Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1890-09-05
CHAPTER xvI.-"sUPPosING-"

Tor the rest, l must dSh YOU ~ ltt'i Ot.
CHAPTER XVI.-"SUPPOSING-"
The following day the MarShams quite
unexpectedly came up to town again for
a couple of days. As Mrs. Bob explained
to julia Bob had hustled her up to look
at Il Ger ain set of fittings for one of the
Manor Lodge stables, which he could have
done JUS as well without her, and in the
evening Stephen and his wife dined at the
MetropOlc with them, having an idea of
Going on to the Criterion to see WNndham
in David Garrick" afterwards, that is if
seats were 10 be had. 1t happened that
Stephen was the only one of the four who
had seen the piece and the siSters-in-law
were quite cager about it. stephen, there
fore. dropped his wife at the hotel and
drove round to the Cr' to find out if there
were places to he had, and presently he
came back with The news that there was
one box left which he had secured.
"That will be lovely" cried Mrs. Bob
who, poor little woman, was quite in IL.
norHnce Of the little cloud in JuIia's mind.
81 do like box so much better than
stalls, although perhaps YOU scarcely see
quite so well. But you can 90 in ten
minutes late without annoying dozen
people and the men can 90 ont and what
they call walk round between the acts
without treading on three or four othe
womcn's toes"
Never go out till after the second act, "
put in Bob. Come along. Julia, my dear
let MS 90 down to dinner now"
Mrs. Bob laughed bob is quite touchy
about walking round" she cried, teasing
~. "Ohl by the 10y. Julia, dear, | have
just had letter from Lady Lucifer and
they have had the biggest robbery in
Btankhampton that they have ever haS
vet"
What. another" cried Julia, standing
stock still in the corridor
INV dear" replied Mrs. Bob. impress.
sivoly, they have got all the Civic plate
the sword and mace, the Mayor and
MHvoreSs' chains of Office they have got
her ladyship's diamonds. they have got
everything Ny dear, it is wicked to
laugh at the misfortunes of others, but
when think of the sword and mace
cant help laughing. And when | read
Violet LuciferS letter, just roared."
But Maimie," exclaimed Julia in an
awed voice, where will they stops Where
will they 81 ueNts"
')mpuNSih'c u say. " answered Mrs. Bon,
"but depend uunn it the sword aud mace
have been boiled down long before this
aud the chains and all the big silver can.
dlcstiCks, too. And what they'll do at
the bauQuets and parties can't think, for
I'm sure there isn't money enough in
Blnnkhampton to buy any new ones"
julia tried to think--rried to realize
what Assize SUNDAY would be like with,
out the insignia of civic state and dignity
2 ,.ysyv
tried and failed.
"Wcli,' she said, rs she unfolded her
Serviettc. "Tm very glad | don't live In
Blankhampton any longer. 1t did not
matter as long HS I had nothing to lose
but I should he very sorry to lose ali the
pretty things have now"
"Ot course, you would" Mrs. Bob re
turned, II know | felt losing my things
badly enough. you will believe me !
keep what I've got left about me night
and day, and | sent every silver teaspoon
we had to the bank before we came away.
just as well, for as likely as not they
would all have been gone when we got
home again"
1t was charming little dinuer that
they enjoyed that evening. ut the com.
Portable little table in the contest corner
W tue Aittt tilliNE-Etbil, WnlCn BOD ndCl
reserved for himself and his wife'S use
during their stay in the hotel And Julia,
when she was made much Of by the other
three, quite rs much of by Bob and his
wife as she was BY Stephen. began to feel
that she was a mean little wretch aud
nothing less to be giving house-room to
such a feeling as had taken the shape OF
little cloud no bigger than a mans hand.
Tha,r snF,al1,rt- 4 -
the meal to talking about great murder
case Just then occupying the attention of
the newspapers, ! case in which a wife
who outwardlv had all the appearance of
devotedlv nursing a sick husband only TO
be confronted by his relatives with a
charge Of wilful and deceigful murder. OF
using affectonate soIjcitUde for his wei.
fare as a cloak under which TO administer
II deadly poison.
Il think she'll get Of said Bob.
Il hope she WILL" cried Julia: poor
thing, it must be had enough to lose your
husband without being accused of killing
| him."
at must be pretty bad TO be standing
in dock on charge of murder whether
you happen 10 have done il CT not" put in
Stephen, thou shtfRuy.
"Oh! horrible.'' Julia ausv cred. I'VE
knew man who was charged with muir
der, but only at the inquest, you know.
And we knew the man who was murdered
too. They were both in the Blanks hire
Regiment
Then he didn't do its' said Stephen.
''The man who was had up mean"
'Oh, nol-they Were the greatest friends
! possible. But they never found out who
| did do it, all the same. l remember Mr..
! Beresford-he was such nice fellow; he
married Nancy Earle, great heiress. at
! terwards-told us when he came back To at
often enough during the few days that he
4 was in prison, he used TO wonder what ID
! would feel like to be hanged for the muir