Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-08-03

lrIeuu huVcHeu III the Httle rusty uOOr
and knocked again without response.
And yet the cottage was not deserted,
for a low sound came to our ears-a
kind Of drone Of misery and despair
which was indescribably melancholy.
Holmes paused irresolute, and then he
glanced back at the road which he had
just traverscd. A brougham was COM
Ing down 1t. and there could be no mis-
taking those gray horses.
by Jove. the doctor is coming back!'
cried Holmes. THAT settles 1t. We are
bound to see what 1t means before he
comes"
He opened the door. and we stepped
into the hall. The droning sound swell.
I'd louder upon our ears until 1t became
one long. deep wnil Of distress. 1t came
from upstairs. Holmes dnrted up, and
I followed him. He pushed open a
half closed door. and we both stood ap-
palled at the sight before III.
A woman, young and beautiful, was
lying dead upon the bed. Her calm.
pale face, with dim. wide opened blue
eyes. looked upward from amid great
tangle of golden hair. At the foot of
the bed. half sitting, half kneeling, his
face buried In the clothes, was a young
man, whose frame was racked by his
sobs. So absorbed was he by his bitter
grief that he never looked up until
Holmes hand was on his shoulder.
Are you Mr.. Godfrey Stauntonw
Yes. yes. l am--but you are too late
She Is dead"
The man was so lazcd that he could
not be made to understand that We
were anything but doctors who had
been sent to his assistance. Holmes
was endeavoring to utter a few words
Of consolation and to explain the alarm
which had been caused to his friends
by his sudden disappearance whcr
there was step upon the stairs, and
there was the heavy. stern. question
ing face of Or. Armstrong ut the door
$50, gentlemen Said he, "you have
attained your end and have certainly
chosen particularly delicate moment
for your intrusion. would not braw
in the presence Of death, but I can as
sure you that IL were n younger man
your monstrous conduct would moi
pass with impunity."
Excuse me, Or. Armstrong. I think
We are little at cross purposes said
my friend, with dignity. IF you
could step downstairs with us we may
zach be able to give some light to the
,ther upon this miserable affair"
A minute later the grim doctor and
ourselves were in the sitting room be
Ow.
"Well. sir;" said he.
IL wish you to understand. in Tho
lrst place. that am not employed b!
.ord Mount-James and that my sym
,athies in this matter are entirely
lgainst that nobleman. When MAJ
S lost it is my duty to ascertain hi.
.ate, but having done so the matter
ends SO far as l am concerned. and 81
ong ms there is nothing criminal l an
much more anxious to hush up privat,
scandals than to give them publicity
f, as imagine, there is no breach OF
he law in this matter. you can abso
lutely depend upon my discretion and
my cooperation in keeping the facts
out of the papers,"
DIR. Armstrong took a quick step for
ward and wrung Holmes by the hand
"You are a good fellow" said he. 81
had misjudged you. l thank heaven
that my conjunction at leaving pool
Stanton all alone in this plight caused
me to turn my carriage back and so tt
n,nl,o vOl,r nCuno nj onro KnOVtpO n
much as you do, the situation is very
easily explained. A year ago Godfrey
Stanton lodged in London for II tim,
and became passonately attached t.
his landlady's daughter, whom he mar
ried. She was as good as she was
beautiful and as intelligent as she was
good. No man need be ashamed Of
to this Grabbed old nobleman, and Il
was quite certain that the news Of his
marriage would have been the end OF
his inheritance. l knew the lad well
and loved him for his many excellent
qualities. We did our very best t.
keep the thing from every one. fol
when once such n whisper gets about Il
10 AOI iOis OcIOlc CNcit Oue Has IeuIN
It. Thanks to this lonely cottage ant
his own discretion, Godfrey has up t.
low succeeded. Their secret wa:
,nown to no one save to me and Il
me excellent servant, who has at pres
mt gone for assistance to 1'rumping
.on. But at last there came a terrible
blow In the shape of dangerous Hines;
20 his wife. 1t was consumption OF thu
most virulent kind. The poor boy was
half crazed with grief, and yet he hat
20 go to London to play this match. fol
1e could not get out OF it without OK
plantations which would expose his sc
cret. tried to cheer him mp by wire
and he sent me one in reply implorinl
me to do all could. This was the tele
gram which you appear in some mex
plicable way to have seen. did no
tell him how urgent the danger was
for l knew that he could do no goo(
here, but l sent the truth to the girl.
father. and he very injudiciously com
municated it to Godfrey. The resul
was that he came straight away in
state bordering on frenzy and has re
manned in the same state. knceling a
the end of her bed. until this mornin,
death put an end to her sufferngs
That Is all, Mr.. Holmes, and l an
sure that can rely upon your discre
tnv md <kn< 80 e.so