The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1908-03-12

he only patted the hand he held gent
~. and led her to the sofa,
SIT down" he 3A,1 quietly.
you don look fit tor much yet
The room was full of lc vely things
evidences of wealth were on every
side. Many photographs of Arthur
stood about in silver frames. and in
a heart-shaped one on the name
piece. was the picture of litt.o
baby. 1t caught the doctors eye.
and he crossed the room 20 look.
1T must have been q great p.oy
to you to lose this little chap" is
said slowly at last.
His eyes were fixed on her face.
but she did not look up.
II was glad" The answer
came IN hoarse wcisper, and Sir
Marcus put down the portrait very
gently.
Mary. my child. knew you when
you were little girl, before your
parents died. Can you not trust ma
with this secret trouble that Is wes'-
ing away your life?"
She made no reply, only sat CLASP
ing and unclaspins her slender
hands. He turned away to the win
dow with sigh, and stood look.
ing down the wide drive. He wou
not try to force a confidence 3hs
was unwilling to give
Where is your husband this
morning?" he asked after a pause.
The question was in his usual quiet
tones.
Mary looked at him as he stood
with his back to her. then rose, ami
crossing the room. slipped her hand
through his arm.
He went out for =. ride just pc
fore You came, on new bicycle he
bought the other day." she said
I'm sorry | couldn't tell you any
thing just now, Sir Marcus. | love
my husband and he is all | have In
the world to love me. II | told you
what you wished to know. you
could do nothing to alter it,
His arm pressed more closely on
her hand.
Perhaps | have vague idea.
Mary"
She looked at him with wild eyes,
like one who dreaded 20 nave tho
secret fears of months confirmed.
What do you mean? she gasped
Il only heard this morning. lie
answered quietly. His grandfath-
er was insa-" The words died
away unfinished on his lips as his
glance rested on little group of
| men coming slowly up the drive,
close to the house. They were ,ar-
rying something that looked like z
gate. and a still figure lay upon it,
covered with rough piece of sack
Ing.
color of ashes, but supernaturally
calm.
1T is Arthur" she said in a quee
toneless voice. DO you see? II,
is dead!"
The men bore their gruesome bur-
den into the wide nall and laid II
down. Save for the blood that soak
ed his fair hair near the base of the
skull Arthur might have been sleep
ing. Sir Marcus saw at glance
that death had been instantaneous,
and, spreading a sheet that some
one had fetched over the quiet form,
he gently drew Mary away. She
was still calm. with an unnatural
composure.
ASK if any one saw the-the ac-
cident," she said to him. and bring
the nan to my room"
She went slowly across the hall.
amid subdued murmer Of sympa-
thy. One man. who looked like d
groom, stepped forward in response
to Sir Marcus's inquiry. and follow
ed him to the boudoir. Mary 7s.s
standing In front of one of Aruthur's
portraits. She turned as the men
-ntered.
will you tell me wnat happen
ed to my husband?" she said quietly
to the man who stood twisting his
cap in his hands.
1T was nigh the bottom Of the
big hill on the road to Ashley, my
! lady, he began hegitatingly. "Td
been to one of the cottages. and |
zee his lordship comm down the
| road at great pace, swervin to
this side and the other. and shoutin'
| at something to get out OF the way.
He fair scared. he were that wild
| and then all Of moment, the ma
| chine seemed to catch something and
! flung him right on the stones that's
| lyin beside the fence down there. |
went to i'm my lady. l done all |
| could but | knew it weren't any
| use.''
Mary's face was set and white still.
"What was 1t that i } wanted to get
out of the way" she asked. The
man hesitated and looked puzzled.
| ct Thought IT was a dog at first