Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1898-05-26

4 Wicked Womar,
CHAPTER ".
I.aslrYls SarmOn.

] kLE Dds h4-.egWE "a -~~~ -FN-7sS ~~~@
. hgeakfast-room a. Chadw.cku Hah,
and paved golaes pathway over the
/ Interior Such pretty ROOM with
I naatted floor, and lace-tyaped win dows.
/ fui OF dainty hanging baeets filled
with rare plants, and with silded cages
{ ,f canaries, and a single mocking-bird,
1 tYilling melodiously, tuning up for the
morning concert.
/ The sunlight strayed over the round
| able laid for breakfast. with delicate
,apery, and sparkling silver, end frag-
( se china, which had been in the Chad
| sicke's possession from time immen-
noriaA. The sun lances dropped them
elves athwart the faces of the two man
| itting. with the morning papers be-
fore them, not reading. however, but
conversing, in low, earnest tones.
One was Stephen Greyson; his COM
panion, DR.. Dudley.
Mr.. Greyson, who was accompanied
by his wife. had remained at Chad
wicke Hall TO see his ward properly in
stalled, and had written for Dudley to
come down for day or two-for they
were fast friends-insisting that the
young physician needed rest and re-
| taxation.
This morning, moved by an uncon-
trollable impulse, Doctor Dudley had
revealed to his friend all his own
doubts and suspicious in regard to
Barton Chadwicke's suicide, and they
were discussing 1t now. with serious
gravity, In the interval before the
breakfast hour.
81 may be unjust in my suspicious,
observed DR.. Dudley, "and, to tell the
truth, Greyson, / have no reason 20
trust the opposite sex too greatly. since
my own misfortune"
He paused abruptly, as though he
had said more than he had intended TO
say. and silence followed
Stephen Greyson nodded He knew
that there was some trouble In the
background of Morris Dudley's life
something which had had power to
darken and shadow 1t fearfully; but
the young man kept his own counsel,
and his friend would not intrude upon
his confidence.
And yet" continued the physician,
graYely. u endeavor to be as just as
possible in my deductions; but, Mr..
Greyson. think yow will agree with
me that in this. as in most other trou-
bles and tragedies, there is a woman in
the case"
The clatter Of French heels in the
wide hall, from which The breakfast
room opened, the odor Of violets, &
breezy little laugh, and Lesley Dins-
more was in the room, both hands full
Of roses and violets, the dew-drops on
them sparkling like diamonds.
Good morning, good people!" she
cried airiiy. "Oh, yoFi don't know
what you have missed, I've been all
over the place nearly, with Nero, tho
big dog. for u companion. But, DOG
tor. what wax that heresy I overheard
whan I entered the hall just NOW? Up
On what unhappy woman were you
venting your wrath? And OF what
WOE the poor thing guiity?"
THAT remains to be- seen, Miss Les
Icy" interposed the lawyer "Ah. here
Is Mrs. Greyson. Good morning. my
dear."
AS an old lady entered the room.
in pearl-gray morning dress, with the
daintiest of lace breakfast caps upon
her snowy puffs.
Lesley kissed her fondly.
She had already bestowed upon the
old lawyer and his good wife the titles
Of uncle and aunt. that she might not
seem so utterly alone in. the world, she
had said
Then Lesley took her ,seat at the ta-
BILE, but an unwonted expression Of
gravity still fingered upon her face.
She was lovely In a white cambria
dress, with black velveh bows, and her
gold-brown hair In a knot at the back
of her graceful head.
"a woman in the easel" sheA repeat
ed. thoughtfully. "Ah,, DOCTOR, you are
a Wholesale slandereri In themame Of
my own sex. l protest against such
sweeping assertions. We are always
being twitted with the fact tha4 there
is a woman at the bottom of every
trouble; but II Ia Just as oftensa man
as a woman, and, perhaps, ore,often;
only men tell, and women do not.
They never expose the man theyAlore.
Hal hal" laughed the old lawyer,
go on, my dear. Have YOU enSthing
further to advanced"
She smiled archly. US she stirred the
chocolate In her dainty cup.
"Oh, yes" she returned, co1npo.sedly;
pore sermon. In fact My text, fThe
woman tempted me, and I did eat.'
And. Uncle Stenhen. honor briSht,'
don't you think II very brave In the
stronger sex that, no,matter what deed
Of darkness they may commit, they. d.
ways find some convenient female iAp-
on which to lay the blame? But avet
In cases where 1t is literally true, were
! man think should prefer to ac- |
Knowledge my own sins and weakness |
ss, rather than account myself OF 80 |
gpsoqnd' "A mjnd.and 50 inferior gp in |
teilect as to be led against nay VIII into |
sin orscri6ne, simply because ] was not |
rs strong as che who tempted me; and |
then, in the hour OF exposure, Sink be-
hind the female drapery. and whine
piteously, the woman tempted mel
There's always a woman n the easel
But, aproDos of nothing--uncle Ste
phcn." she aided, after moments
pause. Il saw a man last night"
"Ahl there's man IN this case" In
teTupted Mrs. GroysQn. siyly.
Lesley gava her q Keen glance.
IA man." she repeated-"a stranger
to me, quite--ou the lawn, nearly un-
der my window"
Some badly 5mitten swain" sug-
gested the lawyer. come 20 serenade
you, Lesley"
'Nonsense'" and she blushed charm
ingly
He stood there, under an acacia
tree" continued tho girl; then /
turned away, nnd when 1 looked again
he was gone,"
Imagination, my DEAR" suggested
Mrs. Greyson. placidly.
Not Il bit, auntie. | saw him dis-
tinctly In the moonlight, and"
She hesitated, for a servant had en-
tered the room and paused before her.
with a visiting card upon u silver SAL
yer
For Miss Diusmore." he announced.
Lesley took the card, and read the
name upon It nloud: I
John Ardsley."
THE gentleman Is IN the reception
=