Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1896-05-08


of the parade of Belgravian bellies who
would eagerly turn out for inspection
if the millionaire showed the smallest
desire for such n review.
II do not think that l shall ever
marry" he replied, gravely.
Sand pray, why not? Society will
expect it of YOU"
u should not marry for that reason.
There is only one thing that would
induce me to marry
"And that is"
Love-" replied Col. FitzDominick,
and his voice sank to such melan-
choly cadence that Lrdy Caro- scented
tragedy in the past.
"You mean," she limited in the softest
murmur, "unless you can love again"
There was significant emphasis on
the last words which drew Col Fitz-
Dominick's eyes at once upon the speak
CT. Not that it can be said that they
Lad shown any Discrimination to seek
that object hitherto.
"Then you have heard? Some one
has told you?" he inquired.
81 have heard nothing" she replied
looking straight into his eyes.
"Then how did yon know?"
ooh, womanlike, | jumped to con-
clusion. And can see it is right. You
had better tell me the whole. / shall
only imagine all sorts of stupid things
if you don't"
There was momentary silence, dur
ing which he gazed al her with eyes
that seemed to search her very SOIL,
and may have incidentally appraised
her beauty to the full. Then he spoke
with measured accents:
"Yes, l will tell you, for you, too,
have suffered, and you have known the
sorrow which is too great for words.
Besides, there is something sympa
thetic in you to me. | feel as if knew
you really better than people whom
1 have known for ages longer. Hither-
TO l have shrunk from talking about it.
1t would have been like tearing open a
half-healed wound. But [ will tell it
to you, and you will respect my conf
dence, will you not?'
"Not word shall pass my lips" re-
Piled Lady Caro-, eagerly. "You may
trust me like a sister"
MAY / say "a dear friend?'"
Woman Of the world as she was, Lady
Caro- could not prevent the warm bio ID
from rising over cheeks anj brow at his
pointed refusal to accept The prosaic re-
lation offered him. She had no intention
of marrying again, and, CT course, she
could not even consider such a total
stranger from that point of view, but
if he had tacitly disclaimcd all interest
in her attractions st the very outset the
acquaintance would probably not have
advanced.
''It was when was travelling in Rus
STA" he began, that vile country where
blacker deeds are done daily under the
mask of civilization than all the hor
rors which are laid to the charge of tn,
Turk. Twas staying at hotel in Odes
sa. One night awoke with start ant
the echo of a loud scream ringing in my
ears. AT first thought that had beer
dreaming, but as | sat up listening fol
what / believed was merely the creature
of my imagination / heard it agar--t
long -drawn.out scream. followed by ;
quick succession of piercing shricks
1t was evidently 4 woman's voice-th,
passionate appeal of some unfortu
natewoman whowas suffering from nor
rible Outrage. The blood of the ole
Irish kings boiled in my veins. sprens
out of he'd, hurried on come things
seized thick walking-stck and rushed
out to the rescue. Then became awar,
of a turmoil in the corridor overht ad
l flew upstairs and found The place aliv'
with peop!c--mcn in uniform, a fcv
white-faced terrified servants, and tn
French landlord, who came toward M
wringing his hands and looking th
, very picture of misery-just as he nigh
have looked if the Russian. grand duk
who was staying in the hotel had gon
!, off without paying his bill.
81 inquired what was the matter II
burst into tears and babbled like
child, saying that ne would sooner nav
lost 100 rub!es than that such a tlinI
should have happened in his hotel an
that the disgrace and loss would xii
him.
: 81 demanded to know what they wer
doing to the woman. He implCred m
to hush. 1t was The police who had com
for her. She was great criminal ii
broke out into loud maledictions on ne
fair face and fine clothes which na
made him believe that she was grea
lady.
Just at that moment q door opene
at the end of the corridor. Confuse
CLEANS of light and a group of Oar
figures issued from it simultaneously
| started to move in that direction, IN
the landlord hung to my arm and pulle
me back. He implored me, by III
memory of my sainted mother, not t
heap double ruin on the head of an III
fortunate Christian man. We northern
ers are as n rule not much affected b
this sort Of an appeal, and my mothe
happened to be alive. Eut when h
shrieked in my ear that the woman va
a murderese-that she killed a man
paused. There are occasions whe
chivalry becomes in itself a crime.
n permitted him to draw me back to ih
t head of the staircase.
: THE dark procession emerged frol
/, the gloom Of the corridor into the brOa
p illumination of the staircase. 1t d.
0 scended slowly, and as it wound dow
the sides of the wall witnessed sigl
y which imprinted itself indclible on m