Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-01-12

not for her fortune, which was con-
siderable, but for her beauty, which
was celebrated. was young My BUSH
ness partner was Charles Douglass OF
Boston. He was as young as I, but had
more sense. You will see how much
his sense served him. He said to me
one day:
Addison, don't marry Nelly Bur.
lington; it will be bad thing for you
II you do. In the interest Of our part
nership you ought not to marry her.
II knew Douglass was misogy-
mist, whose every faculty was CEN
tered on prodigious success OF the trust
which we were beginning to see He
had no family, no ties. He was man
of energy, insensible to all else but
his dream Of colossal success. re-
piled to him:
II intend to marry Miss Burlington.
If that does not please you, am ready
to sign new contract of partnership.
am ready to recognize that under
whatever conditions might separate US
in the future, or stay together as at
present, you will always have, at the
moment that it pleases you, the right
to half the profits of the business
which we have both built up together
$50, strange as the contract was, 1t
was signed. married Nelly Burl1ng-
ton, and Douglass continued by his
energy and clear knowledge Of busi-
ness to multiply the profits OF our
firm. The trust took the proportions
that you know. was perfectly con-
tented with my partner and happy
with my wife.
when William was born, Douglass
stood godfather to the boy"
Kingsley stopped, took a drink, and
then continued very seriously:
"Ten years later, by chance, came
across some letters-and-well, to cut
the matter short, learned that little
William was my partners son"
Kingsley stopped again, blew a
wreath of smoke toward tie ceiling.
then TRANQUILITY continued:
II can imagine to what extremities
man Of your race and your tempera-
ment would resort on discovering sucn
unwelcome news. know what extrav-
agant acts a Frenchman Is always ca
pable of committing. But ! preferred
that my wife should not know that |
had guessed her secret. At this time
Douglass was in San Francisco on
business. We were opening some new
factories on the Pacific coast. packed
my trunks and joined him. The bus1-
ness that he was arranging was SO sat
isfactory that when arrived my time
was so completely taken up with busi-
ness affairs that almost forgot the
real reason of my visit.
IT put off speaking to him. One day
he expressed wish to go to Niagara
Falls before returning home. am not
much Of lover of the grand sights OF
nature, but decided to go with him.
II was awaiting the propitious mo-
ment to tell him what had learned.
MY decision was formed. had learned
BY heart the little speech that | was
going to say, 1t was this:
".Douglass. find that must d.
yorce my wife, and I shall expect you
to marry her. I know now that you
have loved her for ten years. 1t was
not fair that through the hypocrisy Of
the mother I should monopolize your
child. l think it will be, very unwise
that for question Of sentiment we
break a partnership which has until
now given such satisfactory results
II ought to tell you that at this time
we were running under a capitaliza-
ton of one hundred million dollars!
"Unhappily an unfortunate occur
renee. an accident, stopped me from
speaking on the subject to my part
ner.
cone day, when he had gone on the
highest ridge above the whirlpool to
admire sunset, he was taken with
vertigo and fell into the abyss Of the
gorge. where his body disappeared
forever"
Kingsley placed his two arms fiat on
the table and looked at me fixedly.
No doubt. behind the glasses OF my
spectacles he could read the incredul-
ity which cleaned from my piercing
look, for he said quickly.
eyes, yes: know what you are
thinking. Ny wife thought the same
thing. When returned home she
threw of the mask and accused me
openly of having killed Douglass"
He shrugged his shoulders.
what interest should have In ~
ing to you he continued.
Listen to the end OF my story,
which is absolutely true. give you my
word. You can understand things were
not very pleasant at home after that.
/ truly regretted Douglass death. |
had to bring up William as though he
were my son. sent him to Boston; his
mother died six months later"
"Ah!" said, my breath coming in
short. excited gasps, "Mrs. Kingsley
herself"
ooh! her death was almost natural"
"Almost!"
"That is to say she committed a
last foolish act. She poisoned herself
with arsenic"
"Af!--Ahi"
".You don't seem to understand! You
say nothing but All! All! All! like an
idiot | told you she poisoned herself.
Listen, my poor man. you have the
same scared, stupid air that you had
the evening when you burst into the
kitchen and accused me Of killing LIZ
Gle. Well! What an odd creature you
are!"
He poured out another glass Of
brandy.
What about William?" asked.
Here the story takes another turn, =
said he, in lower voice. II do not