Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1904-03-24
CHAPTER XXX.
Death spares nothing. II takes
The best and fairest first"

sarcasms her cruel singing words, her
never.ending persecution of young
and helpless girl, when her eyes fell
on Lord Vivian's tortured face, and
she read the telegram he held in his
hand? A fash Of triumph lighted up
her dark eyesl She even laughed TO
herself that the fair, gentle, young
wife, who had been her rival, had
taken this dangerous step over and
over again Lord Vivian read the letter;
over and over again he read the sad
plaintive words that were to haunt him
until he died
II was Mrs. Selwyns pale face that
reused him, and she was asking:
What dishonor had fallen in their
house?'
I'VE are all 10 blame!" he said, bit.
terly. I'VE have none of lis been az
kind az we should have been. Oh
mother. pray lleayenI may find her
safe!"
He was not long In starting for Sedl
The train left Florence at six, 1t was
now after Ave. All the way there he
held the, letter In his hands; It was all
that remained to him Of his wife
Violante, BY Mrs Selwyns desire,
Nicoli went with him. He was not
In u III state, she thought, to travel
alone.
so the morning after the lete the
giver Of II, the brilliant host~-Who
only few hours since had seemed at
the very pinnacle of happiness and
prosperity white, drawn face
and an aching heart, left the Sunny
city" IN search OF his wife. The day
was bright--he saw nothing of It's
brightness: the train was an express
that went nj almost frightful speed,
yet II seemed to him that II only crawl.
ed, How was he TO live until Sed
was reached ?--how was he to bear the
cruel suspense the agony of waiting?
over and over again the words OF the
telegram rang In his ears. II was
well for him the Journey was not long
Suspense would have killed him had IL
continued
He had been longing for the train to
arrive, and yet when II did 50, when he
heard Sedi called ont by The loud
voiced when the speed slack
ened and the engine stopped-he would
fain have gone on uncertainty then
seemed better to him than what heI
might hear and see.
II was n small station. prettily built
and gay with flowers, As he left the
carriage, Lord Vivian saw a group Of
people gathered ON the platform: there
was n hushed solemn silence over
them only broken every now and
then, by the shrill cry Of n woman
who recognized believed one. crushed
and dead Two gentlemen advanced
to meet Lord Vivian. One was D.
Shcene, the other SIgnor di Luna, who
had waited for him
The English doctor spoke first.
y believe YOU are Lord Selwyn, he
said "Of course. YOU have received |
my telegram"
How IL she-my wife? Let me see
her al once was the reply.
Then spoke Signor di Luna.
Not this moment, Lord Vivian; you
must wait"
Wait, al least n short time" said
pr Shccne, 1T was a terrible acct |
dent"
"lf ! wait | shall die" said Lord
Vivian calmly. u can bear nv more;
tell me, AT least, how she Is"
And the two men looked AZ each
either, neither daring 10 speak,
How came Lady Solwyn in the
train alonc?" said DR., Sheone. "Shc
was quite alone, apparently without
either servant or friend; how did II
happen?"
ut was n mistake" he cried; zone
that cannot cxplain--a cruel mistake
did not even know that she had left
the house. oh, LET me see her, DO
not keep me talking here: am half
mad with sorrow, Is she much hurt
Is she injured? Can she be taken
homer"
They looked nj each other again
the two who knew the fatal truth. each
dreading To- speak, The man before
them, with his wistful, pleading face,
saw that look, and long low moan
came from his lips,
Not that" he cried. "Oh. Heavens
anything but that She Il not dcad?"
No denial such ms he thirstod to
hear came from them; the solemn OK.
preston Of each face deepened lord
Vivian grasped DR. Sheone's arm.
DO you see that | am going mad?"
hehissed, Tel me the truth"
you have spoken II. my lord"
was the reply; you have said it.
Heaven help YOU to bear It. She is
dead"
Dead" he moaned at last. MY
wife-Violante-it cannot bel"
Heaven gives, and Heaven takes
away, said the solemn voice of the
English doctor.
But he looked al him with dim