St. Tammany farmer., 1903-04-11

was a fatal one.
"You say there has been no ono
here?" he reiterated, with his face
flushed in anger.
mo one, my lord"
"It is false!" he replied.
"My lord!"
II say it is false, us false as your
own dark heart" he replied, hoarsely.
"My lord!" she could only say,
trembling.
"What is that?" he asked, as he
pointed to ridingwhip lying :lpon
the couch.
"A-a-" she hesitated.
Enough; you need not add to the
lie," he said, bitterly, as he took up
the whip and examined it.
The lady stood with downcast eyes.
do you know these arms?" he
asked, pointing to the golden orna.
ment on the handle.
eyes"
"Whose house do they representa-"
Nhe continued, though he knew very
well.
"That of the duke of Cambridge"
It was enough. His fury knew no
bounds. He seized the riding-whip and
gave his wife blow across her shoul-
der with it; here his anger halted. The
blow was really nothing in it's physical
effects, but it was fatal morally. Both
wife and husband were surprised. It
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.
II 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 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. tie
did not appear to notice what was 60
ing on about him, and failed to respond
soh o1H
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 ILL" said another.
"He would otherwise never let such
remarks by the opposition pass unan-
swered," said third.
"He must be ill., said the first
speaker.
He sat thus absorbed all through the
debate, and made no sign OF having
heard word Of it. From the Parha-
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
Castlereagh 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 gos-
sip. in which there was Just possible
suggetion of the truth. though not in
its worst form. A possible fit OF jeal-
ousy was surmised, but its serious char
acter was OWNED by no one, nor would
anyone have dared to address him
upon so delicate matte:.
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 diseord. Excus.
ing himself in due form to the hostess
of the occasion. he took an early 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
dismissal from further attendance.
Here the old lord was found on the
following morning, dead!
His reason had become disordered by
the bitter sense of remorse for his un.
gentlemanly action toward his wife.
That blow. though it fell but lightly
upon her person, was a fatal Ole to
him. He had taken penknife. opened
his jugular vein, and bled to death. A
sad termination of an eventful life
n. Y. Weekly.