Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1898-03-17

Shocking Fatality" as 1t was called
in the next days newspapers. Then
, the bearers departed cheerfully, carry
ing with them the empty stretcher.
Then the jeweller, who seemed quite
I unmoved respecting the sudden death
of his ledger, chatted amicably with
the surgeon about the reputation and
dement's of the deceased, and Erring-
ton and Lorimer, as they passed through
heard him speaking of person hither-
! to unheard of, namely, Lady Francis
! Lennox, who had been deserted by her
husband for the past six years, and
who was living uncomplainingly the
! life of an art-student IN Germany with
Ter married sister, maintaining, by the
work of her own hands, her one little
child, boy of five.
He never allowed her farthing,"
said the conversational jeweller. And
she never asked him for one. Mr.. Wig
gins, his lawyer--firm Of Virgins &
, Whizzer, Furnival's lnn,-told me all
about his affairs. oh yes-he was
regular "masher -tip-top Not
worth much, | should say. He must
nave spent over a thousand year in
keeping up that little place at st.
Johns Wood for Violet We're. He owes
Inc five hundred. However, Mr.. Wig
gins will see everything fair, I've no
doubt. I've just wired to him, an
nouncing the death. | don't suppose
any one will regret him-eXcept, per-
haps the woman at st. Johns Wood.
But l believe she's playing for a big
ger stake just now" And, stimulated
by this thought, he drew out from a
handsome morocco case a superb pen
dant of emeralds and diamonds-a
work of art, that glittered as he dis
played it, like star on frosty night.
Pretty thing, isn't it? he said
proudly. Eight hundred pounds, and
CT cap, too! 1t was ordered for Miss
We're, two months ago, by the Duke Of
Moorlands. I see he sold his collection
OF pictures the other day. Luckily
they fetched tidy sum, SO Pm pretty
sure of the money for this. He'll sell
everything he's got to please her.
Queer? Oh, not at all! She's the rage
just now,-I can't see anything in her
myself, but I'm not duke, you see
Pm obliged to be respectable"
He laughed as he returned the pen
dant to It's nest Of padded amber satin
and Errington, sick at heart to hear
81 CHI frivolous converse going on
while that crushed and lifeless form
lay in the very room above,-un-
watched, uncaredfor, put his arm
through Lorimer's and left the shop.
Once in the open street, with the
keen, cold air blowing against their
faces, they looked at each other blank
ly Piccadilly was crowded; the ON
nlbus conductors and newsboys-the
laughter Of young men coming out of
the st. James's Hall Restaurant; all
was as usual,-as indeed, why should
it not? What matters the death Of one
man in a million? unless, indeed, 1t be
a man whose life, like torch unified
in darkness, has enlightened and
CT eered the world,-but the death of a
mere fashionable "swell'' whose chief
talent has been trick Of lying grace
fully-who cares for such a one?
Society is instinctivey relieved to hear
that his place is empty, and shall
know him no more. But Erring-
ton could not Immediately forget the
scene he had witnessed. He was over
come by sensations of horror, even Of
p:ty,--and he walked by his friends
SIDE for some time in silence.
81 wish could get rid Of this thing!"
he said suddenly, looking down at the
horsewhip In his hand.
! Lorimer made no answer. He
understood his feeling, and realized
| the situation as sufficiently grim. To
be armed with a weapon meant for the
chastlsement of man whom death had
so suddenly claimed vas, to say the
least of it, unpleasant Yet the horse
whip could scarcely be thrown away
In Piccadilly-such an action might
attract notice and comment. Presently
Philip spoke again.
He was actually married all the
t.me!"
80 1t seems" and Lorimer's face
expressed something very like con-
tempt. "By Jove, Phil! he must have
been an awful scoundrel!"
Don't let's say any more about him
hes dead!" and Philip quickened
his steps. And what horrible
/ DEATH"
Horrible enough, indeed"
| Again they were both silent. Me-
Chemically they turned down towards
Pail Mall.
George" said Errington, with q
strange awe in his tones, at seems to
me to-day as If there were death in the
air. don't believe in presentiments,
but yet-yet l cannot help thinking
what II l should find my Thelma-
/ dead?"
| Lorimer turned very pale-a cold
! Oh ,.,, h;,,, h,,f ba