Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1890-02-15

nave Oeell IulILie1l! Iuaily u u ueu hAei'
been spoken in jest, but never more re-
msrkable one" The noble lady herself pre-
ferred not to dwell on the coincidence, GER
tain sbyncss, if not shame, crossing her fair
face at any allusion thereto.
But people will have their say. sensitive
souls or none, and their sayings on this third
occasion took singular shape. Surely"
they whispered. ~there is something more
than chance in this = = The death of
the first was possibly natural, but what of
the death of the second, who ill used her, and
whom, loving the third so desperately, she
must have wished out of the way?"
Then they pieced together sundry trivia
incidents of Sir Johns illness, and dwelt upon
the indubi:able truth that he had grown
worse after her lovers unexpected visit, till a
very sinister theory was built up as to the
hand she may have had in Sir Johns prema-
ture demise. But nothing of this suspicion
was said openly, for she was lady Of noble
birth-nobler, indeed, than either Of her hus-
bands-and what people suspected they feared
to express in formal accusation.
The mansion that she occupied had been
left to her for SO long time as she chose to
reside in it, and, having a regard for the
spot, she had coazed Sir William to remain
there But in the end it was unfortunate;
for one day, when in the full tide of his hap
piness, he was walking among the willows
near the gardens, where he overheard con-
versaton between some basket makers who
were cutting the osiers for their use. In this
fatal dialogue the suspicious of the neighbor-
inc townsfolk were revealed to him for the
first time. On his return home he seemed to
have aged years.
But he said nothing; indeed, it was impos-
sib!e And from that hour an arrangement
began. She could not understand it, and
simply waited. One day he said, however,
81 must go abroad"
''But whys" said she. civilian, have l
offended yous"
NO" said he: ''but must CO."
She could coax little more out of him, and
in itself there was nothing unnatural in his
departure, for he had been wanderer from
his youth In few days he started off, ap-
parently quite another man than he who had
rushed to her side so deyotedly few months
before.
It is not known when, or how, the rumors,
which were thick in the atmosphere around
her, actually reached the Lady Penelopes
ears, but that they did reach her there is no
doubt Then a reason for her husbands de-
parture occurred to her appalled, mind, and
q loss of health became quickly apparent
She dwndled thin in the face, ard the veins
in her temples could all be distinctly traced.
An inner fire seemed to be whitening her
away. Her rings fell off her fingers, and her
arms hung like the fails of the threshers,
though they had till lately been SO round and
so beautiful She wrote to her husband re-
peatedly, begging him to return to her, but
he, being in extreme and wretched doubt
moreover, knowing nothing of her i'll health
and never suspecting that the rumors had
reached her also, deemed absence best, and
postponed his return awhile, giving various
good reasons for his delay.
At length, however, when Lady Penelope
had given birth to a still born child, her
mother, the countess, addressed a letter to
Sir William, requesting him to come back to
her if he wished to see her alive; since she
was wasting away Of some mysterious dis
ease, which seemed to be rather mental than
physical 1t was evident that his mother-in-
law knew nothing of the secret, for she lived
at distance: but Sir William promptly hast
ened home, and stood beside the bed of his
now dying wife
believe me, William she said, when they
were alone, II am innocent-innocent."
''Of WHAT" said he. Heaven forbid that
should accuse you of anything
"But you do accuse nle-silently," she
gasped Il could not write thereon-and ask
you to hear me. It was too much, too de-
grading. But would that / had been less
proud They suspect me Of poisoning him,
William, But am innocent of that wicked
crime. He died naturally. loved you-too
soon; but that was all!'
Nothing awaited to save her. The worm
had gnawed too far into her heart before Sir
Williams return for anything to be remedial
now; and in a few weeks she breathed her
last After her death the people spoke
louder, and her conduct became 4 subject of
public discussion. A little later on the ply
stefan who had attended the late Sir John
heard the runor and came down from the
place near London TO which be latterly had
retired, with the express purpose of calling
upon Sir William Hervy, now staying in
Casterbridge
He stated tnat at tie request of . relative
of Sir Johns, who wished TO be assured on
the matter by reason of its suddeaneSs. he
had, with the assistance of surgeon, made
private eAiElIuSiicH Vi StI JOHN pOuf ilII-
mediateIy after his decease, and found that
il had resulted from purely natural causes.
Nobody al this time had breathed suspicion
OF foul play, and. therefore, nothing was
said which might since have esso blished her
innocence.
1t being thus placed beyond doubt that
this beautiful and noble lady had been done
to death by wicked SCANDAL that was uhoi-
" unfounded. her husband was stusg with
dreadful remorse at the share he lad taken
in her IniSortuneS and left the country
sne'y, this time never to return alive He
survived her but few years, and his body
WIS brought home and buried beside mis-
wifes under the tomb which is still visible In
the parish church. Until lately there was q
good portrait Of her in weeds for her first
husband. with cross in her hand. at the
ancestral seat OF her family, where she was
much pitied. as she deserved TO be, Yet tiye-e
were some severe enough to saY-and these
not unjust persons IN other res4ects-that
though unoues.ionably innocent Of the cyine
imputed 20 be-, she had shown az ursee.niy
waatonness NJ contracting three marriages
in such rapid succession. and that the untrue
suspicion might have been ordered By Provi-
Geace twho often works Indirectly ASA pun
ishmea1 for her saf indulgence Upon that
Iso-lt hayo no opinion 10 o;fer.-TEou,as
HARDY IN Lougrs1as Magazine.
An Unkiro Father.
Ardent Swain-Si-, xdore vo1r daughter
Parent dacetsosis yec see-n}-Ah, ve. n