The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-03-17

BY Dick Donovan.
/ derstand that she was a widow: her hus-
! band. Gen. Morrison, having been dead
| some years.
'-1fy object In coming TO you is a some
! what strange one" she began. and I
| confess I feel In a delicate position. But
! I may al once tell YOU ] am the sister
! Of AIr. Martin Fenwick. whose mysterious
| disappearance caused such a sensation a
I little more than year ago. Perhaps I
shall seem to you very foolish. and per-
haps you viii smile when I tell you that
twice 7 have dreamed in the most vivid
way that my dear brother is dead. and
that he was brutally murdered But put
ting aside the dream. / feel absolutely
certain that ne cannot be in the land Of
the living or he would have communicated
with me. We were the only children Of
our parents. and all our lives have been
most devotedly attached TO each other.
He was one Of the most diligent OF cor
respondents; and he made me his conf
dante in most Of his affairs. You are
aware. Of course, that for long time. by
means Of public advertisements. re-
ward of $500 has been offered for any in
formation about him.
I am" / answered.
"And possibly you have seen an an
nouncement lately that Mrs. Fenwick ac-
tually contemplates marrying again.
Yes, / have seen that announce
ment, too: but probably it is merely vul-
gar gossip which some penny-a-liner has
seized upon, or the invention of a scribe
hard up for copy. But, surely, madam,
you ought to be in a position to know
whether il is true or not, for you are the
sister-in-law Of the lady whose name is
so much before the public"
Il ought TO be. but I am not" she an
swered a little haughtily. Il have never
been friendly with Mrs. Fenwick. When
my brother first introduced her to me ]
did not like her, and ] strongly advised
him against the marriage. / pointed out
that a man of his years could not expect
to have happiness if he allied himself TO
a young and frivolous woman, who was
almost young enough to be his grand
child. But, OF course. he would not listen
to me- Men are so pigheaded in matters
Of that kind, and Martin was fascinated
by his syren. OF course, he married her,
and Of course, his life was made misera-
BILE"
Il do not wish to say anything unduly
harsh against Mrs. Fenwick, but ! am con-
WINGED that she never bore her husband the
slightest love. She married him for his
money and his position. and as was to be
expected. she soon grew tired of her an
cient husband. At any rate, / know he
was very miserable, for he was exceedingly
jealous of her and that was a canker TO
his life. He frequently demonstrated with
her for what he considered her fight
conduct; and / know that before they
started on the last continental tour they
had a serious quarrel; but he assured me,
on the eve of their departure. that it
had all been made up, and that in future
Gwendoline would be devoted TO him. 1
was delighted to hear it, though 1 was
afraid II was too good to be true.
In the letters that he wrote to me from
abroad he expressed himself as being
very happy. and he spoke most affection
ately Of his wife Then his letters sudden
" ceased due to his disappearance, and
since that day not trace of him has been
discovered Now, sir. 1 know my brother
too well TO suppose for a moment that he
would voluntarily hold himself aloof from
all those who loved and respected him
Except the disagreements between himself
and wife, there was nothing in his world
ly circumstances to cause him the slight
est anxiety. Why therefore should he
have taken himself off? Why should he
have remained away for upwards of a
year and have sent me, his loving sister
no sign that he is in the land of the liv-
ing. The whole circumstance Is so mys-
FERROUS that / am determined now it shall
be sifted to the bottom.
IF Gwendoline Fenwick is responsible
in any way for her husbands death she
shall pay the penalty of her wickedness
And want you to take the matter up and
do what you can to unravel the mystery"
Have you any reason to seriously sus-
pect Mrs. Fenwick of being responsible
for her husbands disappearance?
asked
Il don't like to make any rash assertions
or jump to hasty conclusions" the lady
answered, land God forid that l should
do any one an injustice. But do conscien-
tiously believe that my sister-in-law is a
hollow hearted and worldly woman. l
will say no more than that at present"
What was her position before your
brother married her?'' I inquired.
Il really do not know. My brother as
always very reticent on that point But ]
have reason to believe that he first met
her in Wales. He was down there fishing
and was staying with some friends near
Llanberis- lie had not known her very
long when he married her. OF her past
history l absolutely know nothing"
Then 1 understand that you wish me
to try and discover your brother If he is
living; and If he is dead, get proof OF how
| he died?"
Eyes, that is what wish you to do -
was the answer. But am convinced he
is not living. Even if 1 was not influ-
enced by the dream which have dreamt
| twice l should still find It most difficult
to believe he is alive, seeing that he has
allowed year and more to elapse without
| seeking to allay my anxiety"
II have heard it said, and ] would ash
| you, If there is any truth in the rumor
have heard 1t said that your brother was
addicted to the use of opium"
Il don't believe it," answered Mrs. Nor
rison, with a strong display of indigna
| ton. IT believe it to be an absolute. down
right falsehood. At any rate, never saw
anything in my brothers conduct which
would justify me in thinking that it wa:
ever possible he would indulge in such &
pernicious habit"
As 1 saw that she felt very strongly OF
this point, did not question her further
for after all it had no very great bearing
| on the point at issue. And as I had be
come very interested in the case, I prom
Used her I would accept her commission
and exert myself to get at the truth.
At this time Mrs. Fenwick was occupying
a mansion in South kensington, and liv
ing in grand style. She kept quite a re
tinue Of servants; and having emerged
| from her seclusion, l learnt that she wa.
holding receptions and giving lat homes
| which were said 10 be almost princely II
their lavish hospitality. felt it desirable
from many points of view that l SHOULD
know something of the ladys history be
fore she was married, so / obtained from
| Mrs. Morrison the address of the people