Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1898-09-21
THE LAST OF
THE DEANES.

dence, were simple enough. The de
ceased, James Burton, had been his
valet for the past five years; he was al
excellent servant in every respect. Fol
the past couple of weeks Sir Henry no
ticed that his manner was strange, bu,
he did not think much of ii at the time
He knew Burton had a letter from d
cousin who was in America, and In
great poverty; thai. might have upset
him. On the morning of the 18th inst
Mrs. Johnson. Sir Henry's housekeep
er, came 70 him In great alarm, and
asked him to come at once to Burton's
room. There Sir Henry saw the de.
ceased in bed, with a fearful cash
across his throat; there was a razor
lying on the floor. Sir Henry had nc
doubt that Burton must have commit.
ted suicide.
Sir Henry's evidence was corrobOr-
ated by Mrs. Johnson, who stated that
the deceased had spoken to her about
his cousin in America, and seemed trou-
bled about him. He also told Mrs.
johnson n short time ago that Burton's
cousin was a bit queer"
Everyone sympathized with Sir Hen
~, for it was painfully evident that the
tragic event in his household had great
ly upset him.
His doctor recommended immediate
change of air and scene. So couple of
days after the inquest Sir Henry's de-
parture for the continent was chron-
icled in the local paper; but he had his
own reasons for going off. Sir Henry
Deane was the last of one of the oldest,
and at one time the wealthiest. families
In the country. Reduced rents had con-
siderably curtailed the wealth of the
estate, and people said Sir Henry was
not at all as we'll off as formerly. His
marriage with Miss Floyd would, how
ever, clear off the membranes which
report whispered Sir Henry had put on
the property.
Report was fairly correct, but not
quite.
Miss Floyd was the only daughter of
a millionaire soapmaker, who had late
ly purchased a property in Sir Henry's
neighborhood.
At first the county families turned
up their noses at the new Importation,
but as rumor gained ground that Miss
Floyd might shortly become Lady
Deane the county families became very
civil indeed to the maker of soap and
his daughter.
True, Sir Henry was closely on 60
and Miss Floyd some years less than
half that age, but that was nothing. 1t
was quite right and fitting that Sir
Henry should marry money, and mon
ey was only to be found In trade-so
went gossip. But though gossip knew
a lot, she didn't know 50 very much
about Sir Henry, for he had a way of
keeping his affairs pretty closely to
himself
Sir Henry Deane was, as a matter Of
fact, on the verge of ruin, and nothing
but his marriage with Miss Floyd could
save the sale of those broad acres, the
fine old park, and that proud castel.
lated dwelling which for centuries had
been the home OF the Deanes.
But there was, however, a slight i'm
pedIment 70 the marriage When Sir
Henry was young he had fallen IN love
with and married the daughter Of one
considerably his inferior in rank and
position. \ year after the marriage he
had tired Of the pretty face and baby
ways that led him into the greatest er-
TOR n man in his position could COM
nit He told his wife frankly he could
no longer live with he@; he would al
low her an annual income that would
keep her in comfort, II not in the mag
nifcance that became the wife Of Sir
Henry Deane. The poor girl. who.
though she dearly loved her handsome,
tickle husband, was terribly afraid Of
him, consented TO any Arrangement
that would please Sir Henry. So they
parted. Years had rolled on. Sir Henry
heard at rare intervals from his wife
For the past few years she had not
written to him at all, perhaps because
be never took the trouble TO answer her
letters.
He began TO hope she was dead. and
IN fact, determined to act as If she were
80 by marrying Miss Floyd and saving
himself from impending ruin.
A few days. however, before his valet
committed suicide he had received a
letter
That letter ne now held in his hand
while a worn look born of a desperate
settled purpose came into his face, as,
lying back in a frst-class carriage, he
read It's contents.
II v-rs very short dated about
week back, from an obscure town on
the south coast OF France.
Dear Henry: Please come to me at
once. | want to see You very much.
Your loving wife. Aurora Deane."
''She may be dying" he thought, "she
may be dead / hope she is. But moth
ing-no, nothing will stop me nowt'
And the desperate look deepened SO
much on his face that IT would have
scared anyone, but Sir Henry had the
compartment to himself
At the end of his journey he found
his wishes realized. His wife had just
breathed her last a couple of hours be
fore his arrival.
His marriage with Miss Floyd was to
take place almost immediately.
1t was to be a great event Everyone
was delighted, and declared Miss Floyd
TO be "a sweet Hftle thing" and the old
county gentlemen shook Sir Henry by
the hand, and said they were all get
ting quite afraid that he would have
been the last of the Deanes. He went
about everywhere with his future
bride, and received congratulations
with that calm, dgnifed courtesy
which so we'll became him; but how
aged he looked, how terribly aged!