Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1908-07-23


Words came family from his lips
words that would not have been I'M
derstood by any one in that room if
they had not been heard frequently
before.
ad-killed-never meant it, Tom
its murder-temptation much
for e-impulse-never meant to
murder you, Tom-never, Tom, never
coming, Tom, coming, COM
Then something passed over Sir
Johns face-something indescribable,
and the lips drew wide apart
DR.. Flint, standing close beside, him,
made a sign. Sir John was dead, and
brain as well as body were at rest at
last.
Cali is over" said the surgeon, turn
ing to Maxwell Sisterson, and he
Slipped out Of the room. Christabel
followed him, and the Sistersons were
left alone with their dead.
Four weeks had elapsed since the
motor-car accident, and Sir Johns
death had been regarded from the
first as inevitable; the expected end
came hardly as a shock to any mem
Der of the family, and, indeed, their
feeling was rather one of relief. Even
Mary bore the news with calmness;
she could not find it in her heart to
wish that he was alive. She was the
first to speak.
Il am glad he is at peace" she said,
in a low voice.
Lady Sisterson turned a stony gaze
from the face of her husband to that
of her step-daughter, but said nothing.
YES" said Maxwell, che is at
peace" and he looked at his mother
strangely-not as one who would Of
fer words of comfort, but rather as if
he were giving her cue. AS things
we're, was it not best that Sir John
he did not know all the bitterness of
her soul
Lady Sisterson could not forgive
the dead man. Her thoughts had
gone back to the time when he mar
ried her; to the time when he was
rich and she was poor, and pleased
enough to have him; but she had
never dreamed that he was murder
er and thief He was dead, and it
was we'll that he was dead; but she
could not forgive him. So she uttered
not sound.
MAXWELL" 1t was Mary who spoke.
you told me to-day that you had de
termined to make restitution for the
wrong father did the Forbes. Will
you not repeat it here and now?"
How sentimental and even melo-
dramatic." said Maxwell, inwardly.
Aloud he said, Il told you | should,
Mary, and [ am not in the habit of
going back on my word" Which was
as it might be.
"You will make restitution to the
Forbes, MAXWELL" asked Lady Sister
son, in chilling tones. rs it neces-
sary? And how do you propose to do
it without compromising us-and your
father?"
Restitution is not necessary, but it
may be expedient," replied Maxwell,
land l dare say some way can be
found of managing the business with
out compromising US. 1t is to quiet
Mary's scrupIes," he explained.
"Mary's scruples!" exclaimed Lady
Sisterson.
Yes; and also to keep Nurse
Joyce's tongue from wagging," he
made haste to say.
Il see," said Lady Sisterson, and
with a bitter sigh she left the cham
Der of death.
Mary" said Maxwell, Il have Civ
en- you that promise, though it goes
much against the grain. Still, no mat
ter But, now that father is dead,
don't you think that you ought to give
me the packet of papers that is in
Coutts' bank? Surely l am the prop
er person to have it?"
Father did not think So" said
Mary, drawing away from him. 81
must obey his Instructions
and what were they, pray?"
II cannot tell you"
ooh, indeed! You mean that you
will not" said Maxwell, with an ugly
look Il suppose you won't tell me,
either, what the packet contains?" he
asked.
81 don't myself know what it does
contain" answered Mary.
rs that true, I wonder?"
Maxwell! How can you say such
a thing when our father is lying dead
before our eyes? 1t seems to me that
he knew you much better than | did.
You are perfectly hateful!"
ooh, all right" said Maxwell, and he
left her.
AS he went out Christabel entered
and with gentle force took Mary away.
You are taking it much better than
l thought you would said Christabel
to Mary.
There was no hope, you see, my
DEAR" Mary replied, 'and is it not as
well?" she added, somewhat vaguely,
but Christabel understood. But l
feel SO weary!"
You can rest in my room," sug-
gested Christabel.
II have so much to say to you that
l feel must be said to you at once"
began Mary, speaking very low, when
the two women were seated in her
sitting room. "This has become a
terrible house, and l must get away
from it Immediately after the funeral.
Fancy spy, detective, being in the
house!"