Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1898-02-12

"you did not come all the way down here
to tell me this?"
mo, Miss 1,ayne, I have a sraver mo.
tive for seeking YOU"
"Oh, tell II me quickly, for mercy's sake.
Something IL wrong Mt Mount EdenT'
"You are mistaken. Everything q
Mount Eden Is ms right as II can be-"
Evelyn turned dcathly pale.
ut isn't Agnes" she muttered-"or-of
him."
mo; but It concerns them nearly. Miss
shock. II Is In order to save you as far
rs possible that started off mt once to
anticipate the newspapers"
''rell me at once" she whispered.
"Mr. Featherstone has left u.s.
"Mr. Feathcrstone! and on his daugh.
ter's wedding day! How terrible. Who
will break II to herT'
II promised Mrs. Featherstone to see
Mrs. Lyle before returned. shall 90
on to Teignmouth with rs little delay a.
possible"
"Bu., Captain Philip, It must have been
awfully sudden. When did It occur?"
1T was awfully sudden. He appeared
quite well at the breakfast, but after the
bride and bridegroom had left the Hall,
he locked himself up In his room in order
las he said) to answer some important
letters. and by six o'clock It was all over.'
"Heart disease?' said Evelyn, In low
voice.
mo, Miss Raync."
"What, thenf'
"You will hardly believe II, but he dc.
stroyed himself"
Evelyn gave vent to loud cjaculatio
and leaned heavily against the table.
"Are you faint9 Shall I call your
mnidf" said Captain Philip anxiously.
mo, no, shall be all right in a min
utc," gasped Evelyn with wide.open
hosror.stricken eyes. destroyed him
self! 1t II incredible. Mr.. Tcatherstone
destroyed himself! Oh, Captain Philip
are you sure you are not Mistaken
Il wish I were, Miss Nayne; but II H.
unfortunately, too true. was the first
person out Of the house that poor Mrs
Featherstone sent for. had not return
cd home half an hour. OF course wen
back at once, and dispatched the carriage
for DIR. Wilton. But II was mere mat
ter Of form. knew that a. soon as
saw the corpse. He had shot himself
right through the brain. The roof Of BIZ
head was blown off,"
"Ah! Captain Philip, how horrible!-
how horriblew exclaimed Evelyn, CLOSING
her eyes at the sight her lima gination hat
conjurcd up. But what motive can b,
have had for such an actr'
'That Is about the saddest part Of tn,
story, Miss Nayne. Mr.. Featherston,
left q letter behind him to explain his mo
tives. II appears that the bank In which
all his interests were placed has approach
cd q crisis which II cannot possibly It'd,
over, and everything will be swampet
with II. Poor Mrs. Fcathcrstone Ii lef
without q farthing, and the Hall (witl
the property on which II stands II al
ready mortgagcd up to the elbow"
"Oh, how selfish, how cruel, how COW
ardly Of him." cried Evelyn, with flashing
eyes, ito leave helpless woman to strug
gle alone against the tide which has over
whclmed himself. II everything Is gone
there was nothing else to lose. Why di,
he cast his courage and his honor ate
Il? This was the moment to have buck
led on his armor, md gone to work afrcsl
10 keep bread In the mouth Of the wifi
who was dependent on him. I have al
ways respected Mr.. Feathcrstone-l cal
respect him no longer. How wish tina
heaven had taken him long ago."
"Can sou make no allowance, Mis-
Rayne, for Y weak brain, turned By tn
shock Of such o discovery
II don't know. think that true an
disinterestcd love would keep the brai
cool and the courage strong for the SAX
Of those who trusted to II. Could 20
IN sucl n co,va rdlv thing unfler INV ri,