The National tribune., 1903-12-03

room. 1t WAS still locked. He glanced nj
the keyholeo and saw the key had been
I taken from ithe lock. He kicked the door
open. and t5ereilay Mrs. Redgrave, dead.
one arm hanging over the side of the bed.
Malina wasg5 prostrated for several
weeks from the shock. The doctors dis
| agreed as to the cause of death. Some
pronounced i'it heart disease. others said
it WIS from annoverdose of morphine. to
which she was addicted. John Redgrave
Sobered up blonaE enougli to attend his
mothers funerah which WAS Il quiet af-
fair, and Gnc.eftOwen sincerely mourned
| the death of the woman who had made
his life miserable. Then he announced
! that it was his intention to give what had
been deferred only by death and business,
the customary house warming party in
honor of his marriage.
The b3ll was to be one of the grandest
ever known III the country. All the couI-
try gentry for miles around. and even the
elite Of Frankford. Memphis, and Louis
| vile were to be invited.
WHY do you do this?" she asked.
ITO bring roses to your cheeks. for one
reason" he answered. "Another. per-
iaEs a vain and selfish one. is 70 show all
my friends what Il beautiful wife have.
| Sou are iow-spirited. 1t is no doubt
ay fault. | have left you too mach 10
I yourself. and you have grown gloomy iii
| this Old house. But will have some COM
pany here. We will make.it gay Tor once,
| and the roses on your checks will again
| bloom" ;,..
In all the buzz and confusion John Red
grave was nearly forgotten. He came To
| the honse sometimes, when nearly sober,
went to his mothers room and wept for
| her Whatever i'll may be said of John
| Redgrave, no one can deny he loved his
mother. John seldom spent the night I'M
der his uncle's roof He seldom spoke to
Malina. though she often noticed his
bleared and B'ood-sirot eyes upon her in a
way that made her trembc
His uncle kept him supplied with
money. and John continued to live life
of dissipation. 1t promised to be a short
one. for intemperancc ard exposure had
already brought on Il ceugh that threaten
ed consumption.
The great day at last dawned The ex-
cursion boat from Louisville arrived and
the carriages were busy transferring the
guests to Uncle Owens house.
| Nfaiina was witty. piquant, brilliant, and
the acknowledged attraction of the even
ing. The great drawing-room, picture gal
| lery and parlors were all brilliantly
| lighted. showing off to perfection the beau
tiful faces. gorgeous costumes and jewels
of the ladies.
1t was after II and the guests. wearied
of dancing. had stopped fer yaoment TO
gossip and rest. Some one asked Mrs.
Redgraye to sing.
Her. piano was magnificent instru-
irent, the gift of her husband. and priced
lhore all other gifts. Seating herself be-
fnre it she began the ever-sweet, primitive
melody, "My Old Kentucky Home"
which, when rendered by such voice as
'.ers. brings tears to the eyes
Owen Redgrave hung over her, drink
ng in every precious note. He longed 20
whisper in ker ear how doubly dear she
lad grown to lim, while the gentlemen
lpplauied apd TIE ladies praised. A ser
vant toricheisshisarm. .o
IF ye p!easa,@InarSter. dar am some
| men at de dOah. as wants to see YOU
TO see me-" said Uncle Owen in
amazen,ent. Who can want me at such
III hour?" :.
One of dem is John Redgraye, marster,
an lie am drunk agin."
The face Of Uncle Owen grew black as
>, thunder clputi as he made his way
through to the door where John Redgrave
stood c!ingihx stG the side of it for sup
port. His face was pale and bloated aul
t was with considerable difficulty he was
stble to Baihnce.ihimself on his unste idy
Rgs. Two men stood a little behind him.
but it was at6 dirk for Uncle Owen 20
mike them osit.s E -:H''
well. John, what do you want here at
this hour. and on this occasion?" he asked
with ill-supDressed rage.
We want herr answered John. fixing
lis bleared eyes on his uncle.
What do yDu mean. you rascal; leave
or lwill wiring your neck"
Wont do no good. Uncle Owen. we
want her, that woman you call yer wife
Serious matter!' hiecoughed John. Its
murder we want her for it ns Fs-- q
Before he could utter y another word
Glncle Owen seized him by the throat and
hurled .,ahm headlong from the porch
where he fell senseless on the ground at
the base of bust of Washington.
One of the two men who had accom-
panied John now came upon the piazza,
where the flood of light from the brilliant
chandelier i'll the hail fell upon him, and
Uncle Owen recognized the Sheriff of the
County, 4 go
Il am sorry, Mr.. Redgrave. that you
should deal so harshly with your unfor
tunate nephew, but l have a warrant for
the arrest of your wife. Now, | do not
wish TO make n scene here, or even let
your guests know of my mission, so If
you will grant me Il private interview l
will explain ALL"
Uncle Owen was almost dumb with
amnzement and horror. However. he re-
tanned sufficient of his presence of mind
and closed the door after them to prevent
intrusion.
1t so happened that Malina had just
finished her song as her husband and the
stranger entered the study. She caught a
glimpse of them and seemed to instinc-
lively feel that something WAS wrong.
With wonderful presence of mind she
urged Miss Knott, of Louisville. to sit at
the piano and play while she attended to
some duties as hostess.
Free from her guests. she slipped away
to her husbands study. and dropping on
one knee at the keyhole heard the fol
lowing
Come to arrest my wife?" demanded
Uncle Owen.
Yes. sir: ! have il warrant for her.
the strongest evidence in the world of
numbering your sister-in-law, Mrs.
Lucretia Redgrave."
IT'S Il lie.' cried Uncle Owen furi0tsly.
Its lie," but the officer went on:
Mr.. Redgraye. there is no need for q
scene here. Listen to reason. The door
to Mrs. Redgravc's chamber was locked
and the key gone; have you ever seen the
key"
1T was fcaiid aa your wife's possession.
and SO was tffe Aypodermic syringe Will
which the pbSoi was injected into the
unfortunate seonfah's arm. The doctors
had their suspicious aroused at the time
of her deathj buFsin the hope of getting
ut the truth and alarming no one they
kept quiet. Ilrhes7cvidence against you.
wife is overwhelming.
But the nDtipe," gasped Uncle Owen
Mrs. Lucr6tI Redgrave had Il paper.
the key to soIHe t,ETk secret in your wifcS