The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-09-24
copyright 1897. by the Author.J

was the manifest reason Of the conduo
which to Sir Jaffray had seemed likl
the painless and purposeless wandering
Of q lunatio. 49,
Beryl's heart bled as she thought O.
what Lola must have suffered during
the night and since the moment Of ih'
terrible decd by the wall of the ruined
cottage in Ash Tree wood.
The girl went in to Lady Walcote I'M
decided how much to tell her of all thai
had happened.
The old lady welcomed her warmly,
She loved the girl, and now in the time
Of the sorrow and trouble which haG
fallen on the house she was infinitely
glad Of the comfort Of her presence.
This ia a sad house, Beryl," she
said after she had kissed her and made
her bring stool and sit close by hel
knees. II have been sitting alone here
thinking till my poor brain reels and Ii
dizzy with it all. How is Jaffray nowi
Where In be? He has been like one dis.
tracted. Oh, Beryl, how could she treat
him sop''
There is much that we cannot yet
understand, DEAR" answered Beryl
soothingly. "Do you know Jaffray e
thoughts? He fears that Lola has for
the time gone out of her mind.'
mo; it ia not that, /" said the old
lady deoisively. "You don t think that,
am sure. She has deceived him. She
is bad. Baryl-bad to the core. She
comes of a-bad stock and is bad herself.
That Frenohman is mixed up in this in
some way. ! never liked him-always
suspected him. with his handsome face
and his lying tongue.
"She loved Jaffray," began Beryl,
when Lady Walcote burst in bitterly:
Eyes. as Delilah loved Samson or
Jael SiserA and as Circe used to love
the fools she turned to swine. Women
don't elope from those they love and
with those they bate. do they? Nom
sense, childl When you've lived as long
in the world as I have, you'll learn to
know falsehood when you see it and
lies when you hear them. She never
loved Jaffray, never"
''No; you arc quite wrong" answered
Beryl in firm, clear tone, "and some
day you'll be the first to own it,.
II don't see why you should take her
part"
1.-THE day will come when you will
do the same, DEAR" answered Beryl
sweetly, smiling and stroking the old
woman's hand, "for / have never known
heart in trouble to turn to you for sym.
patty in vain"
II have no sympathy for the woman
who wrongs and shames my son." was
the angry reply.
You have no strength to close your
heart against the plant Of genuine and
desolate misery"
Lady Walcote shook her head and
made as II to reply again sternly, but,
meeting Beryl's eyes, said nothing and
contented herself with the unspoken as
sertion Of her sternness.
lyon must Danish all that hardness,
said Beryl after a pause, "and collect
all your strength Of endurance. There
is more trouble than even this fight Of
Sir Jaffray's wife. This Frenchman
who loft yesterday is dead-died sud-
denly under circumstances which sug-
gsst that hs was killed by violence.
Is there no end to tho scandal which
that man brings upon us all?' exclaim-
ed Lady Walcote, wringing her hands.
How did it happen? Tell me-"
Beryl told as much of the case as size
thought necessary and parted the ques-
tions which Lady Walcote put to her,
and she was still occupied thus when
servant knocked at the door and said
that Sir Jatfray wished to see her in
the library.
With Sir Jaffray matters had reached
a point that seemed to promise an ugly
crisis.
The local inspector was @ man Of
some surface shrewdnsss. and rs he WAS
very anxious to find an opportunity Of
helping forward his own promotion and
thought he could sec in this case one
that might help him he was resolved 10
make as much of it as possible. At the
same time no had all an English police
mans respect for baronet Of such
wealth and influence as Sir Jaffray
Walcote.
II have come to ask you, Sir Jaffray,
whether you can give me any informa-
ton as to this unfortunate affair. be-
lieve you identify the deceased man."
"Oh, yes He is M. Pierre Turrian,
q Frenchman or Swiss. I think-a
musician-who has been staying in this
country in pursuit Of some musical oh.
ject and for the last two days has been
stopping here in the manor. He left
yesterday suddenly"
Gan you tell me why he left?"
II had words with him and told him
to CO."
"Can you tell me what the quarrel
was about?"
II can, if necessary, but it was o
purely private matter.
II should like to know"
VERY well, then; l will consider
about telling you"
The inspector received the answer
with bow.
"Do you know Of any one who knew
lin at ALL and who might under any
have . grudge against
limp
"No, Of no one. should think was
Is hot against him as any one could
,e," said Sir Jaffray, with a grim
mile. II horsewhipped him yesterday.
may say that I returned home in time
o find him insulting my wife, and, in
act, assaulting her, and horsewhipped
lin and turned him out Of the house.
That is the whole matter"
"Will 1t be convenient for me to see
lady Walcote presently"
NO. I am sorry to say. For the pres
mt it is impossible. She has left the
LEFT the manorP' echoed the in
pector in manifest surprise. "Do you
mean i'm what sense do you mean
eft?" he asked, changing the form Of
lis question.
stJ ,,,o,,, o,,I,, That che hos 1aft tho