The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-10-25


DOORS through the night, his heart turn
ing to stone the betrayal of his love, the
pity of his fate, the emptiness of his fu-
ture, the disgrace upon his name, facing
him by turns. But THAT which touched
him above all things, which most filled
him with agony, was her loss-her ire
parable loss.
Towards the break of day, he drew the
curtains and looked out upon the world,
which could be the same to him never
more. Then going to his desk, he wrote
line, which he placed in an envelope, and
directed to his wife. 1t consisted of but
one sentence, which said
Il can never see you again. and l cam
not live without you. Farewell"
Before the new-arisen sun had set,
broken-hearted mother stood beside his
dead body; before a month had ended she
lay beside him in the family vault.
Some four months later Lord Ruperts-
wood returned to town, and was seen in
his former haunts. When men who were
familiar with him asked where Lady
Deansgrange was, he carelessly replied
he did not know, adding that she had left
him ON hearing of her husbands death;
an act which he said was Illustrative of
the inconsistency of women. Society,
which bad protested itse6 shocked by his
conduct, condoned and approved the Of
tense by its tolera ton of the offender.
Many women regared him with an interest
they had not attached to him before;
whilst numerous mothers, feeling sure he
would make an excellent husband now he
had sown his wild oats. encouraged his at
tentions to their innocent daughters.
One of these excellent mothers was Mrs.
Brayton-Smith, the widow of a Manches-
ter manufacturer, who, by means of I'M
bounded energy and limitless cash, had
pushed her way into that society which
she regarded as pous souls do heaven.
That her only daughter, yet In her teens,
should marry title, no matter what the
drawbacks connected with its possessor,
was this good womans ambition. And
when Viscount Rupertswood came upon
the scene the fact that his reputation was
evil and his years more than double those
Of her child, did not prevent Mrs Brayton-
Smith from striving to win him for her
son-in-law.
On his part, Rupertswood who had re-
solved to settle down. was pleased with
the girl. but better pleased with her fort
une. which was enormous. With scarce
an effort on his part he won her, and the
date was fixed for his marriage. To cele-
brate his engagement, Mrs Bray ton-Smith
gave a dinner, which might better be de-
scribed as a banquet, and it was from this
feast Rupertswood had returned on the
night when he had found the card with
which disturbed his peace.
Seated before the fire. his thoughts went
back to Lucille with whom not six months
before he had eloped. He remembered the
day on which he had first seen her, that
inexpressible charm of youth and grace
and innocence sancufying her and tempt
ing him to love her; and he remembered
her on the night on which he had last seen
her. when. full of loathing of herself and
horror of him. wild with remOrse and COW
cred with shame she had fled from him,
praying God in his mercy, that they might
meet no more.
He had not cared to inquire where she
had gone or troubled to seek her. for her
self-reproach had begun to weary him and
his adventure having ended, her absence
left him free to seek fresh victims. He
had sometimes wondered what had be-
fallen her where she had gone, for no
news Of her had ever reached him. Pres
emily his ideas regarding her became more
vague: he dozed, and dreamt she was be-
side him.
He might have slept some thirty min
utes before the cinders falling from the
CRATE suddenly woke him. He felt chilled,
dazed, and troubled; the silence smote
him. and he shivered as from draught
Then turning to see IL a door or window
had been left open he saw at the far end
of the room where the shadows were deep
set a motioness figure.
'RODcrtS,' ne cFleu out, surviving 10 per-
suade himself in that dread moment that
the figure he saw was that of his valet,
what do you want? I say, what do you
want2"
No answer came, and the stiffness deep
ened from contrast with the sound OF bis
voice. He was no coward, and he rose to
his feet to face this intruder though his
heart misgave him and a feeling such as
he had never known before almost suf-
located him.
who are your" he shouted out, defiant
ly.
No sound came I'm answer.
Speak" he called out, cor by heav-
ems pll--"
Before his sentence was finished II froze
upon his lips, for that which he had ad.
dressed moved from out the darkness into
the light, when Rupertswood saw the
counterpart OF himself, in hight, in shape,
In face, in hgure-saw II for one brief Sec
ond, before It vanished into space before
his eyes.
He remained immovable, gazing into the
empty air, his body trembling. his heart
throbbing. his brain bewildered, until re-
covering himself in some small measure