Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1896-09-17
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
alleviation and anodyne that art can
procure or love suggest, by which to
strengthen It for its burden, spiritual
and mental; to the poor comes the pros.
tration Of physical need, Of personal
misery, till at last the light headedness
bred Of want either turns their brains
to 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 a
stocky little gentleman who was power
full enough to come between her and all
those disagreeable details that follow
in the wake of 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 out early with her
father, and remained at home with him
during the morning. At half past IL
Antoine Laroque had called, and she
went ont, leaving the two men together.
Asked who Antoine LaroQue was, che
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 e.
pecial friend Of her own7 No. She had
gone for rather long walk to the wood
outside the town, and knowing the men
were engaged In conversation in the on
ly sitting room the cottage afforded she
afterward fingered on the beach, and 1t
was there she heard Of her fathers MUIR
der. She could not account for the re-
moval Of his books, 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 at Dr..
Martin, and before those clear, proud,
indomitable eyes his own wavered and
sank, while what had been incredible
before seemed to him from that mo.
ment impossible and not to be harbored
in the mind Of any sane man.
But the coroner had heard whispers
and was inclined to think that not old
Nick or Antoine. but some third person,
knew more about the matter than ap-
peared on the surface.
"You did not leave your room that
night?" he inquired. with some courage.
"Dr. Martins draft kept me asleep
from half past last night till this
morning." she said, and Lord Strauben-
zee, with little aush Of color on his
cheek, hastened to oorroborate her.
Miss Gregorias was in her bedroom
when my daughter and retired to rest
last night" he said. "She was there
when we awoke this morning. as my
servants can attest.
The coroner presently asked II she
knew the subject Of these books, and
she said she did not feel bound to reply
to that question, and as it was quite
clear that no earthly power would make
her the subject dropped, and soon the
proceedings were at an end, a verdict
Of willful murder against Antoine La
rogue being returned.
Then Lord Straubenzee took the girl
home to be looked after and cared for
after the manner of his order, and Nan
ME was good to her as only one woman
knows how to be to another. Heart and
soul she had espoused this poor girls
cause, and Will Cassilis, in great dis
gust, marked his sense Of the situation
by not coming over all day.
II can't be sorry" said Hagar once
to the dear little sprite who was tend
ing her 30 lovingly, that is the most
awful part Of it-that I can't. I've got
q stone here" she touched her breast
"6ome day perhaps it will be fiery,
writhing snake and punish ma can't
help it. Twas dead and am now alive. "
Doctor" she said when later they
were face to face. II want you to write
to this address in Paris and to this'-
she held out bit Of paper-"for my
character. When you have got 1t, tell
Lord Straubenzee. He has been good to
me. He will help me to get employment
II he ia sure he is not foisting bad
character on society. There is enough
money in the oashbox in my fathers
trunk to pay the funeral expenses, with
q little over to start me on my path.
think that g all.
She saw question rising in his eyes,
and crushed it.
"You have been very good to me.
Doctor" she said, and smiled. and on
that young. worn face somehow smile
seemed piteous thing.
A