Willmar tribune., 1899-12-27
ened servants; With them We're four (

OAAo aS-ttN VI WIG Std1IS- anu SUCCEEDED In
excluding all except those whose pres
encewas necessary: With these the two
friends learned all the facts ever known
about 1.-The Sterling tragedy" as the
papers in their sensational accounts
next day called it,
Mr.. Sterling had gone into his room
that evening about o'clock, and that
was the last seen of him until in half
IN ho1r &shot was heard and a servant
who was In the hall ran into the room
and found the owner of the house dead
on the floor, killed by his own hand.
Felicia at the time was sitting By her
mother. Rose was reading in the Ii
brary. She ran up stairs, saw her father
as he was being lifted upon the couch
by the servants and then ran screaming
into her mothers room, where she flung
herself down on the foot Of the bed in
q swoon. Mrs. Sterling had at first
tainted at the shock, then rallied with
wonderful swiftness and sent mes
senger to call DR.. Bruce. She had then
insisted on seeing her husband. In spite
Of Felicia, she had compelled Clara end
the housemaid, terrified and trembling,
to support her while she crossed the
hall and entered the room where her
husband lay. She had looked upon him
with fearless face, had gone back into
her own room, was laid on the bed, and
as DIR. Bruce and the bishop entered the
house she, with prayer of forgiveness
for herself and her husband on her
quivering lips, had died, with Felicia
bending over her and Rose still lying
'senseless at her feet.
So great and swift had been the en-.
trance of grim death into that palace
of luxury that Sunday night, but the
full cause of his coming was not known
until the facts in regard to Mr.. Ster-
ing's business affairs were finally dis
closed.
Then it was learned that for some
time he had been facing financial ruin
owing tD certain speculations that had
in a months time swept his supposed
wealth into complete destruction. With
the cunning and desperation of man
who battles for his very life. when he
saw his money, which was all the life
he ever valued, slipping from him he
had put off the evil day to the last mo-
ment. Sunday afternoon, however, he
had received news that proved to him
beyond doubt the fact of his utter
ruin. The very house that he called his.
the chairs in which he sat, his carriage.
the dishes from which he ate, had all
been bought by money for which he
himself had never really done an honest
stroke of pure labor.
It had all rested on a tissue of deceit
and speculation that had no foundation
in real values. He knew the fact better
than any one else. but he had hoped,
with the hope that such men always
have, that the same methods that
brought him the money would also pre-
vent its loss. He had been deceived in
this, az many others have been. As
soon as the truth that he was practical
ly a beggar had dawned upon him he
saw no escape from suicide. It was the
irresistible result Of such a life as he
had lived He had made money his god
As soon as that god had gone out of his
little world there was nothing moro to
worship, and when mans object Of
worship is gone he has no more to live
for Thus died the great millionaire,
Charles R. Sterling, and, verify, he died
as the fool dieth, for what is the gain
or the loss of money compared with the
unsearchable riches of eternal life, which
are far beyond the reach of worldly
speculation, loss or change?
Mrs. Sterling's death was the result
Of shock. She had not been taken into
her husbands confidence for years, but
she knew that the source of his wealth.
was precarious. Her life for several
years had been a death in life The
Rolfes always gave the impression that
they could endure more disaster un-
moved than any one else. Mrs. Sterling
illustrated the old family tradition
when she was carried into the room
where her husband lay, but the feeble
tenement could not hold the spirit, and
by long years Of suffering and disap-
pointment.
The effect of this triple blow, the
death of father and mother and the loss
of property, was instantly apparent in
the sisters. The horror of events stupe,
fed Rose for weeks. She lay unmoved
by sympathy or any effort to rally. She
did not seem yet to realize that the
money which had been so large part
Of her very existence was gone. Even
when she was told that she and Felicia
must leave the house and be dependent
upon relatives and friends she did not
seem to understand what it meant
Felicia. however, was fully conscious
Of the facts She knew just what had
happened and why She was talking
over her future plans with her cousin
Rachel a few days after the funerals.
Mrs. Winslow and Rachel had left Ray
mond and come to Chicago at once as
soon as the terrible news had reached
them, and with other friends of the
family they were planning for the fu-
ture Of Rose and Felicia.
"Felicia, you and Rose must come to
Raymond with US. That is settled.
Mother will not hear of any other plan
at present" Rachel had said. while he1
beautiful face glowed with love for her
cousin, love that had deepened day
by day and was intensified by the
knowledge that they both belonged to
the new discipleship.
"Unless could find something to do
here, answered Felicia. She looked
wistfully at Rachel, and Rachel said
gently: