Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1889-08-31
SECRET.
The Fatal Curiosity Of the Wife of a Mys-
terlous Millionaire.

u et"A ShAtt1AAl " AAN wiz VI a NY
re terlous B~illionaire.
fe "And you are not happy, Horteusei
re "Happym
Id The intense Scorn with which Ho
tense Montmorenei uttered the wor
re can not be adequately expressed
cold, pulseless type.
"Happym
ID She moved rapidly across the grec
| dr%awing-room to where her husban
lie stood under the great crystal chandJ
Is her with its myriads of wax light
e casting a soft glow oven the rich fun
n nishings of the apartment.
Happy"
The lovely woman looked like
y queen as she stood there in her super
5 toilet and looked with proud disdaii
full in her husbands eyes.
Happy"
That's what | said
There was a suspicion of you-make.
me-tiredness in Herbert Cecil Mont
= morenci's tone as he oarelessly fippet
t the ashes from his cigarette upon tho
rich Gohelin tapestry carpet with an
air OF weli-bred ease.
He was a tall, handsome man, was
Horbet Cecil Montmarenei, and he
his dress suit with that indie
scribable grace which is so character
issic Of your true ~aristocrat and your
English society actor.
There were no flies on his STYLE and
bearing.
"Haye | not surrounded you with
every luxury which mans ingenuity
can suggest and money can buy?n no
asked, with a slight sheer just playing
around the corner of his well-brad
mouth. ''Have ! not gratifed Your
slightest whim regardless Of cost? Is
there Il better dressed woman in all
the circle of your acquaintance? Havo
| not built a palace for you to live in,
and filled it with the richest and most
'''' We
beautiful works of art which the wide
world could supply? Have | not sur
rounded you with a multitude of ser
wants to do your slightest bidding?
Have %begrudged you money!"
"Ah, there it is again." said Hor-
tense, in a tone of great WEAKNESS.
Money, money, money. lis the
thought Of that which so frightens
me-. Where does it all come from?
Why, oh why, won't you tell me, Her.
bertP Why conceal longer your BUSH
ness from your wife? You can not
but know that your silence upon this
subject fills me with dread forebod-
lngs. Remember, Herbert Cecil. /
have seen jim, the Penman, and |
can not help drawing my own eonclu-
sions about how you acquire your
wealth so mystcriously and
so rapidly. Have a care. | am a
woman, and have all a woman's Curl
osity. | will not much longer remain
ignorance Of the matter. Herbert
Cecil Montmorenci, | am not a fool"
With his face as white as that of ono
his own marble statues which graced
he drawing room, he answered:
SOFTLY, my tigress, softly Do not
too far, or | swear to you by the
'ich blue blood of my ancestors, YOU
will rue the day you ever married
ne | have spoken. Good evening,
madam"
With a low bow he left the room.
nd passing through the double row of
lackeys in the great hall. en-
cred his carriage and was whirled
away.
II.
1t Is IN the private Office OF the great :
elective firm Of Simpson, Ferret a. {
impson. A vailed lady is engaged in I
n earnest conversation with the great
st detective of the age, Theophilus S
. Simpson, q
and can you then discover the ma |
Ire of his ~businessp" she asks, in
mes OF suppressed excitement.
"Madam, | myself will shadow him -,
need be day and night, but | will
.scOver ALL"
Enough said, When you have OBJ |
lined the information | seek come to n
e and | will double this sum, and
18th these words the vailed lady slips n
to the detectives hand a large roll :
1000 bills.
III. +,
we are in the palatial homo a.
HeTbert Cecil Montmorenci, the
'steriotrS Millionaire. .
Herbert anu llortense are sitting "
e-a-tete at the table in the break.
It room. 1t is furnished entirety in
hit blue and white. The walls are =
1ered with silkcn draperies and -
lnty aquarelles of fishing and hunt
: scenes. There is an air of refine ~.
mt and subducd luxury everywhere. a.
Once more, and for the last time, ~,
rbort' Task you to tell me what your
is,' says lIortcnse, as sho Ia
IS with her golden teaspoon and ~
across the table at her hus. "
nd. u
And once more, and for the last
les refuse" answers Herbert, with ~
rim Smile, as he daintily wipes his ~,
nth with a point-lacc napkin. VI
You positively r~efusep"
4 positiv ely refuse" W.
'Enough!m ill
he lady stretches tfprward her 'oi
nty jewcled hand anSs touches Il !
den bell. A stately butler enters CHI
h noiseless tread. oni
johnson, tell Mr.. Simpson I will vii
him here at once Il !
he butler disappears and in tla cat
It moment ushcrs in TbeophilusV V. lar
Epson. the famous detective. lie Clio
Us politely to Mr.. and Mrs. Mint pm
renci and stands waiting in silence. Uni
You have followed my ins;ruc-
Tsp" inquired Hortense, eagerly Of
detective. SIN,