The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1910-04-29
nearer and dearcr to the principals
Of this awful tragedy"

nearer and dearcr to the principals
Of this awful tragedy"
Rut even as he thought this over.
Miss Morton had gone to the tele-
phone her heavy silk gown rust.
ling a. she crossed the room. and
her every movement asscrtivc 4 her
own Importance.
Calling up the Maplcton Inn. she
succeeded after several attempts. In
tousing some of its occupants. and
finally was In communication with
young willard himself She did not
tell him of the tragedy. but only
asked him to come over to the
house at once, as something serious
had happened. and returned to- her
seat with murmurcd observation
that Tom would arrive as soon as
possible
Again the little group lapsed into
silence. Cicely Dupuy was very nor.
yous. and kept picking at her hand
korchiof quite unconscious that she
was running its delicate lace edge.
Doctor Hills glanced mrtivcly from
one to another Many things puzzled
him. but most of all he was at n
loss to understand the suicide OF this
beautiful girl ON the very eve OF
| her wedding
At last Tom Willard came
Miss Morton met him at the door.
and took him into the drtwingroom
before he could turn toward the
library
Schuyler Cartoons frantic touches
on various electric buttons had turn
ed on all the lights In the drawing
room. As no one had noticed this, the
great apartment had remained illu.
! minated as IL for a fcstiyity, and
the soft, bright lights fell ON the
floral bower and the elaborate dec.
orations ,hat had been arranged for
the wedding day.
What Is it, asked Tom. his
own face white with an impending
| sense OF dread as he looked into
! Miss Morton's eyes.
As gently as possible, but in her
own straiphtforward somewhat alb.
rupt way. Miss Morton told him.
Il want to warn you" said Miss
/ Morton. to prepare for a shock
and think it kinder to tell you the
truth at once. Your cousin Madeleine
Miss Van Norman-has taken her
own life"
What" Tom almost shouted the
word, and his face showed an abso.
mtely uncomprchonding amazement.
she killed herself tonight Miss
Morton went on, whose efforts were
now directed toward making the
young man understand. rather than
towards sparing his feelings.
But Tom could not seem to grasp
Il. What do you mean?" he said,
catching her by both arms. Made.
leinc? Killed herself?'
Yes" said Miss Morton. shaken
out OF Acr own calm by Toms excit'
ed voice. "In the library. after we
had all gone to bed, she stabbed
herself with that horrible paper
cutter thing Did you know she was
unhappy"
Unhappy? No why should she
be? Tomorrow was to have been her
wedding day"
To-day" corrected Miss Morton.
1T is already the day on which our
dear Madeleine was to have become
bride. And instead" glancnG
around the brilliant room and at the
bridal bower. Miss Norton's compos'
urc gave way entirely. and she sob
bed Historically. At last Cicely Du
puy came across from the library
Putting her arm around Miss Nor
ton, she led the sobbing woman
away. and without a word to Tom
Willard gave him glance which
seemed to say that he must lool;
out for himself. for her duty wac
To attend Miss Morton
As the two women left the draw
ing room Tom followed them. fIe
walked slowly and stared about as
If uncertain where to go. He paused
u moment midway In the room, and
STOPPING, picked up some small
object from the carpet. which he
put IN his waistcoat pocket.
\ moment more, and he had cross
ed the hall and stood at the library
door, gazing at the scene which had
already shocked and saddcned the
others.
With q groan as OF utter anguish
Tom invomntarily put up one hand
before his eyes.
Then, pulling himself together with