a biindinp blast N tarr;ec cra al