Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1921-04-25

kcr, with cleaning teeth and a per-
petual smile, the instrument and con-
fidant of Dombey, who by his fattery
and cunning has gained almost COM
plete control over his masters bust
ness. Working always to satisfy his
own ambitions, he mistrusts the grow
ing partiality for Walter Gay and
sends him on voyage to the Indies.
experiencing keen satisfaction wher
the youth is shipwrecked and reported
drowned.
This loss adds one more sorrow to
those already the portion of Florence,
whose father emerging from the gloom
of his apartment seeks to divert his
mind by going on Journey with his
friend, Major Bagstock, garrulous
old society beau. They travel to Lean
ington, where Mr.. Dombey is intro
duced to some of the majors friends,
and meets Mrs. Skewton and her wild.
owed daughter, the cold and beautiful
Edith Granger, who at once attracts
his fancy.
Edith is proud, scornful. imperious,
and for these traits the proud and
dominating man admires her the more.
Ee offers her wealth and position, and
she. needing these things, accepts him,
scorning meanwhile both the man and
his offering, but willing to satisfy the
irritating demands of her scheming
mother with whom her life Is uncn-
durable.
A loveless marriage follows and the
naughty wife asserts her own strong
will, refuses to further the social am
hitions of her husband, and enrages
him by showering affection upon Flor
ence. At last, goaded by Don1bey's
effort to break her spirit, and ready to
be revenged upon him for his endeavor
to humiliate her by orders sent her
through his agent, Carker, she con-
sents to fly from her home at the en-
treaty Of her husbands paid mfnion,
who from the first has fallen q victim
to her beauty. Having revenged her
self upon her husband by thus humil-
iating him, Edith proceeds to cast of
Carker, whom she despises; she meets
him at Dion by appointment, and In
the moment when he is glorying in
the attainment Of his desire, turns on
him, denounces him and before he can
stop her, rushes from the apartment,
making good her escape, while he is
left to confront his pursuer, her en-
ragged husband, who has tracked them
to Dijon.
Fooled ard entrapped, Carker fees
back to England, eluding his pursuer,
only to be again tracked to his hiding
place. When he believes himself safe
from detection. he suddenly spies
Dombey advancing toward him across
the platform Of railway station, and
lodging in alright on to the tracks
behind him Carker is killed by an on
coming train.
In the hour of her fathers humilia.
ton, Florence once more turns to him
with loving protestations, but he, en-
ragged at the remembrance that she
has ever won the love he has sought
vainly, casts her of with an oath and
strikes her brutally.
Partially stunned and feeling her
self homeless and fatherless Florence
rushes half-crazed into the streets of
London, and fainting with exhaustion
finds shelter at the "Wooden Midship-
man." now in the charge Of Captain
Cutie. Following the sudden disap-
pearance Of old Sol ellis. the captain
has taken possession of the place, not
knowing IL his friend, whose life had
become insupportable without his be-
loved nephew, was alive or dead.
Tenderly welcomed to this humble
home, Florence remains in hiding un.
til the unexpected arrival Of Walter.
who suddenly appears upon the scene
returning from series Of perilous
adventures. Walter, the brother. IL
speedily transformed into Walter, the
lover, and the young couple are unit
ed, to the delight Of Captain Cutie,
also of old Sol ellis, who reappears
from journeying to foreign parts in
vain search lOT SOIuc NEWS VI WdlcI.
Meanwhile, the fortunes Of the
house of Dombey, weakened BY Car
ker's doubtful transactions. and also
by the loss Of his shrewd guidance,
go down in ruin, leaving the proud
head Of the firm broken In health and
spirit, with home and fortune wrecked.
Then tenderly forgiving all, Flor
ence goes TO her father and takes him
to her home, where after long H.
ness, he arises changed man, repent
ant Of the past, and only caring to
devote his last days to his daughter
and her two children; Paul who re-
minds him Of his lost son, and little
Florence, dearest Of all to his peni-
tent heart.
This work, which was first issued
in serial form in 1s47. met with i'm
mediate success. Its pages contain
wealth Of incident and character, Of
fun, satire and pathos. Florence is
one Of Dickens loveliest creations.
and DR.. Blimber's school is described
in his finest vein. Kind Captain Cut,
tie is famous the world over, MS are
Mr.. Toots, Mrs. Pipchin and old Joe
RagStOck. The death-bed scene Of 1T