Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-07-30
TRAGEDY OF A WEEK.
Sy E. Phillips Oppenheim.
CHAPTER III.

When Lord Marlborough left his club il
st. James at the unusually early hour
OF 1880 and turned down into PiccadiI-
Iy, none among the throngs of people
among whom he threaded his way
could have guessed his secret. 1t is
true that for cold night it seemed a
little odd that his overcoat should be
flying open, disclosing his thin evening
clothes, and there was also a certain
vacancy in his expression which rem
dered him obliViOus to the greetings OF
several Of his acquaintance whom he
passed. But these We're the only signs
1t would have been impossible for any
passer-by &c have gathered from his ap-
pearance or expression that here was 2
man who had said farewell to his feI.
lows, who already saw himself head
over heels in the dark waters of ruin
and dishonor.
Where was he going2 He had not
the least idea! After the tension of the
last week, the tension of concentrated
and absolutely unceasing thought upon
one subject, his mind suddenly Quilted
hold of it and began to wander He
was conscious only in a dim. uncertain
way of the stream of faces which hur
/ rIed past him. Before he had gone
half the length of Piccadilly, however
they began to vaguely annoy him. He
crossed the street to the park side,
where the lights were less brilliant and
the pedestrians fewer. Here he slack
! ened mis- pace.
/ Marlborough, a word with you, if you
don't mind"
/ Lord Marlborough turned quickly
round. A tall man in long Inverness
and smoking a cigar had laid his hand
upon his arm.
! 'Massinger!' he exclaimed. why,
what do you want with me? l Thought
L left you in the smoking-r room at the
club?"
/ Il was there the other answered.
walking slowly beside him, and not yet
releasing his arm. To tell you the
| truth, Marlborough, | followed you out. -
/ A week ago Lord Marlborough would
have elevated his eyebrows in a man
ner peculiar to himself, and in some &C.
cult way would have made it very clear
that he considered such a step an in
ternal liberty. Tonight he simply
stared listleSsly ahead of him and an
swered in perfectly spirit1ess manner.
| What did you do thai for? wanted
to be alone
Il saw that you did," the other an
swered, quietly. "On the other hand,
there are times, you know, when it
isn't good for man to be alone. 1t
seemd to me that it was one of those
times with YOU
/ A shadow of his former self returned
to Lord Marlborough
The man who had addressed him, al
though they were fellow-clubme and
had met constantly during the last
seven or eight years, was not one of his
intimates. There was nothing against
him. His family was excellent, al
though he was almost the last repre-
sentative of it. he had the reputation
of enormous wealth acquired through
shrewd foreign investment, and had a
| sure footing in any society which he
/ chose to enter. He had also another
and a more fascinating reputation
the reputation of a man of brains. He
had written a book remarkable for its
curiously blended morbidness and Gym
lclsm. He was a member of parlia-
ment and reputed to be one of the
/ shrewdeSt and keenest of debaters. But
for all that he was a comparative
stranger to Lord Marlborough, and in
some surprise he drew himself up and
frowned.
Much Obliged to you, Massinger," he
said. IF you'll excuse me"
Mr.. Massinger held up his hand
Half a minute he exclaimed.
Hear what | have tc say first. | dare
say you think I'm taking a liberty. My
only intention is to do you a kindness.
! l admit that the acquaintanceship be-
tween us scarcely amounts to friend
ship. Against that put the fact that
since Mountford went to Rome and
Dudley got married your set broke up
and you haven't an Illuminate friend
left in England. That's SO, isn't it?''
Lord Marlborough nodded. 1t was
true.
That's why I'm presuming little, -
Mr.. Massinger continued. Fellows
will talk, you know, and every one
knows about your losses on Thursday
night and over the Leicestershire hand1-
cap last week. There's a rumOr, too,
that you are interested in this HoveS-
dean affair. Tonight when you left the
club you looked pretty well cut up.
Now. | want to know whether l can't be
of any assistance to you? Remember
you may not think much of me person
ally, Lord Marlborough, but I'm rich,
and it's a temporary affair and | can
! help you-well, I'm willing"
/ Lord Marlborough turned and looked
/ at his companion. There was curious
vein of earnestness in what he had said,
but the tone itself was peculiar. For a
moment he hesitated. In vague sort
of way he had disliked the man-had
disliked the f1ippant cynicism and a GER
tain hardness in his manner. Perhaps
he had misjudged him. Just at that
moment, at any rate, he felt inclined
to think so.
You're a good fellow, Massinger, he
said YEARLY. L am IN devil OF a
hole and I'm nearly mad. But neither
YOU nor any one else can help me.
THAT remains to be SEEM Mr.. Mas
singer answered. Tell me all about
it. Here, have a cigar. That's right.
Now, fire away"
Lord Marlborough was astonished at