Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1903-01-11

to 1--we IN LOnQOHsslS uSpl ~ GU " saAs11A5tSA
Gods generous gifts.
Though this unaccountable coldness
has fallen between YOU, Mary said. look
ing straight at me. you surely cannot
have doubted the strength of her ahec-
ton 2"
But Mrs Henniker's insinuation puz-
zles me- Besides. her recent movements
have been rather erratic, and almost seem
to bear out the suggestion
."That woman is utterly unscrupulous'
she cried angrily. Depend upon it that
she has some deep motive in making the
slanderous statement. On one occasion
she almost caused breach between my
self and my poor husband. Had he not
possessed the most perfect confidence in
me the consequences might have been
most serious for both of us. The out
come Of mere word, uttered half in
jest, came near running my happiness
forever did not know her true char
acter in those days..
II had no idea that her character was
SUCH" I remarked. rather surprised at
this statement. Hitherto. had regarded
her as quite a harmless person. who by
making a strenuous effort to obtain q
footing in good society often rendered
herself ridiculous in the eyes Of her
friends.
sC1ldld QUO CC41VSO AlCASCly.
shes one of the most evil-tongued wo-
men in London. Here's an Illustration.
While posing as Ethelwynn's friend. and
entertaining her beneath her roof. she
actually insinuates to you the proba bility
of secret lover! Is it fair? Is it the
action of an honest and trustworthy
woman?''
was compelled to admit that it was
not Yet was this action Of her own.
In coming to me under the present cir
cumstances, In any way more straight
forward? Had she known that I was
well aware Of the secret existence Of
her husband. she would assuredIy not
have dared to speak in the manner she
had done. Indeed, as I sat there fac
ing her, a SLIM. sweet faced. interesting
figure In her well-made mourning. could
scarcely believe 1t possible that she could
act the imposture so perfectly. Her man
ner was aawless; iler self possession mar
vellous
But the motive Of 1t all-what could
it be? The problem had been madden
ing one from the first to last.
longed to speak out my mind to
her then and there: to tell her of what
l knew and OF what l had been witness
was useless. was proceeding carefully,
watching and noting everything. deter
mined not to blunder
Had you been in my place, my reader,
what would you have done? Recollect
had witnessed scene on the river
bank that was absolutely without expla-
nation. and which surpassed all human
credence. am matter-of-fact man.
not given to exaggerate or to recount
incidents that have not occurred. put 1
confess openly and free1y that since
had walked along that path hourly de-
bated within myself whether I was
actually awake and in the full possession
of my faculties, or whether had dream
ed the whole thing. II
But 1t was no dream. Certain solid
facts convinced me of it's stern and as
founding reality. The man upon whose
body helped to make an autopsy was
actually alive.
In reply to my questions my visitor
told me that she was staying al Vernon's.
on Cork street-a small private hotel
| which the Mivarts had patronized for
many years-and that on the following
morning she intended returning again
to Neneford.
Then, after she had again urged me to
lose no time in seeing Ethelwynn. and
had imposed upon me silence as to what
| had passed between u.s. I assisted her
| into a hanson. and size drove away,
waving her black-gloved hand in fare
| well.
The interview had been a curious one.
and I could not in the least understand
| its import. Regarded In the light of
! knowledge ! had gained when down at
| Neneford 1t was, Of course, plain that
| both she and her dead" husband were
anxious to secure Ethelwynn's silence,
and believed they could effect this by In
ducing us to marry. The conspiracy was
| a deeply-laid and ingenious one. as in
deed was the. whole OF the amazing plot.
Yet. somehow, when l reflected upon 1t
on my return from the club, Izcou!d not
\ help sitting till far into the night trying
TO piece together the remarkable enigma.
A telegram from Ethelwynn had reach
ed me at the Savage at 9 o'clock, stating
! that she hau received my letter, and
was returning to town the day after to-
morrow. She had. she said. replied to me
by that nights post.
felt anxious to see her. to question
| her and to try If possible to gather
| from her some fact which would lead me
! to discern a motive in the feigned death
of Henry Courtenay. But could only
wait in patience for the explanation.
| Marys declaration that her sister pos
sessed no other lover besides myself re-
assured me. l had not believed it of her
from the first; yet it was passing strange
| that such an tnsinuation should have
| fallen from the lips of woman who
| posed as her dearest friend.
Next day Sir Bernard came to town
to see two unusual cases at the hospital.
and afterwards drove me back with him
| to Harley street. where he had an APP
po!ntment with a German Princess who
had come to London to consult him as a
specialist. AS usual. he made his lunch
/ off two ham sand witches. which he had
| brought with him from Victoria Station
refreshment room and carried in paper
bag suggested that we should eat
/ together at restaurant: but the old
man declined. declaring that If he ate
| more than his usual sand witches for lunch.
| con when In town he never had any appe-
| tfte for dinner,
So left him alone in HIS consulting.
room mnnching bread and ham, and sip.
ping at a wineglassful of dry sherry.
About half past 8. just before he return.
! GOD POISON