Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-09-01
CHAPTER VI

CHAPTER vi.
Tragedy wears two masks. one for
The rich and one for the poor. To the
rich come the blessing Of routine, the
sedulous succor Of the body with every
alienation and anodyne that art can
procure or love suggest. by which to
strengthen it for its burden, spiritual
and mental; othe poor comes the pros
tration Of physical need, Of personal
misery, till at last the light medicines
bred Of want either turns their brains
tn madness or plunges them into gulf
Of despair. whence they emerge MANNED
and broken for all time, the main.
spring Of life broken.
Hagar had been mercifully saved this
latter experience by the kindness Of q
stocky little gentleman who was power
full enough to come between her and all
those disagreeable details that follow
IN the wake Of a murder, and her only
bad quarter Of an hour was when, un-
der Lord Straubenzee's wing, she an.
swered the coroner's questions concern
ing the events Of the preceding day.
She had walked ont early with her
father. and remained Mt home with him
during tho morning. At half past IL
Antoine Laroque had called, and she
went out, leaving the two men together
Asked who Antoine I.aroque was, she
said friend Of her father, whom he
had known intimately in Paris. They
had quarreled there. but she did not
know ON what subject. Was he an es.
pecial friend of her own: No. She had
gone for rather u long walk to tho wood
outside the town, and knowing the men
were engaged in conversation in the on
ly sitting room the cottage afforded she
afterward fingered Oh the beach, and il
was there she heard of her fathers muir
der. She could not account for the re-
moval Of his hooks, papers and chemic-
ais, unless Antoine Laroque had re-
turned and for his own reasons made
AWAY with them.
AT this point Hagar looked full ut DIR.
Martin, and before those clear, proud,
indomitable eyes his own wavercd and
sank. while what had been incredible
before sce'ned 20 him from that mo-
ment impo.sibIs and not to be- harborcd
in the mind 81 any sane man.
But the coroner had heard whispers
md was inclined 90 think that not old
Nick or Antoine, but some third person,
knew more about the matter than ap-
peared ON the surface.
"fou did not leave your room that
nightg" he inquired. with some courage.
DIR. Martins draft kept me asleep
from half past 8 last night till { this
morning. she said, and Lord Strauben.
zee, with little flush Of color on his
cheek. fastened TO corroborate her.
Miss 6regorias was in her bedroom
when my daughter and retired 70 rest
last night" he said. "She was there
when we awoke this morning, as nv
servants can attest.
The coroner presently asked IL she
knew the subject of these books. and
she said she did not feel bound to reply
to that question. and rs it was quite
clear that no earthly power would make
her the subject dropped, and soon the
proceedings were at an end. verdic,
Of willful murder against Antoine La
rogue being returned.
Then Lord Straubenzee took the cir
home To be looked after and cared fol
after the manner of his order. and Nan
ME was good to her rs ouIy one woman
knows how to be 10 another. Heart ant
soul she had espoused this poor girl.
cause, and Will Cassilis, in great dis
gust. marked his sense If the situation
by not coming over all day.
II cant be sorry said Hagar ono,
10 the dear little sprite who was tend
ing her lovingly, that is the mos
awful part Of it--that can't. I've 60
stone here" she touched her breast
"Some day perhaps it will be n fiery
writing snake and punish me. can
help IL. Twas dead and am now alive ;
"Doc,or." she said when later the,
were face TO face. II want you TO writ,
to this address in Paris and to this
she held out q bit If paper-''for m,
character. When You have SO, it, tel
Lord Strnubcnzee. He has been good {,
me. Hcwill help me to &c: employment
IL he is sure he is not foisting ba,
character ON society. There is enough
money in the cashbox in my father
trunk TO pay the funeral expenses. witt
q little over to start me ON my path.
think that's all"
She saw question rising in his eyes
and crushed IL.
You have been very good TO mo
doctor" she said. and smiled, and o.
that young. worn face somehow q smil
seemed . piteous thing.
CHAPTER VII
Public attention. even when tbe nm