Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1898-11-11
CHAPTER XVI.

Was she living or-dead?
CHAPTER XVI.
Did Beatrice. Leigh repent of her WE'LL
laid plans, her mancuvcrs, her sarcasms,
her cruel, singing words, her ncvcr-cnd-
ing persecution OF a young aud helpless
girl, when her eyes fell on Lord Vivian's
tortured face, and she read the telegram
he held i'll his hand? A fash of triumph
lighted up her dark eyes. She even
laughed to herself that the fair, gentle
young wife, who had been her rival, had
taken this dangerous step. Over and over
again Lord Vivian read the letter; over
and over again he read the sad, plaintive
words that were to haunt him until lie
died.
lie was not long in starting for Scdi.
The train left Florence at six; it was now
after five. All the way there he held the
letter in his hands; it was all that re-
maincd to him of his wife Violantc. By
Mrs. Selwyn's desire Nicoli went with
him. lie was not in n fit state, she
thought, to travel alone.
lie had been longing for the train to ar
rive, and yet when it did so, when he
heard Scdi called out by the loud-voiccd
porter-wlcn the speed slackcned and the
engine stopped--hc would fain have gone
on; uncertainty then seemed hotter TO
| him than what he might hear and see.
1t was q small station, prcttily built aid
gay with flowers. As lie left the carriage
Lord Vivian saw Il group OF people gath
cred on tho platform; there WAS q hushcl,
solemn silence over them, only broken,
every now and then. by the shrill cry OF n
woman who recognized Il beloved one,
crushed and dead. Two gentlemen adj
valiccd 10 meet Lord Vivian. One was
DIR. Shccnc. the other Signor di Luna,
who had waited for him.
, The English doctor spoke first.
-. believe you are Lord Sclwyn," lie
| said. cor course. you have received my
tclcgram!"
"lIow is shc-my wife? Let me see her
ut once,' was the reply.
Not this moment, Lord Vivian; you
| must watt"
"If l wait. l shall die" said Lord Wv
ian calmly. II eau bear 10 moro; tell me,
mt least, how she is"
And the two men lool:cd at each other,
neither daring to speak.
'IIow came Lady Sclwyn in the train
%aione::" said DIR. Shcenc. "She wa quite
alone, apparently without either servant
or friend; how did it %happcn:"
Il cannot explain it at all. / did not
even know that she had left the house.
Oh, let nc see her! Do not keep me
talking here; I am half mad with sorrow.
Is she much hurt? Is she injured: Can
she be taken home:"
They looked at each other %again--tlic
two who knew the fatal truth, each dead
ing TO speak. The man before them, with
his wistful, pleading face, saw that look,
and Il long, low moan Ill from his lips.
Not that!' he cried. ooh, heaven.
anything but that! She is not dead?"
No denial such as he thirstcd to hear
came from them; the solemn expression
OF each face dccpcncd. Lord Vivian
graspcd DR.. Shecnc's arm.
DO you not see l am going mad:" he
Kissed. Tell me the TRUTH!
you have spoken it, my lord" was the
reply; you have said it. Heaven help
! you To bear it. She is dead"
Dead. lie moaned at last. MY wife
-Niolantc-i it cannot be-"
"%'lIcavcn gives. and heaven takes
AWAY" said the solemn voice of the Eng
lish doctor.
They went with him to the long, mar
row waiting room, where, side by side,
the dead awaited removal. She lay apart
from the rest. \ resting place had been
made for her, and there, in the quiet sleep
OF death, lay the woman Lord Vivian be-
lievcd to he his wife. He passed in ST.
lcnce the long table where the bodies Of
women. children and men lay so motions
less and still--passed them in grave, SOL
cmn silence. When he came TO the place
where she lay, a low moan broke from his
lips.
Tho golden hair hung in rich p~rofusion,
stained here and there with blood. The
costly fur cloak was wrapped round the
quiet figure.
Lord Vivian took u trcss of the golden
hair in his hands.
ut is my wife, he cried. II bought
that cloak for her three years ago. Let
nc see her face!"
But here the doctors grave voice inter-
fcrcd; the Doctors strong, firm hand drew
him gently back.
"lleavcn forbid!!' he said. You loved
Your wife; / would not have you look up
OH what lies there for all the ~world-thc
horror Of it would kill you! There is no
single feature left; the weight of half a
carriage fell upon your wifc's face and
crushed it."
Hc knclt down in silence by her side
and buried his face in his hands. What
passed between his soul and its Maker in
that hour none will ever know. If ever
he had been impatient with her youth
and her simplicity, her ignorance of the
world, her unstudied frankncss, it was
all avenged now.
And then the heavy task came of TAX
ing home what everybody believed to be
the body Of Violantc Lady Selwyn, Lord
Vivian regaincd his outward calm;, in
heart and soul there ragged a torrent Of
grief, Of rcmorsc, Of b%cwildered sorrow