Middletown transcript., 1905-03-18
regarding Lady Verriker.

regarding Lady Verriker.
ITO what may we ascribe the pleasure
OF this-er-visit p he asked slowly,
but | had not needed the sound OF
his smooth voice to tell me that | was
face to face with the mysterious stranger.
Lady Verriker started to her feet. She
glanced wildly from one to the other,
and then covered her face with her hands.
81 can bear it no longer r she cried
despairingN ethel, lie is"
LADY Verriker's husband" the man
concluded with low bow. II regret
that | have been unable to welcome you
as your host, Miss Fothergil. The little
fact that circumstances have precluded
Lady Verriker-as she is known-from
publishing the announcement of her Sec
ond marriage must be my excuse"
There was long silence. wasstunned
and incapable Of speech, whilst Lady
Verriker hastily and mechanically gath
cred together the several piles of clothes.
"Her second marriage y gasped, and
| the words seemed to let in flood of
light upon my mind ooh, you brute Y
cried
The stranger shrugged his shoulders
and laughed; but it was not pleasant one.
''That is as it may be-" he replied
carelessly. do you generally address
new acquaintance by such pleasing en-
dearments, Miss Fothergill? If you do,
it must be a pleasure to hear you talk
can only regret that I have 10 oppor-
tunity or time at present to listen to you.
am leaving home shortly, and | have
much TO say-in confidence-to my wife"
took no notice of his words, but knelt
down beside Lady Verriker and put my
arms around her.
"Say it's not true" whispered. II
would rather believe anything than that
you have married him. 1t is lie, isn't
it?
1T is the TRUTH" she answered sadly.
"Oh, Ethel, pity met is the truth y
My bewilderment grew greater and
greater.
"Why did you do it? I exclaimed
involuntarily. "Surely you had been
miserable enough before Y
The man laughed again.
MY dear young lady, your curiosity
borders on impertinence. Lady Verriker
married me because it was the wisest
thing for her to do. l. there any need for
further particulars? May | remind you
that, after all, You are practically gnor-
ant Of Lady Verriker's domestic affairs ?"
did not answer. | was staring at him
with new and growing fear. A curious
likeness to some one whom had seen and
known seemed to be appearing and disap-
pearing in his handsome but evil face.
The lightning played and the thunder
rolled sonorously, but we three needed
them not. Suddenly an inspiration
seized me, and | raised my hand and
pointed to the man.
"You are Sergali r exclaimed, but at
that moment the room seemed to whir
around me, and was conscious that was
falling, falling, and then knew no more.
CHAPTER VIII
When | relained consciousness | was
alone in my room, lying on my bed, and
the fresh morning light was pouring in at
| -, ,,p,nrto;pad ,rindouc 7 falt ctiubtly
dizzy and confused, but the sensation soon
passed off as took my bath and dressed
My watch had stopped, 50 that | had no
| idea OF the time but | could see that it
was still early, for the mists lay under the
trees and in the hullnWS uf the park. /
tried not to think Of the events vi the past
night-they were all so horrible and
meaningless to me that | recalled them
only with shudder. But of this felt no
doubt-lhat the man whom had seen in
Lady Verriker's room was Signor Sergali
Her husband shuddered at the idea
How could she have been so foolish, SO
weak as to put herself into the power Of
such an unscrupulous man? In all my
perplexity my predominating feeling was
one of pity knew now what the strange
power was which this man had over her.
"ProbabIy she was forced into marrying
him by some threat" thought, 'and she
is afraid now lest anyone should hear Of it..
| No wonder that she looks so wrttched and
ill! And that hateful mani | wonder
how many OF the things which he told me
are true, and whether he is English or
Italian? My cheeks burned as recalled
his half-tipsy leer and his hot breath when
he had stopped me on the staircase, and |
remembered with satisfaction the blow
that had given him on that occasion.