The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-06-17
CHAPTER VII,
AN IMpoRrANr COMMUNICATION,

CHAPTER VII,
AN IMPORTANT COMMUNICATION.
1t was late in the evening when
Crawford aud Stella reached Milan, On
arriving at the hotel his first inquiry
was for his letters, q bundle OF which
WAS handed to him. However, being
hungry and impatient Tor dinner, he
postponed opening them until tho meal
was over; meanwhile feeling satisfaC-
ton in the thought that, perhaps some
interesting news awaited him in his
correspondence.
Having a keen appetite, he was
pleased with tho cooking; the wines
seemed excellent, and no felt the good
will towards all mankind which an ex-
cellent dinner induces. He lay back in
his chair, his face flushed, his eyes
flashing, while he smoked his cigarette
and slipped his second glass OF ,benedic-
tine,
"lhis hotel seems better than the nv.
erago," he remarked, I'VE may remain
here some time"
"And'then whore do We go2" asked
Stella, gazing ut him across the table, q
bunch OF raisins in her fingers,
"Oh, / can'tsay," no replied, shortly;
''you should never ask questions after
dinner; they make one think, and to
think is usually toregret and that spoila
the digestion"
II hone, dear, you have nothing to
regret" she remarked seriously.
"No, OF course not" he answered,
with smile that another might have
taken for sneer on his lips.
Stella sighed, for his manner Jared
upon her; but after n moment's pause
she said: NOW We arc comparatively
near, hope you will visit England, il
only for week"
Are you 30 anxious to return"
"0nly that may see my father"
Crawford drummed with his hand on
the table impatiently, then, helping
himself to another glass OF liqueur, no
recovered his eqnanimity, and turn
ing to his letters, laid In little pile
beside him, he opened one which lay
on the top and read its contents care
fully. =.
"You remember Virgil Lechmere2"
he said.
Eyes; he was your best man."
~ know, know" replied Crawford,
testify. Here's letter from him, dated
month ago; it has been sent on from
place to place. Head it; he mentions
casually having met an old college chum
in London restaurant, quito unaware
that he was once friend Of yours"
"Who is that2" she asked with in.
terest.
"Arthur Ferrar"
A deep color flushed her face, for the
sudden mention OF that name came
upon her as q shock, reviving the past,
which but n moment ago had seemed as
far removed as II it had been lived in
another world.
Crawford seeing tho effect which the
reference TO his rival produced, laughed
as heshanded her the letter, and the
sound OF his laughter for the first time
grated on her sensitive ears. As she
bent above the closely-written pages
light and gossipy, and containing but
Crawford opened one envelope after an.
other. Many contained bills and bust
moss memoranda, others which had boon
forwarded to his club, held invitations
to social gatherings. These he dos
troyed, not intending to answer them.
One envelope he held in his hand some
seconds, looking at the superSCription
which seemed familiar, yet being un.
able TO remember whose was the writ.
ing. Its contents were brief, but the
information conveyed was important
1t was written by the family solicitor,
Myles Newbury, who informed Craw'
ford that week previous to tho date Of
the communication his brother, Horace
Crawford, twelfth Earl Of Redfriors, had
in a fit OF temporary insanity com
mitted suicide.
Crawford Involuntary frightened his
grasp on the letter, whilst his Dyes fixed
themselves upon tho writing II con
tanned, until each word doomed ouI
from its background, big with tho con
sequence OF the news it held. Every
sentence swellcd with the weight OF 1t!
bearing upon tho readers fate. For the
twelfth earl OF RodfriOrs was unwod
and his sole surviving brother, Harry
Crawford, was tho dead mems next Of
kin and heir TO his tito and posses
| blOnb, lIlo EtNuOl vi khN lNNtNl ltlltSb
cd that for week he had unkuowingly
been u poor; great change had CONT
in his present lifO and In his future
prospects, Of which he had remained
unaware until now, when suddenly anC
unexpectedly had tho newa roachot
him. How was ho 10 nct2
No feeling Of regret possessed thu
now oarl for tho loss Of his brother, nj
sonso OF horror for tho doath which
had como in 30 dreadful q manner; NJ
thought disturbed him regarding thu
cause which had prompted that dcspor
atO net; only scnso OF qualification
gllcd him at surviving one for whom III
had never entertained affection; II 70
aliEation OF triumph entod him at sue
coeding to the dead mnn's rights. Blu
his exullation WIS not without shadow
Beneath his pleasure lay sonsO o
modification. Could no have met hi
future untrnmmolod It's possibilitlO
might be brilliant, but unaware Of wha
1 awaited him no had ioolIshly untanploI
himself with one who might become
burden.
Immediately he decided to keep 10
crOt the intelligence just received, 70
tho presence At least 50 little did Stell
know about him that Hho remained IN
aware tho courtesy tito Of HONORABLE
was his nor had she ever heard thu
but ono lie stood between him and