The Portland daily press., 1898-07-08

inc lduy, Dit you Will Do SUI prlS6U TO
hear that she is dead. %
"Dead?'
''Yes, not only dead, but murdered
in the most atrocious way he said,
with solemn, awestruck expression.
"Mur-der-ed? How awful" ex.
claimed Mrs, Gardner in a Mortified
tone.
eyes, isn't it terrible? 1t happened
IN Florence, and her husband, who is
an elderly man, was arrested upon sus-
,picion and afterward discharged. 1t ap-
pears that he dotted upon her, and that
he is now PROSTATE and nearly heart
broken. Besides. it's stated that the Ia
dy had lover; but, luckily for him, he
was in Paris when the crime was COM
mitted. These continental newsmongers
are never satisfied unless they can at
tach romance to every crime, and
most probably the assertion telegraphed
by this Italian correspondent that an
examination Of her letters has revealed
long course of intrigue and unfaith-
fitness is simply fabricated to crafty
the public. It's appalling to think that
the poor creature was in the house SO
recently and now to be hacked and mu-
tilated by a friend
"Oh, Ned, please stopl The things
quite dreadful enough without all
that" implored Mrs. Gardner. Her
appeal seemed to have fallen unnoticed,
for his gaze remained absently upon the
page, and his lips moved slowly in un-
conscious soliloquy.
"The thought of it curdles ones
blood. never open the morning papers
without receiving shock from some
story of crime. Here's another hideous
murder in London, published today,
and heaven only knows when that Sc
ries will end and when the criminal
will be discovered! Strange how all the
London cases, as we'll as this one in Flor
ence, resemble each other, as if they
had been similarly planned, as if-as if
they had all originated in like mys-
FERROUS impulse
Edward, please lay down that pa
per instantly" interposed his wife
sharply. "Do you know, DEAR she
added more tenderly, "that your fore
head is beaded with perspiration and
your face as pale as if you were going
to faint?"
"Quite likely, my dear girl, for am
far from well this morning." feebly re-
joined the doctor. With tender COM
passion she bent over him, gently wiped
his brow with her handkerchief and
brushed back his hair with delicate,
smooth touch which only wife's depth
of love could inspire. Upon her sweet
face dwelt a troubled look Of affection
ate concern and anxiety; upon his hung
cloud too black and heavy for sun to
pierce. For some minutes, during which
he seemed almost forgetful of her pres
ence, they remained silent-a silence
burdened with dreaded possibilities
and then her lips moved in yearning en-.
treaty.
Edward, my husband''- The ca.
ressing cadence in her voice, the uneasy
information in the words which died
upon her lips ere they were fully utter.
ed, recalled him to his senses with a
sudden start
MAY, my darling, you must moi
worry so much about me. I shall be
quite we'll after an hours rest. Leave
me to recover myself -
Slowly she Strengthened herself uI
and silently walked to the door. With
her hand upon the knob, she turned te
bestow upon him waited kiss, but
failing to obtain look she moved away
with Sigh and gently closed the door.
Then DR.. Gardner was alone with a
reproaching conscience and an Almighty
Judge, to whom sin is hateful.
The door had barely been shut when
he became Immediately seized in the
grip Of an insupportable agony. The
presence of his wife had effectually re-
strained the outward exhibition Of his
feelings, but now, in his temporary sol.
itude, he could give them vent and by
their omission tighten the load which
weighed upon his heart
The expression of his secret torment
could only be given by the stif1ed groan,
the grinding teeth, the clinching fist
and the writhing body, for he was ap-
prehensive of being overheard, but still
that little relieved the tension of his
sufferings.
Within his breast labored tumult
of frightful thoughts, a terrible suspi-
cion which his spirit dared scarce enter.
tain, that cast upon his soul a darkness
which felt eternal, pain which was
worse than physical agony, which paled
his face and made his tall figure trem
BILE, which made the muscles Of his
hands twitch spasmodically until he
would fain have grasped the ornaments
upon the mantelshelf, costly as they
were, and from sheer despair crushed
them. In his wretchedness all the en-
blems Of his wealth rose up and Knocked
him.
Presently there fell upon his ears the
sound Of approaching footsteps, the
light, delicate tread of his wife. HI
was instantly on the alert and making
violent efforts to pull himself together
MAY" he said, with show o.
cheerfulness as she entered the room, 81
a7,o 10