The Irish standard., 1890-11-15
THE.IhlsH STANDARD /: SATURDAY ,NoYEMBER. Is \

was talking to Mrs Delaro When as
said this. She quickly replied:
.ssOh, no, u dc not think matters are
quite as serious as that Eut how Is 1t
about the wo1nan's supposed husband?
Has she forgotten him amid the new
e1citen1ent?"
..Nc, indeed, she has not On the cen
trary she promises to spend her money
when she gets it for the purpose OF try
ing to find her husband.
| s'That reminds me 70 ask if you have
yet heard any thing from Percy" was
Mrs Delaro's next question.
ssNo, I have not, and it is causing me
much concern. l have sent message
after message, bnt no reply comes and
tomorrow have made UP my mind to
| cable the American Consul at Buenos
Ayres and ask him to investigate. It is
getting serious and steps must be taken
at once to find out where he is" A sec
ond later the aged friend OF the Delaro
family spoke up suddenly and asked:
dad you hear that Mr.. Howe, part
ner Of Mr.. Emerick's, is dead?"
mo, did not, replied Mrs. Delaro
SIT occurred some time ago, said Mr..
Wilcox, s'and heard down town that this
limerick is returning from Buenos
Ayres, having closed out his business
there. Also that he is going to sell out
altogether. He is a rather queer fish,
am told, some of his business transact
tions not being quite as square as they
lob no Th<,n ic hot ho
is not spoken oi very we'll among bust
ness men and has few friends
Then hope that you viii en-
deayor to see him as soon us he arrives,
for Percy was very. anxious that you
should He seemed to have some idea
that you will know the man. said Mrs.
Delaro.
''You may depend upon it shall do
my best to see him when he gets here,
for am as much interested as anybody
in knowing who he really is
For the next week or two there we're
no new developments either in regard
to Percy Lowell Or the Bregys' fortune.
Eugene and his mother, acting on the
advice of Mr.. Blodger, made rapid
preparation to leave for France, ;lnd
had even taken passage on the ''La Gas
coigne'' for the early part Of May.
Mir. Wilcox was suffering intense
anxiety on account Of not hearing from
Percy, and longed for the time to come
when he would receive some informa-
ton by mail from the American Consul,
to whom he had telegraphed asking him
to make inquiries. In fact SO great
was the old fellows anxiety that he
began to show signs Of it in his feat
ures. The old gentleman was very ro-
bust, and could have combatted success
fully any severe physical trial, but the
stress Of worry on his mind owing to the
halo of uncertainty which surrounded
the fate of his chosen friend and COM
panion werg too much for him. He
grew restless, sometimes even irritable,
and finally was told by his medical
adviser that he must cease to trouble
himself so much Or he would be very
sick man. Still nothing could divert
his thoughts, and on the day that Mr.
limerick landed in New York from the
Rio steamer, Mr.. Wilcox was compelled
to take to his bed. The strain on his
mind had been COO much and he had 90
succumb. Mrs. Delaro and Armida had
done their utmost to cheer him, and had
enaeavored to force him to eat and
drink, and take amusement to divert
his thoughts. but their efforts were Of
no avail.
In IL delicatel FURNISHED bedroom in
the house near Grarnercy spark was
gathered a small company. Wistfully
gazing upon a bed wbereon lay the
quiet form Of an old man. The little
group consisted Of Mrs. Delaro and her
daughter, Mr.. Blodger and Il physician,
and they We're sadly Watching their
good friend, Mr. Wilcox, tie tide Of
whose life was fast ebbing away.
Joel Wilcox was an old man who had
long since passed the three-score-
ten milestone on life's highway, and a
slight cold. added to intense anxiety,
on account Of The man whom he had
grown to love as q son, had produced
fever which proved too much for his
vitality. The old fellow had ontlived
his day and generation, though. indeed,
he had in his younger days cut adrift
from sill his relations and early asso~
ciations In the latter days of his
prosperity he had not made many
friends Though he could count ac-
.qnain tances by the hundreds) as his re-
served and simple nature rendered him
fearful lest men should only like him
for his wealth and the influence. which
wealth brought with it. For Mario
Delaro he had conceived hearty Iik-
ing, and how we'll he had proved the
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