Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1903-03-28
Tile 15aldL 1@L@0@5j''
- 60 >

wife and husband were surprised. 1t
was the passionate act of a single in
slant, and as quickly regretted. LORD
Castlereagh was ashamed of the man
ner in which he had given way to his
maddening jealousy. 1t was the hand
of ruffian which had been lifted
against the wife-it was the hand of
the gentleman that now opened and
dropped that tiny instrument upon the
floor
You struck mel" said his wife.
Il did," he replied, with half-avert-
ed face.
'Good-day. my lord!" she said, leav-
ing the room.
He bowed his head thoughtfully, but
did not answer her, and stood there un-
til a servant came TO announce his car
riage. which had been ordered some
time before.
Lord Castlereagh drove at once to
the Parliament house, and, as usual,
took his seat, though several of his
friends observed that he seemed quite
absorbed and absent in manner. He
did not appear to notice what was GO
ing on about him, and failed to respond
even to remarks which were addressed
to him by passing friends. A violent
invective launched against the minis
try by one of the opposite members,
found him, who was usually so prompt
and fiery in debate, now silent and mo-
tionless.
what is the matter?" asked one.
"His lordship is I'LL" said another.
"He would otherwise never let such
rsuarls by the opposition pass unan-
swered,' said a third.
"He must be ill.," said the first
speaker.
He sat thus absorbed all through the
| debate, and made no sign of having
heard a word of it. From the Parlia-
ment house he went to the royal levee,
and there the strangeness of his con-
duct was also the cause of general re
mark. the cause being attributed to i'll
| health. His wife, who, under ordi-
nary circumstances would have met
him there, did not appear on this par
| ticular occasion, which was also the
cause of particular remark. as LADY
! Castlerea 9Th was great favorite among
| the courtiers, and the first of the
royal guests, when present. Her bril-
| liant and elegant person was ever the
center of an admiring circle.
Her absence. therefore. taken in con-
nection with the singular taciturnity
of his lordship, gave rise to some Cos
| sip, in which there was just possible
| suggestion of the truth, though not in
its worst form. 4 possible fit of jeal-
! ousy was surmised, but it's serious char
| acter was OWNED by no one nor would
anyone have dared TO address him
| upon so delicate matter.
| Lord Castlereagh did not remain
long among the gay throng. Every note
of music and every echo of gay
laughter Jared upon his sensitive
| nerves with terrible discord. Excus-
ing himself in due form to The hostess
of the occasion, he took al carly leave
of the assembly halls.
Returning home, he sought the re-
tirement of his private room, where his
! attendants heard him walking restless
ly for an hour or more, until finally the
door was locked on the inside signal
which the servants construed to be a
dismissal from further attendance.
Here the old lord was found on the
following morning, deadl
His reason had become disordered by
the bitter sense of remorse for his I'M
gentlemanly action toward his wife.
That blow, though it fell but lightly
upon her person, was n fatal one TO
him. He had taken penknife. opened
his iugular vein, and bled TO death. A
sad termination of an eventful life
n " Weekly