The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1896-11-07

only him, but myself too.
Really, Mr.. Garstang,' said as
coldly and as pointedly as knew how,
''you must be forgetting what you say you
have heard You will please oblige me
by remembering it, and also the respect
you owe to Mr.. Armstrong and myself. y
''Oh = he exclaimed, contemptuously.
DON ride the kigh horse. | know all
about it. There's no love lost between
you, I'll be bound. Respect he sneered.
'I owe him no respect. He's robbed me
of the dearest thing on earth to me. How
ever my time will come, and sooner than
many think, he added, with boisterous
but vicious, half drunken laugh.
His demeanor and language frightened
me.
II will bid you good evening, Mr..
Garstang,' 1 cried, as | turned and hur-
ried to our apartments
Rupert's temperance had very much
upset me, | was greatly agitated. The
insolent style in which he had addressed
meas if l belonged to him-made me
boil with Indignation. 1t was not even as
if had Tilted him. He had squandered
his patrimony and left me without the bare
decency of a parting word. | had long
felt that | had done with him forever,
and yet here he was prosecuting me with
his presence, as if he had better right to
my allegiance than my own husband had.
| sat with such thoughts as these surg
ing through my brain, and the time passed
without my noticing its progress until it
was getting quite late, and Gilbert had not
returned.
The servant came to me and announced
that dinner was ready.
''Mr Armstrong will be in directly, .
I replied. 'Let it wait little while. =.
The next minute there was violent ring
ing at the doorbell. and ''old Dave, the
boatman, followed the girl into the room.
"0h, ma am, ma am he cried, "I m
awful sorry for ye, [ am indeed, but Mus
ter Armstrong boat has been found bot
tom up ard off the Warren, and it's
most certain as he's lost.
| gave shrek and would have tainted,
but the maid rushed to me with some
water, which was at hand, and urged me
to be calm She was a sensible, kind
hearted girl, and her presence of mind was
contagious, so I rallied myself
''Is there no hope?' cried Has no
sign of my husband been seen? Tell me!
Has his body not been found? Tell me
the worst
''No ma am, replied the man, .'he' 5
not been found. But I'm afeer'd there
be but little hope, and that s the truth.
1t is said as how there been some foul
play. For why? There's some holes
been board in the bottom o the boat"
'sHoles bored?'' | said ''Why who
could do such thing? Besides the boat
would not float
"Oh, well, you see, ma am, if the holes
was plugged wi soap or suthin o that
sort, it nd float for time. I've heer d
o such games afore now, he answered.
'sWhat can be done?' | asked help
lessly.
''Nothin as l can see, except to wait,
ma am, he replied.
''No. | can do nothing, | suppose,
but wait, " said despondently. II would
rather be alone in my anxiety and grief.
Thank you for your kindness in coming,
Dave, and let me know if anything further
is discovered p"
Thank ee, ma am, concluded Dave
as he pocketed his gratuity and shuffied
off. ''Tll be sure and let you know as
soon as hears O anything.
sat down alone with my bowed head
in my hands, in an agony of suspense and
dread. All sorts of fancies fitted through
my mind. So far as | knew, my husband
had not an enemy in the whole world.
Who could have wished to injure him |
could not imagine.
Thon Rupert Garstang's drunken boast
repeated itself in my ears, "My time will
come, and sooner than many think. y
Could he have done this wicked thing?
1 tried not to believe it possible, but my
conscience told me that he might be cap
able of it or of anything else.
Presently l was reused from my reverie
by the servant.
"a gentleman to see you, ma am.
And Rupert Garstang walked into the
room.
~ am not able to see any one now, [
said. 81 am in trouble and wish to be
alone "
"Oh, let me stay bit, J" he said husk
lily as he dropped into a chair. II have
heard of the-the-er-accident and
thought I'd call and-er-condole with
you. 1t must be very distressing to you,
I'm sure.
There was a ring of falsity in his voice
which ''struck chill to my very soul.
looked at him, but could say nothing.
"There's no doubt he s dead, 3" he went
on, with brutal frankness. ''But it use
less for you to make yourself i'll. It's
God s doing"
sIt is rather some scoundrels doing, "
replied. ''It's murder, that's what it
isp'
watched him closely in the gasligh ht,
and his face twitched and went ashen pale,
but he recovered himself instantly.
'.Oh, nonsense p he said in hurried
way. ats evidently a pure accident.
He got caught in squall, | suppose, and
had the sail fixed instead of holding the
rope loose. 1t frequently happens. But
it's no good taking it to heart too much,
Felicia, it's
.sDon't call me that, 1 interrupted.
"And wish you would leave me. Iwant
to be alone.
He rose from his seat and came toward
me.
.sOh, don't send me awayr' he began.
"Now you are free again, | can surely be
near you.
Kept silence I wanted the man gone
and knew not how to be rid of him with
out scene.
'sNow' Felicia, he started again in a
half drunken drawl, ssdont be silly. You