Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1906-12-29
CHAPTER V.


CHAPTER V.
The next day seemed interminable to
Sadie. She was anxious and restless all
day, longing and yet dreading to hear
the result oi the inquest.
In an exemplary, well conducted little
town like Sunniford, where crime was al
most unknown, it can be easily imagined
what a sensation the tragic event made.
1t was the universal topic; high and low,
rlch and poor, discussed and speculated
upon 1t with intense interest; and the
TACT that the representative of one of the
Oldest county families was implicated.
OF course, greatly intensified the excite.
ment. The late baronet had been known
to every one; he had been a prominent
figure on the magistrates bench and at
every political meeting. had subscribed
literally TO the charities and taken n
great interest in all local matters; and
although he had the reputation of being
somewhat harsh and overbearing he had
oeen liked and respected by most people
very little was known of the present
Sir Felix and that little was not alto
gether to his credit. 1t was rumored that
he had lived a very "fas" life at Oxford:
mat he had got not only into financial
difficulties but into others of a less ex-
cusable nature; and that in consequence
! thefe mad been stormy scenes between
father and son which had resulted in a
/ permanent enlargement Both men
| were hard and unforgiving; neither. even
/ If he had desired it, would make the first
advance toward a reconciliation, so the
! quarrel was never made up.
The old baronet died, and his son sue
ceeded to the estates and title; but he
showed no inclination to return and as
sumo his proper place in the county. He
/ placed a caretaker in the grange. and.
! leaving the affairs in the hands of his
agent, continued his wandering life. And
now the news that he was secretly mar
| ried-that he had returned to England
and had actually been in Sunniford on
the night Of the tragedy. that he was
even suspected of being implicated in il
aroused the widest excitement in the
quiet little town.
The twilight was falling and the short
winter afternoon was waning into even.
| ing before the well known step came
down the street and Geoff's loud knock
sounded through the doctors house. Mrs
Fenwick and the three girls were in The
drawing room impatiently awaiting
Geoffrey's arrival, and the news he haC
promised to bring; Sadie, sitting little
apart from the others, was working
feverishly at a dainty piece of embroid
cry which was intended to ornament
Geoffrey's dinner table some day. All tn,
afternoon she had been anxiously expect
ing his knock; yet when at last it sound
ed through the house she gave @ suddeI
start and her heart throbbed violently.
Here's Geoff!" well, Geoff, wha'
news?" Julia and Letitia cried eagerly a!
! young Cheviot entered
He laughed.
Give me time to breathe! Don't al
| speak at once!" he said, with an air O.
/ good humored Importance Then, aftel
shaking hands with Mrs. Fenwick, h
crossed the room to the window seat
where his betrothed was bending over hel
work, and patted her shoulder caress
ingly.
Headache better, dear?" he asked.
! ooh quite!" Sadie forced a smile a,
she put her hot, shaking fingers into his
cool hand Eve are dying to hear yom
news, GeofT? Go ont"
You mean about the inquest, | sup.
poser" he said, as if it were possible foI
/ any one in Sunniford to mean anything
! else that day.
What else should I mean? What is
/ the verdict ?"
There is none at present The in
quest is adjourned until Thursday at the
request of Mr.. Humphrey, who is acting
! for Sir Felix"
But why, Godfrey"
| TO give them time to produce a wit
ness whose evidence will clearly estab-
! lish Sir Felix's innocence" Godfrey an
swered, $50 Humphrey asserts, at all
events. | hope they may be able to do
| so; but in my opinion and that of many
| others, Sir FeuN's account of his pro-
ceedings that night sounds rather i'm
probable, and will certainly be difficult to
| substantiate'
rs it true that the poor girl was his
wife?''
Quite true-he admitted that at once
/ quite frankly. They were married ten or
/ twelve years ago, just after he lsft Ok
! ford. She was a barlnaid or cashier, or
something of that kind, at hotel there.
| Sir Felix fell III love with her and mar
red her; they lived together very happi-
! " for three or four years, then she left
/ him and went of with an American,
/ whose acquaintance they had made at
Monte Carlo Sir Felix. partly, no doubt,
/ to escape the open scandal, and partly
because he had no desire to marry again,
/ did not take any steps TO secure his free
dom. He went abroad and for many
wears heard and saw nothing Of his wife
in fact, he did not know whether she
was living or dead.
He returued to England a few months
ago. and last week received a letter from
/ his wife, asking for pecuniary assistance,
/ She professed repentance for the past and
assured him that she was living a strict
" virtuous life. but that her health was
delicate and her work too much for her
strength When he answered the letter
he announced r. her his intention of com
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