Swansea Journal and South Wales Liberal. — 1895-11-23 (Swansea, West Glamorgan, Wales)

SWANSEA-POLICE-COURT  As Christine read she suffered her veil W drop over her face. When she looked up she saw that Mrs. Bruder's gaze was fixed upon her as upon the murderer of her best friend. She drew her veil closer about her face, laid the letter down, end left" the room without a word.. Site felt so guilty and miserable on her way home that. it would scarcely have surprise 4 her had_ a policeman arrested her for the crime with which her own conscience, as well as Mr. Bruder's letter, charged her ; and yet her pride revolted at it all. "Why should this affair take so miserable a form with me?" she said. "To most it ends with a few sentimental sighs on one side, and as a good joke on the other. All seems to go wrong of late, and I am destined to have everything; save happiness and the success upon which I set my heart. There is no more cruel mockery than to give one all save the very thing one wants 9 • and, in seeking to grasp that, I have brought down upon myself this wretched, blighting experience. Oh this chaotic world ! The idea of there being ,a Cod ! Why, I could make a better world myself !" and she reached her home in such a morbid, unhappy state, that none in the great city need have envied the rich and flattered girl. Mechanically she dressed and came down to dinner. During the afternoon Ernst, while out on an errand, had slipped home and heard 'the sad news. He returned to Mr. Ludolph's office crying. To the question, " What is the matter?" he had - answered, " Oh, Mr. Fleet is dying; he is dead by dis time !" Mr. Ludolph was sadly shocked and pained, for as far as he could like anyld,edy besides himself end daughter, he had btt'n prepossessed in favour of his useful and intelligent clerk, and he was greatly annoyed at the thought of losing him.- He returned full of the subjeco' and the first words with which he greeted Christine were: "Well, Fleet will hang no more pictures for you, and sing no more songs." She staggered into a chair and sat before him pale and panting, for she thought he meant that death had taken place. " Why, what is the matter ?" cried be. She stared at him gaspingly bub said nothing. " Here, drink this," he said, hastily pouring out a glass of wine. She • took it eageriy. After a moment he said : "Christine, I do not understand all this. I was merely saying that my clerk,. Mr. Fleet, was not expected--" The point of endurance and guarded selfcontrol was past, and she cried half-hysterically: "Am I never to escape that man? Must every one I meet speak to me as if I bad murdered him ?" Then she added, almost fiercely: "Living or dead, never speak to me of him again ! I am no longer a child, but a woman, and as such I insist that his name be dropped between us for ever !" Her father gave a low exclamation of surprise, and said, " What ! was he one of the victims?" (this being his term for Christine's rejected suitors). "No," said she ; "I am the victim. He will soon be at rest, while I shall be tormented to the grave by-" She hardly knew what to say, so mingled and chaotic were her feelings. Her hands clenched, and with a- stamp of her foot she hastily left the rootn. Mr. Ludolph could hardly believe his eyes. Could this passionate thoroughly aroused rio be Continued.)  defendant. Taylor was fined 10s. and the costs.--For a similar offence, H. T. Billings, contractor, Priorton-terrace, was similarly fined. Defendants had allowed carts and horses to remain in the road so as to cause an obstruction.  Saturday.—Before W. Walters, awl C. L. Forester, Esqrs.