Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1906-11-01

resignation, retained the bouquet and
walked towards the house.
His lordship the bishop would have
been rather surprised if he could have
seen the bridegroom at that moment
for Mr. BARLEY Bradstone looked any
thing but happy.
He, too, had lain awake and listened
perforce to the record Of the SLOWLY
moving hours, and ali night he had
seen the defiant mochng face of the
woman called Bella, and heard the
scornful tones Of her voice.
He had promised to meet her at
four o'clock, and he lay there and
cursed himself and her, for he knew
THAT he dared not break the promise
Four O'Clock! and the wedding was to
take place at two. How should he
manage to get away from the party
land keep this appointment? For
hours he tossed to and fro, schemlng
and planning, the hooking face of the
woman dancing before him. He must
slip away somehow, if only for half IN
hour.
Now and again shudder of terror
ran through him, and he sat up and
shook as If with some horrible fear
Then he would fling himself down
'again, wiping the perspiration from
his forehead and muttering, NO, I'll
go through with it. It's too late 70
IruW haaly pnm
When his valet came to him at nine
he found his master looking, as he ex-
pressed 1t afterwards, like a man
who had been drilling all night" and
BARLEY Bradstone bore out the re-
semblance by ordering a soda.and-
brandy which he took with hot AMI
shaking hand.
Then he went downstairs and drank
cup OF coffee, and made a pretenCe
of eating some breakfast; but the face
of the woman lowered between him
and the dish the butler handed to
him, and his throat seemed dry and
parched.
After breakfast he's went into the
library, and unlocking the safe which
he had 50 delicately pointed out 30
his tOOl-Mr. Mowle-he got out a
cash-boX, and counting out two hun
dred pounds In notes placed them in
his pocketbook As he was putting
the cash-boX back he pushed some
small, heavy article from a shelf and
picking it up, saw that it was a re-
yolyer.
1t was one Of the silyer-plated toys
which nearly every man possesses, but
for all its smaIIness it was deadly and
He held 1t in his hot hand, looking
down at it absentIy for minute or
two; then he tossed it back into the
safe with a suddenness and force that
made the iron side ring again, and
shut the door with clang.
Then he packed and sent off the
bouquets, and taking up his hat
walked into the garden and stood
the groom as he rode down
the road towards the Grange.
He stood long time looking in the
direction of the village with a half,
fearful, dreading gaze, then turned
and paced about the grounds, but al
ways returned toward the gate and his
nervous watchfulness of the road; and
the face OF the woman still danced
before his eyes.
ono clock struck, and with a start
ne went back to the house. Luncheon
was laid, He made no pretence Of
eating this time, but tossed off glass
Of brandy-and-water, and going up
stairs sent for his valet
The man appeared with the Wedding
garments, and dressed his master in
the regulation blue frockcoat and Ii.
lac trousers
For once BARLEY Bradstone seemed
quite Indifferent to the effect pro,
duced by his clothes, and stared at the
glass with lack-ustre eyes.
He scarcely spoke, took the handker-
chief and his various rings and Jewell
ry from the man without word, and
when he had left the room sank into a
chair and let his head droop on his
breast, his eyes fixed with a strange
expression on the carpet.
A quarter of an hour afterwards the
valet came in again.
The carriage is at the door, sir"
he said
BARLEY ,Bradstone looked up with
start, and the valet, who hated him
as all the servants did glanced at his
white face curtously.
Shall get YOU anything before you
start, sir?' he said
Moves" was the response. Get
me glass of champagne. Bring 1t
here. And"-he hesttated a moment
and asked the butler If anyone had
been here this morning. Any man
or woman to see me- ne added,
with assumed carelessuess.