The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1895-09-18
a STREET TRAGEDY,

city man, warned by his physician that if
growing dyspepsia was To DO checked no
must walk TO and from his work trudgcd
manfully homcward. Tho clubman wan
dcrcd more lcisurcly to his diggings to
dress for dinner a white petticoat hero
ami there flashed out from the trousercd
throng
At tho corner of Half Moon street there
was momentary blocll-a swearing cab
man delayed to hurl vollcy of oaths mt /.
smart brougham across which he had in
'exGusably drawn. An apprcciativc audi
enco In tho front rank of the walkers
laughed, though what there was to amusc
in the coarse language it was hard to see.
Suddenly there was IL quick bright
FASH ringing report. dead fall of II
body and woman seized and pinoncd ny
prompt and powerful arms. Then the
walkers gathered round and enjoyed the
tragedy even moro than they had apprcci-
atctl tho blasphcmy.
The victim, who was dead us nail in
door" proved to he Lord Charles sum
lncrs. Tho Nemesis, u true daughter OF
night, was julio panton, n dcmimon-
daino rs impulsivc and dangerous as she
was dissolutc. And her wantonncss ana
recklcssncss brought her this way To the
gallows. The wonder lasted for nine days,
and then tho puppy's eyes were opened
What the world wondered at WAS that
Charlie Summers. OF all people, should
have. proved liccntous. Tho husband of N
woman who was as charming as she was
beautiful, he and she had passed for pat
terms to all contomplators of matrimony
And now of II sudden all dignity all hon
or, was gone. Death and ignomiry had
como Mt one blow. In truth. ii was amin
glorious heritage that his offspring drew
at u stroke. Nor was tho horrid acouisi-
ton all, for disposScssion was at its heels
and victimizcd them too.
My money go TO the children of Il prof
liGato dog! Not n fartlling of it, Let the
litter starye, for all care, and the sooner
tho bottcr!" And the opulent uncle nurscd
his wrath and his govt
NO. no." hc went on, $50 long as
Charlie showed himself q gentleman after
nc marricd-although, mind you, ALWAYS
said he'd be better ms II bnchclor-so long
he might look forward to inhcriting my
money. But now there's an end of him
and his, so far as IN concerned I'm sorry
for tho young woman, his wife. but She
took her chance, and it's turned I'D n
blank Now it's Edwards turn (This
was Lord Edward Summers, Charles twin
brother, double and alter cgo) "And
Edward, ms long as no shows himself II
gentleman shall walk in Charities shoes.
Not that look upon Edward as paragon
of virtue. On tho contrary, | fear he's not
altogether Joseph. But, then, I've no
reason to suppose that his peccadillos are
vulgar, and draw tho line mt vulgarity -
Ana tho old gentleman gavo "a grunt of
satisfaction, as much as to say Now |
think That's very virtuous and proper
Wow to take of life.
Having thus delivered himself Lord
Stonchousc called for pen and ink and
wrote, commanding n visit from his nephew
and clearly limiting that tho corner i'm his
heart which Nephew Charles had occupied
was now "to let" and Edward might be
its tenant during good behavior.
But 1t is open to doubt whether the old
misogynist would have been so ready to
replace tho one by the other had he known
that tho two brothers had been equally
enamored of Miss Flora Carow, and that it
had only rested with her to decide whether
she should become Lady Charles or Lady
Edward Summers. However. the secret
had boon kept, and Lord Stonehousc never
even dreamed of It. And the next day
Loru Edward called on his uncle as he
was hidden.
Edward, +" said the old peer 'ths is u
deviish nasty busincss'
1t is, uncle.
"1t'll drag tho family horribly in the
mud"
ut will, uncle"
suppose nothing can he done to hush
the matter up? / suppose they'll hang the
trollop, and not be content to do that
without turning up all the disgraceful par
ticulars?"
fancy not.'
There's no possibility Of squaring the
reporters is thcrc?''
None L should think. The murder of
q lord Is much too valuable for copy -
Then there's nothing further TO bc said
about the cursed business cxccpt this
that not Il farthing more of NV money
shall go 10 his brood. I shall not even
continue the allowance nadc him 10 his
widow"
And why not, unclc:"
And why not, Ted? Why, because
I've got better things To do with nv mon
ey tllan to employ it in keeping out of beg
gary the spawn of vulgar libcrtinc. No
Tcd, not one word on their behalf. beg
you The young woman l pity. but she
mas made her bed, and she must lie ON il. -
You must forgive me, uncle, when I
say that / think you have come to a too
hasty conclusion and that, when Won have
heard further particulars YOU will think
so too
peg you to explain yourself Ted. F."
will do so, uncle, rs clearly as can
on, God help met suddenly exclaimed
thc young man, burying his face in his
hands and startling Lord Stonchousc by
The sudden change from the unnatural
cain winch had possessed him hitherto.
On Gcd help me! God help moi" And
ms whole frame shook as ONLY does "a
strong mans in mortal agony.
led Ted, my boy cried the old man.
7~hose pride only had been touched up till
now, but WHO found his heart at the sight
'oi the young mans overwhelming grief.
TED, Ted, my boy, my poor fellow Its,