Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1905-06-07


looking its loveliest on this mel
low October afternoon as the big
p. and o. steamer slowly glided from
her moorings amidst the crowd Of ship
ping that filed the harbor, from the
0mart British man-of-war and typical
Chinese junk to the quaint native SAM
pan, which scudded along under it's
queer little sail, leaning over until 1t
looked in danger Of capsizing altogeth-
or.
There were not many passengers on
board the Parramatta, for this was not
a time Of the year that many people
travelled from the east homeward. But
amidst the stir and hustle attendant
on the departure of big mail steamer,
and the settling down Of newly joined
passengers, two people-both passen-
gers-formed a tranquil contrast.
They were man and a woman,
strangers to each other, but both were
Eeaning over the rail, not many PAGES
apart, engaged in the same occupation
that OF contemplating the rapidly
Teceding shore. The setting sun was
gliding the peak with golden glory
which extended to the whole Of the
long and rugged range Of hills that
comprise tho island Of Hongkong.
Presently the last Of the white build
Sngs, 80 thickly dotting the sides and
top OF the peak, disappeared. Then
the plague hospital and surrounding
cemetery, in its lonely isolation, slowly
vanished round projecting hill, then
the last Of the shipping, and the Par
Tamatta was going swiftly through the
deep blue water, full speed ahead for
Singapore.
Now and again a junk would creep
past, sailing lazily under its quaint
matting sail. The sky was gloriously
blue and fecked with fluffy white
clouds here and there, the air mild and
warm.
Major Walton, although his eyes
rested on the gold tipped hills they
were SO swiftly passing, saw them not
ct all. His thoughts were all inward,
TOO much occupied with bitter past to
take much heed of the surroundings of
the present. 1t was the old, old story
his mind was dwelling on. That Of
woman's frailty and mans villainy,
and although the events which had
well nigh wrecked his life had all hap
Dened more than year ago now, they
were brought but too freshly to his
mind by this journey home. Home!
And what a homecomingw he said to
himself bitterly.
The story was one perhaps only
too common. He and his wife, the lat
ter beautiful, spoiled, vain, had been
staying in the south Of France, and
had gone on to Monte Carlo for week
or two. Here they had met Sir Lionel
Hippesley, handsome, shallow young
Mnglishman, who was doing his best,
without success, to ruin himself at the
cables although the money he so freely
GQuandered was not his, but his young
wife's, and, as rumor averred, he had
married the pretty Scotch heiress only
40r her fortune.
He was staying at Monte Carlo very
much en- garcon, his wife being Ill at
home and unable to travel. He and
the Waltons became acquainted, and
ne appeared much struck by Mrs. Wal
toms beauty, while she was both pleas
ed and fattered by his admiration and
attentions, and her husband, glad that
she should be amused, thought or sus-
Qected no wrong. Under Hippesley's
guidance, Mrs. Walton became an ar
dent gambler, and good many bank
notes futtered away; but Walton was
a rich man. and could afford to In
dulge her every whim.
However, the wretched woman was
losing more than her money, for her
heart--which had never been her hus-
bands, his money being his greatest
attraction in her eyes-was fast going
away from her keeping into that of the
Sood-looking, empty headed young bar
onet.
Then had come the war In South
Africa, and Waltons regiment was
among the first ordered to the front,
and he departed, leaving his wife more
or less her own mistress and with the
command Of plenty Of money.
During her husbands absence she
again met Sir Lionel Hippesley, this
time at home, and he more than ever
pred By her excessive PssgH Rsgsuad-