The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1906-04-06
for The Term of His Natural Life

BY MARCUS CLARKE

SAoeSf u support, ne soon reduced hi
sole aim in life to the accumulation o
money. shrewd man of business,
thorough master of his trade, troubled
with no scruples Of honor or of delicacy
ne made money rapidly, and saved i
when made. He married his sister Il
wealthy Bristol merchant, one An
thony Frere, and married himself tc
Ellinor Wade, the eldest daughter Of
Col Wotton Wade, an uncle by mar.
rage of remarkable scamp and dandy
Lord Bellasis. At that time, what with
lucky speculations in the funds, and the
legitimate profit On his government con-
tracts, he had accumulated princely
fortune, and could afford to live in
princely magniicence. But the burden
OF parsimony and avarice which he had
voluntarily taken upon him was not to
be shaken off, and the only show he
made of his wealth was by purchasing
on his knighthood, the rambling but
comfortable house at Hampstead, and
ostensibly retiring from active business,
bis retirement was not a happy one.
he was stern father and a severe
master His servants hated and his wife
feared him. His only son Richard an
peared to inherit his fathers strong will
ana imperious manner. Under careful
supervision and a just rule he might
nave been guided to good; but left to
MS own devices outside, and CALLED by
ths iron yoke of parental discipline at
nome, ne became reckless and prodigal.
Inc mother-poor, timid Ellinor, who
nad been rudely torn from the love of
her youth, her cousin, Lord Bellasis-
tried TO restrain him, but the headstrong
boy, though owning for his mother that
strong love which is often a part of such
violent natures, proved intractable, and,
a1ter three years of parental feud, he
went of to the continent, to pursue there
the same reckless life which in London
had offended Sir Richard. Sir Richard.
upon this, sent for Maurice Frere, his
sisters son. and bought for him a COM
mission In a marching regiment. limiting
darkly OF special favors to come. His |
open preference for his nephew had gall |
ed to the quick his sensitive wife. who |
contrasted with some heart-pangs the |
saiant prodigality of her father with
me niggardly economy of her husband.
oetween the houses of Devine and long
iescended Wotton Wade there had long
been little love. Sir Richard felt that
ne colonel despised him for a CITY
Knight, and had heard that Lord Bella
us and his friends had often lamented
ne hard fortune which gave the beauty,
tilinor, to so sordid a bridegroom.
Lord Bellasis visited at Sir Richards
louise during the first year of his cons
MS marriage; but upon the birth of the
on he affected a quarrel with the city
might, and cursing him for a miserly
urmudgeon. departed, more desperate
at war with fortune than ever. for
is old haunts. He was now a hard
ned, hopeless old man of sixty, bat
cred In health and ruined in pocket.
ut who, BY dint Of stays, hair-dye and
ourage, yet faced the world with I'M
aunted front. OF the possessions of the
ouse OF Wotton Wade, this old manor,
mberless and bare, was all that remain
4, and Its master rarely visited it,
On the evening of the Sd of Nav
ord Bellasis had been attending
lgeon match at Hornsey Wood, and
aving resisted the opportunities of his
Mr.. Lionel Crofton, who
anted him to go on into town. he had
vowed his intention of striking across
ampstead to Belsize. II have an an 1
IMMINENT at the fir-trees on the Heath" G
, said, with a parson." 8
"A parsonv' a
well, he Is only just ordained. f
ct MIN last year at Bath, on his vaca- d
IN from cambridge, and he was good
ough to lose some money to me-" -
And now waits to pay 1t out of his ?,
st curacy. l wish your lordship joy q
tn all my soul. Then we must push p
, for 1t grows late"
Thanks, my dear sir, for the wa, Is
t l must go alone" said Lord Bella n
|, dryly. Tomorrow yeu can settle "
tn me for the sitting Of last week. =,
ark! the clock Is striking nine. Good -
CHIT" b
At half-past nine Richard Devine omit h
his mothers house to begin the new a
he had chosen, and so, drawn TO- II
ther by that strange fate of circum- I'll
lnces which creates events, those two 4,
each other. =.
AS the young man gained the middle -
the path which led to the Heath IL
met Sir Richard returning from the
lage. 1t was no part of his plan TO Is
TX an interview, and he would have e1
INK past IN the gloom, but seeing him W
rs alone returning to desolatad n,
me, the prodigal was tempted to ut h,
some words of farewell and of re- ~
1t. To his establishment however 81
; Richard passed swiftly on, with bodv ID
Mt forward as one in the act of fall. pl
!, and with eyes unconscious of sur m
indings, staring straight into the dis tie
Ice. Half terarified at this strange n,
pearance. Richard hurried onward. N
at turn of the path stumbled upon T.,
nething which horribly accounted for -. -.
curious action of the old man. A III
Id body lay upon its face in the In
ather, beside it was a heavy riding
Up stained at the handle with blood. 81
an open pocketbook. Richard took til
the book and read, in gold letters II,
the cover, lord Bellasis." =.
The unhappy young man knelt down =.
'ide the body and raised it. The skull ue
been fractured by a blow, but II re
med that life yet fingered. Over ul
ne with horror-for he could not w
lbt but that his mothers worst fears va
been realized--Richard knelt there ne
ding the man In his arms, waiting n,
II the murderer should have placed =.
lself beyond pursuit. II seemed an w