The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-07-22

deed he had anything TO disclose, and
on this point he attacked him, VI
fully appreciate your respect for MS
lordship's memory, Whyman, but pray
remember you owe some duty to me-
remarked Rediriars, what concerned
him may closely touch me-"
"Yes, my lord"
"You may not be able to say what
actually drove him TO commit suicide,
but at the same time you may have an
idea Of your own about the cause"
WhymaA remained silent and
thoughtful for a second, whilst his mas
ter watched him closely, unwilling 10
disturb him. At last the man replied;
~ have au idea, my lord, though II
may not be worth mentioning"
Tho earl, who had been bending for
ward eagerly, leant back in his chair
with q sense Of relief he had at last ar,
rived at the point he had long desired
to reach. "Let me Judge Of its worth,"
he answered,
"Well, my lord, just q week before
his lordship's death, as he eat n this
room one afternoon, a peraon called TO
see hun"
"a woman?" interrupted Redfrlars.
"A fem alo, my lord"
~ knew there was u woman In the
case" he muttered to himself.
mot the sort OF person your lordshlp
supposes," added Whyman, "She was
elderly, with grey hair and q wrinkled
face"
"a messenger, perhaps; an ambassa.
dor sent to threaten or demand"
II think not, my lord"
"Why2"
Because when her lordship saw her
1 knew it was the first time they met"
answered Whyman.
~ interrupted you; tell me all you
know without forgetting or emitting
a%nythingi every tritle may be import
ant"
"she rang and raped at the door and
asked if his lordship lived here. When
i answered her she said she wanted to
sec him; l asked her name, but she
wouldn't give it, saying his lordship
wouldn't know it, but adding that her
business was important. As | thought
she must be one Of the many females
that came to ask charity or collect sub
scriptions ! told her his lordship was
engaged, but she stated che wouldn't
go until she had seen him, even II she
had to wait-all night. Tell him. ahe
said, "a woman wants to see him on bus
mess that's most important Hearing
that, l took her message to his lordship,
who appeared astonlshed; he sent mo
to ask her name, but that she again dc.
clined to give, repeating that she must
speak to him. lie then babe me show
her in. which l did, and | saw by his
lordship's face 1t was the frat time he
saw her"
GLOW long did she remaln"
"For over an hour, my lord"
Redfriars wondered If Whyman had
listened to the interview, aud cautious
ly inquired, "Haye you any idea what
her business WASP"
"No, my lord" answered the man,
visibly stitieniug by way OF resenting
the question.
az thought" Redfriars FASTENED to
add, in h c%onciliating tone, "his lord
ship might have mentioned it to YOU"
"No, my lord" Whyman answered,
accepting the implied apology. ellis
lordship never referred to her visit in
any way"
"Then why have you arrived at the
conclusion that this woman's appear.
ance was answerable for tho RuiCideP"
THAT was my only idea. my lord, and
/ said ii might not be worth mention
ing to your lordsnip."
"Yes, 1 know. but what gave you that
idea2"
emnly, "his lordship was never the
same again"
allow is thatP"
"He rang tho bell for me to let her
out, and she was in the hall before l
reached 1t, muttering to herself, her
hands ClenChing q paper to her breast,
rs II fearing it should be snatched from
her. Idon't think she saw mo; at all
events she took no heed Of me, but
when | opened the door she walked out
as II she were in a dream"
"What do you think was %her.position
in life?"
'She seemed a goutlewOmau, my
lord"
"And you think her visit affected bis
lordship?"
"l'm sura It did, my lord. When she
had gone | went back to my own room
and waited there until his lordship
should ring for lights. But the dusk
came and no bell rang. Not knowing
II he had gone out raped at the
door and, getting no answer. opened 1t.
Tho room was quite dark and 1t was not
until l had lit one of the lamps l saw
his lordship sitting in that chair, At
first / thought he was asleep, and was
about to turn away, until looking again
! saw his eyes were wide open, staring
before him, and with such q look In
them as l saw only once again-when
found him dead upon the floor"
"Go on" Redfriars said, as the man
paused,
az was frightened, my lord, thinking
his lordship had a fiji. and, hurrying
over, l shook him by the arm. Hi
turned round quite calmly aud looked
at mo, but thai look went like a dagger
to my heart, for | saw that something
had happened which had woll.nigt
killed him. l asked him ii he was we'll
no thanked mo gently, as usual, ant
said he was quito well, but / knew tina
many a man whom the doctors hat
given up was Better than his lordShip
| didn't like TO leave him, for the looA
on his face might mean anything, SO
fdgetod about the room until he sale
he wished to be alone. / believe, IN!
lord, when l saw him he had made III
his mind to kill himself"
"But he didn't until a week later"
"That's true, my lord, but l know
now he was preparing for 1t all thu
time"
"Yoa think 60, Whyman?"
JPN aura of II. nv lord. but / hat