The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-07-06

well. She was beautiful wonderfully
beautiful-but absolutely without heart.
At least so am tola--of course know
nothing Of her, for this was over 80 years
ago. But her beauty is almost tradition.
There is n miniature Of her, which will
show you later, and you can Judge for
yourself.
"Before her marriage with Lord Stanly
she had been engaged to Cecil Richie, her
cousin. You know Of the Richies2"
nodded.
"lt was broken off, and she married my
uncle. He was better match, Of course,
but now, when I think Of it all, believe
she always cared for Richie.
swell, my uncle had the west rooms
fitted up, and she came here bride. I
will show you tho second one later. 1t is
paneled entirely in oak-rather interest
ing in it's way"
The book | was toying with fell to the
floor
at was only n short time after the we'd
ding that very strange thing happened"
He stopped short and glanced quickly
around the room.
edith knows nothing of this, " he said.
Then, dropping his voice, he continued:
at was in September--the 11th, I
think"
"Last night" said softly.
Stanly did not hear me.
"a large party was given, and half the
county was here-among others Cecil
Richie. remember my old nurse telling
me how beautiful Lady Beatrice looked ih
her white gown and jewels. She had mag
niticent jewels, by the way. That even
ing at dinner strange thing happened,
and my old nurse used to say it was an
omen of what followed.
"Beatrce wore pair Of bracelets-Stan-
ly's bridal gift. They were of twisted gold
each with u miniature surrounded by dia-
monds. One represented Lord Stanly;
the other, her ladyship. 1t was a quaint
fancy--carried out by famous French
artist.n
/ sank back in my chair.
"Why, good heavens, Hal, how pale you
are! Why, what is the matter, mani"
Nothing" answered. "Go on. Your
tale interests me strangely"
"After dinner, as the ladies were leav-
ing the dining room, Lady Beatrice drew
back the portieres for them to pass out.
AS she did so one of the bracelets caught
in the meshes of the curtain, and, although
of excellent workmanship, or apparently
so, when it was disentangled it was in
pieces. 1t seemed a trile at the time, but
supcrstitious people remembered it."
''Was it the bracelet containing her por-
trait?" asked.
"No, it was his"
Stanly rose from his chair and paced
the room, looking at me in some anxiety.
"Odd how the mere relating of some
thing you know only by hearsay stirs you
up"
He seated himself and continues:
'The guests were late in taking their
departure, and it was long after midnight
when the family retired. My uncle had
gone to his room somewhat earlier, not
feeling particularly well.
"That night" and his voice sank to
whisper, she was murdered-yes, murder
ed-in his own house. Next morning they
found him stretched lifeless on one of the
blue divans and Lady Beatrice uncon-
scious at his side
/ leaned back in my chair, while feel
ing Of deadly faintness came over me. I
could hardly breathe.
"There is little more to tell" Stanly
continued 1.-THE deed was done. There
was no doubt of that, but who did it is
to this day mystery. Of course many
were suspected, but suspicion fell chiefly
on"--
waited in suspense.
He paused moment and then said soft
ly:
"Cecil Richie 1t was brought out that
be was the last to leave the house, and his
devotion to Beatrice was an open secret. 1"
"Who elsep" managed to ask.
"An old family servant, who disappear
ed soon after with one of the maids. But
what possible motive could he have had?
He was devoted to Lord Stanly and al
ways had been and was Il favorite with
the whole household. At this time certain
jewels also disappeared, The dagger that
| Lady Beatrice wore in her hair that very
night was never seen again, and the bro
ken bracelet seems to have melted into
thin air too. / regret tho loss of the lat
ter extremely, for it was the sole portrait
of Lord Stanly, and the marked resem-
blance he bore to my father would have
made it doubly precious, Then the dia-
monds made il very valuable for they
were of the purest water. The servant, as
/ said, disappeared, and Cecil Richie, evil
IDENTIFY finding English air not quite to. his
taste, went abroad and to all appearance
| dropped out of existence"
"Was no one else suspected?"
"My mother" and Stanly again drop
| ped his voice, chad one theory which diff
cred from that of everybody else, and that
was that Lady Beatrice herself did the
deed" He paused for me to take in the
full import of the words
"Poor motherl She never liked Bea-
trice. There had always been a good deal
of girlish rivalry between them, and
sometimes think Richie was 1.-THE bottom
of that too"
"Rather odd," interrupted, "provid-
ing they cared for one man, that they
should have afterward married brothers "
eyes, the whole affair from beginning
to end is strange and one l should certain
ly doubt if were to hear it from any one
else"
"What is your own theory, StanlyS Do
you agree with your mother2"
"Do you think am mad3" he replied.
"How could believe young girl capable
of such IL thing9 She was heartless; but,
| good heavens, it takes more than lack Of
heart to do such deedl | should suspect
Captain Richie far sooner, and yet all his
conduct was very straightforward and
manly at the time. But as for Lady Be
atrice, why man, it nearly killed her, In
that one night her hair turned white as
snow. Oh, they say she was regal and
that she was far lovelier than ever before.
People were not at all surprised when five
years later she became Countess de Roun-
sillcn Poor Beatricel Misfortunes follow
ed her, 1t was very unhappy marriage,
and to crown all her only child was sto-
len. kidnapping seems to have been in
vogue 20 years ago, only this child was
never recovered. II is small wonder that
the countess died Of broken heart"
rose from my seat and went to the
| window uStauly - | snid uwho has Oc-