The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1898-11-05
CHAPTER XIV,

| ucNy udH Il VI lHe IuOTnlDX IQS 2QdSts
| row Of dying and dead lay with white
! faces turned to the rising sun. Then
! came a cry that some one was lying, face
! downward, in the brook that ran through
| the valley.
| Strong men hurried there. They saw
| mass Of fair hair, a fur cloak, and
| travelling bag held in stiff white hand.
| They raised the body-it was that OF
! woman, young and fair-but from those
strong men rose a cry of dread, as they
| saw what once had been fair face,
| crushed and mangled, all semblance of
humanity marred and deadened. For on
that face the weight of half carriage
had fallen. They who saw it turned
| shuddering away; one. stronger in heart
| than the others, took a white handker-
/ chief and covered it, That covering was
never removed.
/ They looked at the costly fur cloak.
| then whispered one to another that it
must be lady of rank lying there, for
the cloak was of sable.
Then came the doctor, who had been
attending to the wounded, an English
man, who had been travelling in the same
train. No need to move the white hand
kerchief; no need to place his hand on
the stiIled heart. Death had been merci-
full there. giving no time for puln.
( The doctor. too, looked at the costly
cloak. and the same idea came to him
it must be lady of rank who lay there,
crushed and mangled beyond all recog-
milton. When the first hurry of the ter
rible accident was over. DR.. Sheene be-
thought himself of the fair, dead woman.
1t was time To learn who she was, and
send for her friends
They examined the fur cloak first, and
in the little pocket Of it they found let
ter, addressed to
The Lady Seiwyn.
Villa Pisani,
"Florence"
They opened the travelling bag. In it
were papers bearing the same name; a
small jewel case and on it they read:
ITO my beloved daughter Nioante;
from her affectionate father, Horace
Temple"
There was purse, containing bank
notes and gold; that. too, was marked
with her name. There seemed every rea-
son to believe that the golden-hared wom-
TN lying dead in the waiting room was
Lady Selwyn. Some one there had met
the family. had dined at the villa, and had
visited Lord Selwyn-a Signor di Luna;
and he, the moment his eyes fell upon the
mass of golden hair, cried out:
You must telegraph TO Lord Selwyn;
this is Lady Selwyn."
So DR. Shccne, feeling true sympathy
for IA fellow countryman in deep distress,
sent a telegram himself 1t was worded
thus
From Doctor Sheene, Railway Station.
Sedi, TO Lord Vivian Selwyn, Villa Pisnnl
tiorencc-Come at once, without delay
There has been dreadful accident at
Sedi, and Lady Selwyn was in the train.
There had never been a more brilliant
fete than that of which Beatrice Leigh
reigned queen. The guests seemed I'M
willing to depart. Everything was SO
beautiful; the grounds with fountains.
odorous flowers and colored Is mps: the
cool. fragrant conservatories; the magnif-
cent suite of rooms: the chivalrous. hand
some, attentive host: and above all other
attractions, the queen of the revels-Bea-
tricc Leigh,
1t was not until the dawn flushed red
III the sky, and the birds began to sing,
that the carriages were all ordered, md
the ballroom deserted.
Ii was late in the morning when Lord
Selwyn was reused by his valet Nicoli,
who stood by the bedside with paper
in his hand.
Whit is it, Nicoliy' asked his lord
ship. Why have you disturbed me-"
There is telegram for you, my lord"
said the man, and I thought you had
better have it at once
He took the paper from the mans hand
and read. Bewilderrhent and unuttera-
hit surprise came over him frst-no fear.
( ! ,,,t,, l-of
being in the train at Sedi, his wife was
sleeping near; that he knew For the ac
cident he was sorry; but it was not his
wife who was there
here is some mistake" he said to the
valet, who stood by in silence. Il must
get up, though, and set it straight. Get
me some coffee. Nicoli.'
The man went away. Still silent and
trembling. Lord Vivian dressed himself
hurriedly
How could such a mistake ariseT' he
asked himself. How could such fool !
ish error be made
lie went to his wIfo'S room and turned
til" handle; the door vas locked.
"Niolantc." he cried. Il want to sneak
to YOU
There was no answer.
"Niolante. darling he cried again. Il
want YOU,
Still no answer. and deadly chill Of
fear came over him.
Just then he heard Nicoh enter his room |
with the coffee.
Never mind that" said Lord Vivian
hastily. "Nicol could you break omen
door quietly, without making much |
nOiSe|'
Yes, Nicoli could DO that He went 70 |
fetch the necessary implements. and his
master stood with the dawn Of n terrible
fear in his face. Once more he cried "Nio- |
lante. but no answer came from the 81 |
lent. deserted rooms.
Then 'aine- Nicnli, and i'll thre. minutes !
the door was opened. md Lord Selwyu |
entered. What did il meau? There was |
the bed with its pretty white hangings. /
but no Niolante lay there No one had /
slept there: the room was empty, silent |
and desuate.
With that strange dread growing on /
L;m he opened the door that led to her
dressing room: i was all silent all desc |
late. No Niulante was there,
What did il mean? An accident At I
Sedi. and Lady Sclwyn was in the train, .
The words in letters Of fire seemed to
flame round him. Then his eyes fell up
un the lottor addressed 10 himself in VIC
lantc's weil-known writing.
Tic tor" it open: ne read ii once. twice .
thrice. he crieG aloud that he could not
understand it-Ee knew not what il /
meant. Why had she gone from him 81
hi> wife, whom. in spite Of the cloud and .
The Cooiue>S that had arisen between
them. h" loved better than all the
world l.>'deS I
y fatal accident. and Lady Selpyn vas
IN the train, The words came 10 him
with a fresh meaning now Sedi. he
knew. WAS station on the road 10 Genoa /
Genoa led 10 England. The cry that
came from his white lips startled the
S'eopCrS from their dreams He under
stood AZ length. Niolante had lcf, him.
and something terrible had happened.