The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-05-17
4 WICKED WOMAN.

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 Misunderstanding 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.
II may be unjust in my suspicious"
observed DR.. Dudley, land, to tell the
truth, Greyson, l have no reason to
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 it fearfully; but
the young man kept his own counsel,
and his friend would not intrude upon
his confidence.
"And yet" continued the physician,
gravely, II endeavor to be as Just as
possible in my deductions but, Mr..
Greyson, think you will agree with
me that in this, as in most other trou-
bies and tragedies, there is 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, airily. '"Oh, you don't know
what you have missed! I've been all
over the place nearly, with Nero, the
big dog, for companion. But, doc
tor, what was that heresy overheard
when entered the hall just now? Up
on what unhappy woman were you
venting your wrath? And Of what
was the poor thing guilty."
THAT remains to be seen, Miss Les
ley" 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 velvet bows, and her
gold-brown hair in a knot at the back
of her graceful head.
"A woman in the easel" she repeat
ed, thoughtfully. "Ah, doctor, you are
a wholesale slanderer! In the name Of
my own sex, I protest against such
sweeping assertions. We are always
being twitted with the fact that there
is a woman at the bottom Of every
trouble; but 1t Is just as often a man
as woman, and, perhaps, more often;
only men tell, and women do not.
They never expose the man they love.
''Ha! hal" laughed the old lawyer.
go on, my dear. Have you anything
further to adyance?"
She smiled archly, as she stirred the
chocolate in her dainty cup.
ooh, yes" she returned. composedly;
"a great deal more-quite an extern.
pore sermon, in fact. My text, The
woman tempted me, and did eat
And, Uncle Stephen, honor bright
don't you think it very brave in the
stronger sex that, no matter what deed
of darkness they may commit, they al.
ways find some convenient female up-
on which to lay the blame? But even
In cases where it is literally true, were
I man I think should prefer to ac-
knowledge my own sins and Weakness
es, rather than account myself Of SO
unsound a mind and so inferior an in.
tellect as to be led against my will into
sin or crime, simply because was not
as strong as she who tempted me; and
then, in the hour of exposure, stink be-
hind the female drapery, and whine
piteously, the woman tempted mel
There's always woman in the case!
But, apropos Of nothing-Uncle Ste.
iphen," she added, after a moments
pause, ~ saw man last night"
"Ah!, there's man In this case" in-
terrupted Mrs. Greyson, slyly.
| Lesley gave her keen glance.
/ "a man." she repeated-"a stranger
to me, quite-on the lawn, nearly un'
der my window"
! Some badly smitten swain," sug'
gested the lawyer, come to serenada
you, Lesley"
Nonsense" and she blushed charm.
ingly.
HE stood there, under an acacia
tree" continued the girl; then !
turned away, and when looked again
he was gone!"
Imagination, my DEAR" suggested
Mrs. Greyson, placidly.
mot bit, auntis. saw him dis
tinctly in the moonlight, and"
She hesitated, for servant had en-.
tered the room and paused before her.
with visiting card upon a silver SAL
yer.
"For Miss Dinsmore," he announced.
Lesley took the card, and read the
name upon 1t aloud:
John Ardsley."
1.-THE gentleman Is in the reception
room, MISS" remarked the servant.
"He said his call was important or he
would not have disturbed you so early"
mot so very early" returned Lesley,