Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1910-08-23

tickets for Paris. Mrs Fenton's maid
who accompanied her, and who return
ed to Dover by the next boat. states
that her mistress could have had no
motive for committing suicide, and 1t is
believed that the accident was solely
due to the rolling of the vessel and the
somewhat dangerous attitude in which
the deceased had placed herself"
Fred had to read this bald and I'M
compromising statement of facts three
times over before he could believe in
It's reality. Even when the evidence of
his senses would nc longer allow him
to doubt that Mrs. Fenton was dead. he
FELT more stunned and bewildered than
sorry, and could think of nothing better
than 20 hurry off and confer with Mr.
Breffic. Lawyers are not apt to be
stunned or bewildered by any episode.
however dramatic.
Nevertheless. Mr.. Breffit, whom Fred
presently encountered upon the steps
OF the club, was both.
Good heavensi" he exclaimed, what
dreadful thing. OF course you have
heard what has happened. Poor soul!
When I saw her yesterday I had no
conception that matters were so seri-
ous."
You think, then" said Fred. and
did not conclude his sentence.
Il don't know what to think; I'm
afraid it looks like it. But then what
could he her reason? Perhaps you
know more than l do?"
Come home with me, and I'll tell
you all i know" answered Fred: I'VE
can't talk here"
The lawyer was much astonished
when he heard what Fred had to say,
and no doubt the knowledge that he
had been completely duped would also
have made him very angry but for tho
tragic fate which had overtaken the
criminal.
few days later poor Mrs. Fenton's
body was washed ashore near Dover,
and in the course of the inquiry which
necessa rily followed Fred was compell-
ed to make statements which he would
far rather have kept to himself. The
whole affair excited great deal of
public interest and curiosity, and for a
day or two the newspapers were full Of
il. However, the coroner's jury decid-
ed, quite properly, that the evidence
did not warrant them in assuming that
the deceased had Intentionally put an
end to her existence, and verdict Of
Accidental death was therefore re-
turned. The seaman who had witness
ed the occurrence deposed upon oath
that in his opinion the rolling OF ves-
sci might possibly precipitate passen-
ger over bulwarks of almost any height,
and 1t is not for landsmen to set up
their private opinion against that Of
experts.
Fred Musgrave had his private opin-
ion; but since he was not asked for it.
he did not give it. The death of The
woman who, if she had lived a few
weeks longer, would have been his wife,
was a great shock to him, and the man
ner of 1t was more shocking STILL He
had not, 1t is true, been in love with
her, and of late he had known very
well that life as her husband must he
more or less miserable to him; yet he
had been fond of her. and he bitterly
regretted that she had not had the
courage to confess all to him. One may
manage to forgive a pickpocket, espe-
cially after restitution has been made
but it is less easy to forgive woman
who has caused you to desert your true
love and the motives of your desertion
mercenary.
Nevertheless, Mrs. Fenton's foresight
had not been at fault in any particular.
For some months after her death Fred
and Susie did not meet but they met
at last, and then what had been quite
sure to happen did happen.
Il never believed that you wanted to
marry Mrs. Fenton for the sake of her
money" Susie declared: Il told you In
Paris that / didn't believe it. l thought
you really cared for her, and-and
don't know that don't think so still"
Il cared for her." Fred returned, "just
about as much as you cared for
Claughton."
We'll, that was a great deal"
Exactly; that was great deal. but
not quite enough. OF course you are
entitled to trample upon be, because
you refused Claughton; but how was
to tell you that you meant to refuse
him. after leading him on as you did?"
And now Susie made an avowal
which proves that. contrary to the gen.
eral belief, there are women who can
be magnanimous upon occasion. She
confessed that she had fully Intended
to marry Captain Claughton. Fred's
conduct had convinced her that he
cared nothing for her. and she had
thought that she ought, If she could. to
crafty a man who did care for her and
at the same time to crafty her father
and step mother. She was very sorry
| for poor Captain Claughton, she added.
'Oh. he'll be all right" said Fred.
with easy optimism. Il don't want to
breathe a word against him; but as for
| supposing that Claughton had it in him
to love you as l do-well, really that
is supposing a little too much, you
know"
Susie made no protest against this
very unfair Judgment. When we are
happy we naturally wish other people
| TO be so, too, and are apt to be impa-
| tient or incredulous II they give 1t TO
be understood that they are not Cloud
| less skies are EXCEPTIONAL; but some
times the sun shines even In England.
and when Ii does, the best plan Is to
| bask in IT and avoid consulting the bar
| ometer. 1t is needless to say that SUI
sic Moore married Fred with the fun
approval of her family, and perhaps
| equally needless to add that since their
| wedding day Mrs. Fenton's name has
never been mentioned between the
young people.
| BY other persons, who have not had
| the same reasons for observing dis
Greet reticence. her name has been
mentioned pretty freely. Mr.. BRENT
and the Master of All Saints have had
| to submit 10 a sharp scoldlng from Sir
James lie Breton; Lady Clamooroush
has been much annoyed by the ironical
condolences OF her friends; and Mr..
Dodd. when in the safe and select So
| cIety OF his intimates, has not been
chary OF structures upon the unuttera-
BILE meanness OF a woman who. after
solemnly promising to pay him $4,000,
went and drowned herself without re-
deeming her promise But nobody Is
/ remembered long. To be forgiven IL
| what only those can expect whose mis-
/ deeds have ceased to be a source of In
/ convenience to others; but to be for
gotten IS the fortunate and inevitable