Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1898-06-09
CHAPTER XIV.

CHAPTER XIV.
Only a Card.
Lesley, Lesley, Oh, don't look at
me in such a wild, despairing way!
weep and mourn, upbraid me as the
cause of all your bitter sorrow, and
anything, only do not stand there in
such silent, frozen horror and despair.
Lesley Lesley Oh, Heaven, I have
killed heri"
The wild words dropped from Max
Ruthven's ashen lips. White and still,
dazed, bewildered by the awful shock,
Lesley stood, half comprehending his
meaning. To her there was but one
word now; it caught and held within
its relentless grasp all the hopes and
joys, and possibilities of happiness in
her life-that one cruel. bitter word
deadi
Max Ruthven caught her cold, white
hands, and pressed his lips upon them
unrebuked, for she knew not what he
did. He was scarcely conscious of his
own actions. All that was best and
truest in this mans nature was stirred
by this sight of this wordless grief,
this dumb despair. In that hour the
evil In Max Ruthven's heart died a
sudden death. and bitter remorse took
possession Of him. All the iniquity of
away out of sight now in the presence
OF the one pure love of his whole god
less life.
Frightened at Lesley's stony calm
and fearless agony he sprang to the
bellrope and rang a wild peal, which
brought Mrs. Greyson and Maude in
terrified haste to the apartment. A
few words from Ruthven sufficed to
explain the situation.
"Oh, my poor darling!" cried Maude,
throwing her arms about Lesley's neck
and drawing her head down upon her
shoulder. Cry, do try to cry, Lesley.
Oh, Mrs. Greyson, what can we do to
break this unnatural calm? 1t will
Kill her"
Speak to her of him-of Mr.. Ards
ley" suggested Mrs. Greyson. Lesley,
DEAR" she added, taking the girls cold
hand in her own, che is dead John,
he whom you loved so dearly, your
own husband, is dead, Lesley"
/, Dead"
Lesley repeated the word in bewil-
dered tone; her eyes stared vacantly
before her; but nothing seemed to have
power to unlock the fioodgates and let
the wild tears burst forth.
Let NE make a suggestion, il you
please, Mrs. Greyson," ventured Max,
at last. Suppose the-the body Is
brought here into her presence? The
sight of IT, might have the desired eff
feet / am afraid that she will lose her
reason. See how vacantly she stares!"
Maude flew from the room to break
the sad news to her parents.
A conveyance was dispatched at once
to bring the body; and later IN the day
the solemn little procession wound
slowly up the long avenue which led
to the Cedars.
The body was fearfully mutilated,
the face swollen and discolored, but the
hair and mustache were OF the same
hue as John Ardsley's and the gar
ments were identified as those of the
missing man; even a ring-a peculiar
ring, which all present recognized as
having belonged to John Ardsley-was
found upon one swollen hand Of the
corpse. But no papers were discovered
upon the body; nothing, save a satiny
card-a lady's visiting card--and on
the back a line penciled in delicate
hand
The detective who had been upon
John Ardsley's track, and who had
been the one to first discover the body,
took this card from the hand OF the
coroner, with grave expression upon
his shrewd face. and he kept his own
counsel.
There were no marks OF violence up
on the body and the inquest resulted
in a verdict Of accidental drowning.
He had doubtless fallen over the steep,
precipitous bank, into the foaming tor
rent below; though there were those
who shook their heads dubiously at
this theory, for no one knew that road
and the steep bank just at its curve
better than the late steward of the
Chadwicke estate.
The body was buried at once, IN the
family burial place of the Bradburns,
and a plain monument erected; for
Lesley was too poor now to afford a
more costly structure. and silence fell
over the whole sad affair
1t was the night after the funeral, a
dark, gloomy night. Lesley had at
last found relief In tears, and had
sobbed and wept, and moaned until
she was weak and worn. She went TO
the window OF her room, and pushing
aside the curtain peered out into the
night 1t was dark and dreary enough.
The wind stirred the bare branches
Of the trees uneasily, and few drops
of rain were beginning to fall, herald
ing the coming storm. At last Lesley
turned and caught up her waterproof,
and putting 1t on. drew the hood over
her head; then, unobseryed by any one
IN the house, she glided downstairs,
out into the starless night She turn
ed in the direction OF the burying
ground with a wild desire to stand be-
side his grave, a frenzled impulse 70
throw herself down beside it and sob
herself 10 sleep.
The wind was raging wildly and tear
ing through the trees with an eerie
wall; the rain, fine and sleety, fell
fast now upon her head; but Lesley
felt nothing, klew Nothing Qply that