Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1894-06-21
CHAPTER |.

At Sydney the dramatic season was
just drawing to a close. A few amuse-
ments still dra eyed on with a strug-
Cling and precarious existence, but
they too were beginning to pail upon
the most determined lovers of gayety,
when something so startling occurred
that the whole city was galvanized
into new life.
The chief attra elton at the theatre
most patronized that year by the fash
ionable world, had been the debut Of
two pretty sisters, daughters Of
clergyman whose sudden death had
left them nearly destitute. Their dar
ing choice Of histriOnic career in lieu
of following more beaten tracks was
considered a proof that parsons
daughters were not exempt from the
proverbial wildness that is. attributed
to parsons sons; and, while the new
departure shocked some, it impressed
all Even had the young ladies not
possessed decided talent, curiosity
would have rendered their first appear
ance a success; as it was, their good
looks and cleyerness combined pro-
cured them quite an ovation. Nor was
the Juror shOrt-lived. They played
through the whole season to crowded
houses, and were to leave Sydney on a
tour only while the vOtaries of pleas
ure recruited their faded health and
spirits at different country places or
quiet seaside summer resorts.
The sisters had always acted to-
gether in the same play, and were eX-
cellent foilS one to the other; Elaine
Warrington, the elder, being tall and
slim, and her voice and features per-
fectly adapted to any part that re-
quired sympathetic rendering; while
the younger, Ada, was petite, with
the brightest possible eyes and laugh
that rang through the huge theater
like the tones of a silver bell,
1t was only natural that they should
have many admirers; and, owing to
the fact that some former acquaint-
ances had taken them up, and still
invited them to their houses, the at
tentions they received were more seri-
Gus and less dangerous than those usu-
ally OuCItu w pretty dSlICSoCo uAplO
tected by either fathers or a hus-
bands care. Indeed much Indignation
had been felt by the chaperOns in the
place when Gerald Weare, the son of
the wealthiest ship-owner in Sydney,
plainly and pointedly evinced his ad-
miration for one of them. The queS-
ton that for a long time agitated So
ciety was which of the two sisters
Gerald NEeare had fallen in love with,
for they were always together, and
consequently it was difficult to deter
mine; one, day, however, curiosity was
satisfied by his assertion that he had
proposed to and been accepted by Ada
The excitement caused by this an
nouncement had scarcely died away
had not, in fact completed its allotted
nine days of wonderment-when there
came so tragic an end to the romance
that ey cry trivial feeling of envy or
surprise was merged in a general thrill
of hOrrO
Ada-pl city, RANT, light-hearted
Ada-wht Sc dramatic triumphs had
been crow ned by that last and best
proof of h,T social success, was found
lying on the ground late one night in
the public gardens, Ter soft white gar
mentS wet with a crimson stream that
trickled slowly from her breast, while
a pale half-moOn shone upon her UP
turned face and cleaning golden hair.
She was dead-had been dead for All
hour or more, the doctors said, shot
through the heart; and the pistol
which had done the cruel deed lay
only few yards away, as though the
murderer had cast it from him, mas
tered by an overwhelming adherence
of the tool he had employed. This in
cautious act, committed as it seemed
in defiance of even the commOnest in
stincts of self-preServatiOn, appeared
to make the discovery of his identity
only matter of time With such a
clew the police could surely command
SUGGEST
The inquest. held on the following
morning, attracted an excited crowd;
and, as fact after fact was elected,
each serving to point the finger of sus-
picion to one whom it seemed most
terrible most unnatural to suspect, the
interest became so strained, so intense
that scarcely a sound was heard in
the closely packed room.
Mr.. Gerald Weare was the first
whose evidence was taken. He was a
tall young man, about twenty-three
years of age, decidedly good-looking in
spite of his extreme pallor, with dark
hair and mustache and large dark
expressive eyes. finely chiseled feat
ures, and a sensitive mouth that
trembled convulsively as he stood up
to say what he knew. That was little
enough
On the night before he had been en-
gagged at a dinner party, and did not
get away till late. He had arranged
to drive his iancee home; but, though
he had arrived before the time APP
pointed, she had already left the
theater.
How did you account for that?"
asked the coroner, sharply.
II supposed it to have been the re-
suit of some discrepancy between our
watches"
And did you not go to her house to
discover if your suppositior was cor.
rect?' was the coroner's next query.
''Certaiuly notr' answered Mr..
Weare with some warmth ''Tt was