Wichita eagle., 1890-03-16
-vzs:sANiIaag
1xi11y y eagle

LADY Chariot e read: f'DIr. Isaac Hart,
and under the name was written II
mcneil: ..From dr. Abraham Levi"
''Tell him I ain engaged and canno
see him. but viii. write and make an ap
pointment."
"He saws he won't stir until he ha.
seen your ladyship."
lyon can show him into the study;
will see him there" Lady Charlotte tieC
the ribbons of her embroidered morning
gown angriIy. ''Tllese people will drive
me mad" she muttered, "and it is my
own doing. That is the dreadful part
of it.
Lady Charlotte Crslddock looked very
firm and resolute Us she opened the door
of the study. Mr. Isaac Hart stood by
thewindow; a remarkably curly brimmed
hat perched sideways on his oily, raven
ringlets; a large diamond ring garnished
the little finger of a hand not conspicuous
for cleanliness; the brilliant pink scarf
round his throat was fastened through a
large ieweled brooch in front; the tout
ensemble. indeed, was not engaging. He
turned round without taking of his hat,
and with insolen5 familiarity greeted
Lady Charlotte.
GOOD morning, Lady Charlotte. Fine
grounds, these of Potts"
81 have no time TO waste, Mr.. Lady
Charlotte read the name on the card be-
fore throwing it into waste paper bas-
ket-"Hart; please give me any message
your employer may have intrusted to
you"
"lfy employer, as you call him, gave
me this little bill, which fell due the day
before yesterday, and as your ladyship
did not condescerd to answer his little
note, or to let my employer know when
YOU was a-going to pay him the monthly
installment as is due, why I've come on
my employers behalf to collect that
sum"
'eYou may tell Mr.. Levi that
7 am quite unable to pay at
present. he must wait if he ever hopes to
receive payment in full. He can make
me bankrupt if he likes, and then he viii
get nothing; but as the interest he
charges is rather more usurious than
even the worst Of his tribes, don't sup
pose he viii care to see the exact amount
IN print. am sorry [ cannot pay this
month, but it viii be more to Mr.. Lewis
interest to leave me IN peace"
"Mr. Levi can Judge for himself what
Is to his own interest, and he says he
must have the money as is owing to him.
So if your lzdyship really don't want to
waste time, you had better just hand over
the money and take this here stamped
acknowledgment"
Lady Charlotte had taken a seat near
the table, and, as yesterday, had drawn
the ornamental inlaid pistol case towards
her. She took out one of the weapons
gingerly and carefully, as one unac-
quainted with the mysterious ways of
firearms; she sat for a few moments
with the pistol in her hand, the muzzle
towards herself, and looked at it absent
" without speaking.
The Israe!ite soon showed signs Of i'm
patience.
81 think as you said you don't want to
waste no time, Lady Charlotte. don't
neither. Are you going to give me that
money!"
'No; it is not in my power 20 do so.
You may tell Mr.. Levi that when L can
pay will"
"But 3Ir. Levi told me TO stay here IN
til you did pay"
Your staying here would do no good
TO Mr.. Levi. If he will accept payment
when convenient, all well and good; if
not, the bankruptcy court is open to me.
Your remaining here is an imperdnence
which viii do Mr.. Levi no good, and if
complain to Mr.. Potts of your intrusion
his servants will turn you out. You will
be so good, therefore, as to leave the
house at once"
4 don't leave the house without the
money. Your ladyship must have lots
of swell friends here who would lend you
the money. Surely you know of some
one who would settle this little business
for YOU"
Il know of no one" said Lady Char
lotte with a weary air. She looked a.
the pistol turned towards her breast.
Perhaps it was loaded! Surely if it were
it would be better Just TO raise it to her
temples and with one little jerk end this
miserable sordid struggle, this endless
vexation about money, money, money!
She hated the word. If only she had been
rich in her own right! She had never
been wicked or done anything really
wrong, and vet life was rapidly becom-
ing living torture, and all because of the
miserable lack of money. All! what had
she done that she should be made so mis-
cradle?
81 think your ladyship must know a
friend who could help you in this lit.
tie difficulty" the oily, nasal accents
of the Israehte broke in upon Lady
Charlottes meditations. II have heard
it said that its well belnown who
really is the boss of Reminshall
Abbey. Don't you think as MIR. Potts
would settle this little matter? / have
heard it said as there's more than friend
ship betwixt" -
There was something so revoltingly
insoleut in the mans look and manner
that his meaning flashed across Lady
Charlotte's mind long ere the effect of
his mere words could have done. Her
face, which had been pale before, grew
paler; she leapt out of her seat, pointed
she revolver full at the man, and before
she could fully realize the situation. she
felt her hand violently jerked upwards,
there was a flash, smoke, q report and a
dull thud as Mr.. Isaac Hart fell to the
ground.
Only for moment did Lady Charlotte