The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1898-03-04
FRIDAY MORNING, MAR. 4, 1898

And, doctor, she is one of the best girls
In the world, think my heart would
break II anything serious should befall
Lesley"
Maude was true blue. and DR.. Dudley
knew II. But he could not unfold to
her the turned-down page in his own
history. So he sought Mrs. Greyson
and told her his own sad history. How,
years before, when he had been stu
dent in Germany, he had met and
loved young French girl-Viva Dud-
Icy. It was a romantic affair. Dud-
ley, not yet graduated from the medical
college, was poor as poverty; and the
girl was an orphan, living with an
aunt, who treated her with cruel harsh
ness. The sequel is plain. Dudley
married the girl and took her to his
humble home, and then went back to
finish his collegiate course, confident
that armed with his diploma as ply
Stefan he would be able to hew his way
through the difficulties in life. Left
alone, necessarily a great deal of the
llIlt, viva lldut lIp dNQbd''lAdhtT VI q
woman who seemed to her uns6phsti-
Gated fancy a. very angel of light and
beauty. Her name was Lurline st.
6yr, and she was a fourth-rate actress,
singer, ttapsze performer. 1t was not
long before she obtained complete as
cendancy over WAS foolish mind.
She imprinted upon her Imagination
the vivid scenes of her own gay life.
She made the girl-wife believe that she
herself had power to become a great
actress. She never rested, just through
sheer love of destruction, until she had
won the girl from her allegiance to
her husband and finally from her
home.
With his medical diploma at last in
his hands Morris Dudley sought the
little white cottage where he had left
( his childish wife. All was the same
/ The tall white lilies nodded their fra
grant heads at the doorway; the pur-
pie morning glories peered in at the
lattice; but Viva Dudley had fled
gone to her own ruin: and his home
was empty deserted, dishonored. Can
YOU wonder that when he stood face to
face with the woman who was respon-
sible for this worse than murder, and
/ looked upon her, in all her bold beau
ty, enjoying the prestige of wealth, ard
an honorable name, that Morris Dud-
] ley said in his heart, There is no
/ God"
He told his sad story now to Mrs.
Greysoh told it in few words, and
the kindly old lady grew grave and
sad. When he had finished she wrung
his hand 81 thank you for your con-
fldence, DR.. Dudley" she said, slowly,
"and what you tell me fills me with
alarm, and yet-would you believe it
+ | have a little hope. | begin to be-
lieve that there is a conspiracy afoot,
and perhaps we may yet be able to get
at the bottom of the mystery. Heaven
grant it."
"Amen!" responded the doctor, fer
vently. Then after pause, he added
81 am going to find your husband,
Mrs. Greyson, and confide the situation
to him. His superior knowledge and
experience may suggest some mode OF
procedure Try and keep, that poor
girl as cheerful as possible, and in the
meantime l think we must soon learr
smoothing of Ardley's whereabouts. !
have set detective on his track. He
must be a contemplate villain to dc
sert that poor child in her hour of sol
row."
81 do not believe that he has d
serted her." returned Mrs. Greys,