Newspapers / The Wilmington Dispatch (Wilmington, … / Sept. 24, 1916, edition 1 / Page 13
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I- .--X "'- " . 5 .. . '.,.: -. -'j ji'f PAGE: THIRTEEN THE - V A w TYliliIlU I I IIV I Jl.TP'M I t I I Sl 11X11 I '.W:'?:lllIkIV IVI I IVT i , til 1T U H7I 111. I 1 -.1 A-r, Ifll ' . J ; . ' is . " iS" iiip S i S fill lltlflf 1 3iSi? SEVENTH EPISODE John Burton, a worker in 'tel milL suddenly inlit4l ,nJ English tiUe and 0,OW,900 He dwtd BJjg Z; if necessary, in &n Attemnt tA nii l". " in hin Muvh fbp h. r.v rpiyatOut .. -. V v - The Butterflies " Caught In th Storm. A summer hotel in Lakeland one of those sylvan retreats in which men and women endeavor v to lay aside for a while the everyday burdens of life 18 too often a microcosm of the V great r outer worlds John Burton, tenth marquis of Castleton, had never even heard of the Lakeside hotel, and woitfd have been very much surprised if. told i that certain tra- , gio issues of grave import to himself were" taking shape there at the very time be was vainly 'seeking, rest and oblivion on a country farm. -I Yet, so strangely interwoTen are '. wett of human existence, a ; number of ' men and women were even then all. unconsciously :contrivib.g one of those tangled snares v'Odjejceitandtinlsery into which this unhappy young mlllnonaire so of tn blundered. In order .. to understand certain . inclr dents which befell at a date long' before Burton met any of the people concerned, Jt is necessary 'to set forth the main characters somewhaTin the' style of a play. , , '" , ' ., . Thus, we have! - , .a Beatrice Tourneur, a pretty, vivacious and sympa thetic girl in her eighteenth-year. Arthur Hardwicke, aged thirty, a New York lawyer who has already won repute in his profession. He has brought his wife, an incurable invalid, to the Lakeside hptel in the hope that mountain air may prove beneficial. . . v Dr. Albert Merriam, a physician In attendance on1 Mrs. Hardwicke, a man of unscrupulous charac ter , w ho stops short of no mean device to, attain his ends. - ... . . , ." Marion Miller, a handsome adventuress, who, if the fates were'kihd,' should have found her affinity in the doctor, but who was, unfortunately enamored - of Hardwicke. . ; ; Of course, there were others in the cast-ere shadows flitting across the stage so far .as Burton was concerned, but he little, dreamed how? closely . his fortunes were destined to be bound up with the four persons described above. 1 The curtain might be said to have lifted on sthe tragedy on a certain afternoon when Beatrice Tour- . neur came infrom the tennis court, gayly swinging her racket, and found Hardwicke -leaning 'over the v , rail of the veranda. Near. him. was a recumbent -form, covered with . a light wrap, " whom the girl realized must be his invalid wife. - Beatriee!slaughlng expression changed to one ; of pity. She came up the steps of the porch, and was evidentlfjon the point of uttering some (kindly in quiry when the man put a finger on his lipsC With a wan smile he indicated that his wife: was, asleep. She nodded, and. sped away. Qn iptoe,' turning at the ' end of the veranda to .wave a hand as though con veying the message: ' . :. . ' "You know I am sorry for. yon.:'' Give poor Mrs. Hardwicke my love when she Wakes f -' Oddly enough that simple 'ges'tnre of -the1 girl's was fatal. Since her eyes-were tent on the young lawyer, she did not notice that another woman was -on the point of coming out through the' swing-doors against which at that instant' Beatrice pressed an impetuous elbow. As a consequence, there was a collision. - : The girl .apologized quite nicely, but Miss-Miller, a lady with whom she was acquainted merely by name, grew brick-red with anger, and asked her Why she did not look where she was going. ; - Beatrice was astonished and hurt. Nevertheless, &he again found some word? f - regret and went to her room wondering vaguely how .anybody- could be "such a catvVV''"-' -"v'-.:;. Were she ; niofer: experienced in the j ways Aof the world sbe .wuld have understood the real :cause . of Marion vMilfer's annoyance; ' . Beatrice was .younk.: sylphlike; and 'UntamsciWsiy attractive, Marionwias . already a full-blown' rose whose petals were in dan- ger of dropping, and Arthur Hardwicke, in 'the brief half-hours he alloWeof himself from'' an unflagging; attendance on his doomed t wife, y had ; shown a narkedpartiality for the society of that llveiy. chat- terbox, Beatrice ; Tourneur. ; What more, need be said? Marion hated the girl and! would have wel comed anything which removed ; from ; her path a rival whom she deemed all the more dangerous be cause of the artlessness of her rivalry. But Beatrice wis just as much a daughter of Eve as the other woman. The very , next: time she saw Hardwicke. and Miss Miller chatting on the lawn of the hotel she did not scruple to signal the man with an inviting glance as shepassed, with the cerr tain resultrtbat he quitted . Marion abruptly. - b0ng only too gTad .of Beatrice's companionship . J The incident jwas e--bjwf.yt if. 'hotel. behind woman a little time to recover -.her self-control be fore he strolled , up. , , ..' '.' "Good-day," he said ;tAeerfully. ' VChannlnjg weather we're having, aren't; wef ''f-.l r '"'f "Oh, quite!" came thecurt answer ; , .; Miss Miller did not like Doctor. Merriam, ana wu in no mood to conceal her feellngs.at; that joaoment. f Sad thine aborit Mrs. Hardwicke.'T lie persisted,; "and the position Is particularly, hard: for. her hus band, who is really a delightful .fellow-and worthy of a better fate." t- s- I '- The woman wheeled arodnd on him ; af though his words had arorfsed her interest.; v t "Is Mrs. Hardwicke very ill, then?" he asked. "Til isn't the word. ( She's fated In: a week or two Hardwicke will be absolutely 5 compelled to &end her to. a sanatorium where -she; will linger for a few months, until death sends amercifuLrelease. ; "Are you' sure?" demanded.- Marlon fiercely,-, "Why otlrerwise should I teit!yoH snch tff said the doctor slowly. "Now; look here, Miss , Mil ler, it is part of my buslnesap?keep yyefP: ou help me In thls matter and T$2,i.'-y .' A sordid .plotwa'-naW:H:a., and Merri i.V tha i w fkot if whs imnossiDie thnr rri wririr ' tn 1pvp , all the, arrani his hands and remain quietly at akesidergaining us own ; viaiity; wbUe his wife was takencare of ay others. iS'Zfrfr'- .H &x?ffi:yrtnm: . lie distraawdman interpreted by at least Taue,oi Jc! Brobabittthat he actual,;accident to Doctor Merriam, concealing., a: cymcait ' risArtie only-real tr a cloud clearettesmokeveithey apgryr? iwiKa tn iOTftniii ' hpi-p' all "nieht." ha"- - fc . -i a . r - w v -k. m m m-w m mm m mm L- m m ,.m- mm . m mmmmr m mmm a m mm - m m ma iu m m mm t j i f oiud the . society ot -BeatriceTournetir inore and mdfe congenial,; and PxctorMerriam had; to bend Wswtts; ;tdtheteskof.ersuahg- Marion Miller thjttti She 1 must :-- keeo within : hnnnrla'. oi'eyu ig .made eaavhv pirnmstntioo nna Hov TO.ttarawicKe.was.somewhat'recovered'from the of the knowfedge thaFhls wife's death under mpst .distressing conditions could be only a matter of ; a month or two,v he; jnet Beatrice by the side of thelake.fto the;& miles away,- a large island' loomMro4gn':.tiLe,'baze.' It was a rocty .place, little' wooded,: and providing no pas ttlrage.' so -no one lived there. "r 1 : But ir offered exceUent facilities jfor fishing! and the hotel had built a- hut; with .rough provision- in me snape or. stored food, bunks and materials for a tire for parties who might wish to spend the night. A ' j. '' ..'":;"; 'r":- -S--'.:' '': ' ,f . Somehow, the chance Conjunction of a-charming girly a.boat,Nand. aoobJective'in the hardV physical exercise of rowing to- and from the island, appealed td!HardWiceiV; 1 The weather Wi fi tw it. th 71. - , . " . v uv,7 WV . .. jWere wso engrossed : I h each other's conversation that thy.;paid'Iittl'eheed--tOr:a bank of heavy black clouds gathering lover the distant hills.- A summer storm ckme up swiftly .and broke in fury when the boat was abouthalf, a mile from the island. The com paratively shallow waters of the lake were soon , lashed; into a turbulent and dangerous state, and it needed all of Hardwlcke's skill and every ounce of his strength to keep "the tiny craft from being swamped. 'V 'J,en(tiiey were yet fully a hundred yards from the ' ' shore . one of . the bars broke, and the girl screamed pitifully. Hardwicke appealed to her to remain calm, assuring her that he would soon place her in safety. He contrived, as best he might, to paddle with - the remaining oar, and would have reached a small sandy cove without any further difficulty had not the boat been caught in a current and -crashed -against a rock. It was stove in, and filled instantly." :But the man was a first-rate swimmer, and the girl, realizing that she must now fight for her life, . did. not hamper him. Moreover, she herself could swim fairly well, so, by good fortune, they avoided the rest of the reef on which their boat was wrecked, and utlimately waded' ashore. 3 J V . . - 1 Burton Tell Beatrice the Old Story. 2 Beatrice Had Recognized the Dying Man. 3l Want Money, and You Two Must Purchase My Silence" - Long Have You Been Here?" He De manded Shakily. ; The rain, pelted down in torrents, but this draw back did not matter except ' that It added to their discomfort. Beatrice was exhausted, of course, but profoundly thankful that1 her life had been spared; and very much inclined; to . regaT Hardwicke as1 a hero, - Owing to the- coolness he had displayed in a real crisis. - jgupportlng her tenderly, he led her to a point front which he guessed that" the hut would be vis ible.. ' l . Sure enough, they soon reached the cabin. It was stoutly: built, and quite 'storm-proof. "Iam afiost worried about my father and mother," shevcpnfided to him. "They will surely think I am drowned!" : - ' - ' "'Oh, no," he reassured her, confidently. 'The boatman knows we v?ere. bound for the Island. .When the gale sprang up he would give the alarm, so. that more "than one telescope must have seen that we -werViqtiatec'near the , beach,; while It is more; than tne. boat win ouble is that we 'fOlu 1 whVT'. she whisperedin sudden terror. "Because misfortunesv never come singly. The hOt el launch' Is out, of order, and no small boat can live ariaorigj those waves. . (We must calmly and sen siblymake up our minds to remain here and put lin with" the iriiSmveniehces until the wind dies down, (which '.Is sure to happen during the night." For a time the girl was silent and distrait, nut the natural'; vitality of youth asserted Itself and she began'tomake light Of- their (troubles. Hunting in . a Vcupboard,' she fdurid Vsoine biscuits and tinned meat; arid oii these they made a hearty and much needed'meaU. (Theri,.feellng;tjred, arid as night was dta Wing . on; Beatrice said that she would try and sl eep, so as to be ready fOr tbe rescuers who must sury:-come -withtbe dawn'.' ' t :. ( - - . ' - Half an liOrijpassedTirid 'Hardwicke rvras feeling qwsy ihim'selfr wheri ail electric: flash vhich seemed to Sustain liisplei-cirig - briiliarice for a second or ntoiie: : was'fdllowedv by a tbunderclap so close over heid: ;'that;Beatrv.shrieedvinvdismay.. ' v ? - Thlnkingjthe ihrit-had' been struck, vitb direful CtosequeriCe.? to tber' girl; Haf d Wicke rushed ' in, bent 6jthe; bunk, Jn?-whfch'';sh':wa'8.' lying,-ariq -'clasped and, sunlit i. relief -party seated: Hardwicke endeavored to Jook.stern, though iau ing lamentably .to control iiis; voice. '"' ' ' v"How. long have you ..-..been here?" he .demanded shakily; k" ; 1 .v-;'.. ; .. ,; . - - . J -: " DA1.U.. V . w : - w Author;ofThe That mostr unwelcome : visitor affected - to ' consult his WatC.h. -'-" " . ' .: I : :; " - "Since - nine , o'clock : last 1 night,"; he " said, coolly, T was fishing on the island andgotcanght by -the storm like" yourselves. . ;'"'. 'JJ ,, - ;- - ;-;'.' v.'" : - "Why did you not let' us know of your presence ?" he , growled. - " ;;-;.v-- : "Why sh'o.uld J?' smirked the tdoctor. 'T knew you .were-here, - of (course.;! Ff oundour'hat ami the' lady's handkerchief with herjimtal$: The other vmah was -now. nearly beside hbhself: with ; rage and anxiety,' being; miserably fconscl6iis wiirr.eiM.iiv? was m uyyiiij- ius.v ;u-. .wiiieu j.uuwer. : But , )tocf or- Merriam 'affected a ' fine t disregard of " the inan'sanger and "tiie woman's , distress alike. ; . "Why should any of us say, or even ; think, disa- Kreeaute i iniugs : . ue ieu, witn a pleasant, on- handed atr of -dismissing the affair. . '.'An accident " is an acCideTit,ibut It-is my business'asa surgeon to repair such mishaps. You andfI,iMr..Hardwieke, "can surely ibe regarded as a suitable -escort for a oung lady benighted on an island; LWe passed the night fiere together. What moreiis there to be said? What more can ahyone sayv even'ahevll-tongued woman? I assure you, on, my honor, you two people can rely absolutely on my discretion;"; 1 ) . So the, unhappy pair left, it: at that, Wd. met with some measure, of consolation :whenMerriam's suave words explained matters to Mr. and Mrs.- Tourneur, , who, with other guests in tfie hotel, 'formed an ex cited group- at the landing place' to receive the cast- ; aways - from the boat ' sent . to .theirassistance. '" - ; Crushed. ;: . . .'s-. V !'. " '( W .' Between exhaustion and mental 'stress Beatrice 'waV'-'tlaken ill.''' Such 'a' sequel 'to an exciting adven ture was only to be expected, and. everyone in the Lakeside hotel was most sympathetic.. 'Naturally,' Doctor MeVrlaia attended Beatrice pro fessionally. . She was; confined to her room during three weary days, i)ut, on the fourth, was allowed to receive visitors. Mrs. Tourneur came upon Hard wicke in" the veranda, and told him that her da ligh ter was up arid dressed; and "awaiting him in her sitting room - He hurried tnere at once, ; being feverishly anXioust:6teli( Beatrice that- he. was devoted to her:aridy obtain her promise Ho 'marry lilm aafsoori -asfercireumstances permuted ; - ( It : chanced, : however, - that " Doctor f erriaur pr e- ceded(hiin' to(theil ay fhat-slieiiwaitcd; tne'Coniing'ot Hardwicke ' aware Beatrice )ooked .dllgb iri a rieg lifi ,rcbe as tesat rieaif the windour gaining! new .yit$rfcy((eacb.; therkeen' (miHmtsin air. ('IMctor Merriam drew a chair fa ther (neaC felt her .pulse, arid put soue ordmary..qUes-:tfons-:Wbicli, howeveiv quickly merged .into pro- : nounced lbve-makirig She shrank .away front him horrified; but lie ;was riot to; be repressed, arid : did not scrapie to thrcateu iier with all tlie dreadful consequences which .must" ensue .if 'she - insisted in - withholdirig. her: favor. Quite sure of his 'ground, he bent forward suddenly, crushed her in his- arms, and kissed her on the lips. ( , :"-::i ';.; ' ( She struggled wildly and screamed.; For. ah in stant the instincts of (ontrhed: lfeminlnty:overbore : all other 'corisiderationsV' She 'was only , a woman " fighting -in ; :Self-defensefrriluckiyr Arthur Hard wicke. entered 'bef ore'-she could -fling offi her "assail- ant i: He; had (. patrsedon ' the Way;", toc'lier reoi9(,tp. , obtain some rOses and carriatsons at the hotel flower stall, and his hands were with; fiowei-s.- .Tak- : O - JaYA I . 1 If A. - v, XStT i r AT kY 1 11 XJ'S'--'i 1 ; . ink in the sitxtatipn. ar a glaue,' he :eftped forward; : other was near. John WasvconsciouS of the girl?s' Burton's ' dropjed; .thexUoOm, a in 5-;-;. ; Ime'iloor;v . I".;;. - imiJV- -:-.'. ; ner-aair. was 'intoxicating. ; Me -felt; the .rigidity ( : ; ; - The doctor sprang up at ohcej.' . ' ; "Areyoutoo, golngtd be a fooliThe snaried.( ( Hardwicke understood ; At last the scales Jhad fallen ifrom- his eyes, and he could Vpeer- Into the man's filthy souk . '. "''' '''. v -6d J'" he v said, pointing to the door. . : I r?' i" Merriam . wasminded ; be defiant, Tbiit .: some thing vHardwickes expression forced him to obey. So,." with: an Wii' sheer,e- picked up his. medicine ;Cse..and wnt V.oufc Without;; a spoken wbjto, t KfifltrlOe. ner, aVOWetf lOVer.' IOllOWea. - . J- T W i - .-,-. j - 1 rHebvertdok MemaSiin!,the corridor and pointed silently ;in"tiie d Not caring to ralse; a scene- Just then, .Merriam nodded arid strode ou' ahead. - He woulihaVejClosei, the:dobr-'.'br;hisibedr the latter clearly Intended . to force an c and the' doctor yielded ;Then Hardwiclcetuftifed" the key In the lock,5 took ' Off his coat,' arid,": almost without any preliminary, the two men engaged in( a fierce fight . i : ." . v-:'-v(4-v-:"-'- They were fairly equally matched In phIque, but sheer resolutionhrid'ery wrath gaVe'Haro-v wlcke the victory, and he did not leave his oppon ent until the man Was beaten to the ground.? ' . .- Going then to his own room, 'Hardwicke changed his clothes arid' removed' the most noticeable marlcs of the contest. Feeling-' himself . unequal tp meet ing Beatrice again that afternoon; he. left the hotel, meaning to .walk, along an unfrequented path, and successfully dodging Marion Miller, who, ;idurfrig the past few days, had lived ln a veritable. Inferno of her own- creation. - . - She looked after hfm with an expression of bale ful hatred, ' since hell hath no fury like a woinah scorned, and encountered Doctor Merriam while, in this harpy's mood. ' He, like Hardwicke, was by no mean's anxious to meet- any other: resident in -the hotel, but the sight of Miss Miller, suggested a ready means of revenge. rgnorlrig a stare Of surprise at his battered appearance, he drew Marion aside and forthwith poured into her eager eat the 'full story of the night's doings ;on the island. : '. ' Three months later Mrs.; Hardwicke died and her husband and Beatrice Tourneur had already come to their senses. They had met : often, both' in the hotel and at the girl's home, . and the;: knowledge was slowly forced on them that they were ; unsuited, both In character and disposition, to the : lifelong tie of matrimony. ' .-: . -y .'.: ; Moreover, another idel had crept into ' the girl's troubled heart. , She had met John Burton, and, struggle as she might against the obsession, ; be came, only too well awaYefthat he was the only man she could ever love. ; . Then . TTfl rd wi rk a n n r! Rm tr rA wam f nroth oi inn a day chatting-merely: as friend bert Merriam was Amounted. Merriafai laid bare thA nhlpt nf h-a viQtt wihA, ti,a WctiiwW a concealment. ': v ' .; . . t v ':i-- t "1 am poor," he said. "You, Hardwicke, are rich, and pretty Miss Beatrice, ff rumOr speaks aright, is about -to -marry a miHionaire. I want money, and you two must purchase my silence." j v- '.' r . "How much, you Cad?" demanded Hardwicke. VI'll take what you've got In your pocket at .this moment," was the truculent answer.' "But don't hink I'm all through on payment of a few -hundred dollars. I want ten. thousand from von. Hardwicke. and . you, my lady marchi&essihave-tdipay up Lu Mr; Burton, he sald ( twice that -amount wlienyou'rW wed. - I shan't bV -Mife ls of no consequence, butin your eoiitrol ; hard on either of you fn the matter of installments. TeHts ?e whole eeT And , -man (; But this money I must and will have, and I am nr -who, despite ; her solitary transgression, ls, essen- .:. pared to take your word that it will be thco4- ing.'J What was to be done? Just nothing. Hardwicke gave the wretch a couple of hundred dollars arid promised him the balance of ,the. first, half , of tea; within a montti Then Metriam left ;then3 thousand leering truculently aa he departed. - Unhappy creatures ! r They were intn ifflioble position, yet the man was ready to:sacrifice;eteriva much larger sura than. ten thousand dollars to-save the girl from the .consequences, of -an indiscretion, while.. Beatrice herself would have bartered her very soul. in order to Wed John Burton. f ,(-( T-;' " Fate, having dealt so harshly with her, seemed roady to beJirind when iiext she m Castleton.' Tliey (were guests at ' the house', of a mutual-, friend. After dinner," when ia large party Of -youiSs people were tempted forth onto a spacious lav.n by a perfect moonlleht.' nlffht." some lively jourii? riiinr suggested game of hidend.seek;(( tale, no matter what the 'costf ;Bid that vm titt " ' ' r ; Tlip proposal, was haliedeefuriy;ahd(so be; of good cheer.; She) has suffered much,, arid ls,r ' V ; : whole happy; lmriy, men and women, boys and girls; therefore, due much' happiness!"; - . SX:.X T n.r-. iv,aLn;i-aujvu6 iuc ,oui j oiuiuiug busuw -aiiu iguuiici ; ui uje aruuc iionaea - aw friends in line and began to.'courit out."' T.6 tne ac- compaiiiment mniment ot much. laughter (and, jesting (c- ; John became;if4' X;. (.; ment. Beatrice chose the corner Of a summer house - as a retreat, but forgot;to .tuck silken dress, ;whi eh John's, keen eye;vspo4dejcted.. She ran as -he came neiir her, but he was rtoo; fleet Of foot, and soon held her in his arms. ' . "( .: : Though he laughed 'and called, out "Caught," he seemed in no hurry to ipt go his charming prize. They, were iri a shadetl walk at the moment and no ., of; hersupple frame,tense , toescape, 1 ''--suddenly" ''yielding beneath tos aHt Srasp. '( , '. ; ; in effect;' they Behaved exactly; asljovers. do all pter the world In simflar circumstances and;.befor4 either was well 'aware of what was happening, tiielfj ; lips !meti f Thrilled with a realization of a neW' hap piness they drew; sllghtiy pa ' her head.- But John promptly topk change of )'tK",,T : RltiinHfin.-"and led her to a neifirhborine' seat.': wnilfe he lost no: time in asking her to marry him and? , Vjalmost to his surprise, found that a 'woman's heart nroo Ma nhnltv and lrravniah v , - - . TtHO . 4IM UVJ MUA Ma w V And, indeed, all might -have gone well with these . . two were It not for Doctor Merriam. .JohnVjiis." true,, would have lived In the 6lissof lgnoVice; .andyBeatrice would . carry one..sad secret' to tn' " grave, but still they might have had their share of - 'certaijdly have been drawn away from the sti'ahge quest: which fortune seemed : to have imposed oin him. . .. . .;-;-:;; .:?."' .:: ' ' . ' .': ' But his release came. not yet. Onthe very day that the engagement of the young. couple was; an nounced, Merriam and the Woman who had becohje bis confederate, met to plot further evil. . ;V , Obedient "to a - telephone summons, Arthur "Hfrd- v wicke came to the blackmailer's house; - 'f'.- : : Xou' .know,; I supposr"said the doctonnhat . your little lady of the island is about to marry ; thi fellow who calls hlniselfJohn 'BurtonVbut'is reaJljir I understand,-a British marquis?"; : , v v' ': ' I "That does not concern me now," said -Hardwicke stiffly. . .V' . :..f::v;j.- ..i - ; "Pardon me. You are mistaken. Miss TOurneu? is about to , wed a very, rich man, and therer ra? sessments will have to be slightly Increased TV ,The hot blood rushed to Hardwlcke's face, and h'e would have closed with his tormentor in .a Strug? gle which, might well have ended fatally for .one f the two, had not the doctor leaped suddenly behind a desk from which he grabbed some typed manu script. ' ' ; . . .' .'' '...' ' .: . ...'; "Look here !" he cried fiercely, "Read this Jt you make a conf otmded fool : of u yourself . a second timet I have written tfie whole story' there? ad copies are placed with my lawyers, and in a safe "deposit, vault. . In the event of my death or .evtp, -.. disablement, and . in the absence of further , orders, my ..bankers have. Instructions-! to send, copies to . . every newspaper in the ,cityv;;i Mbreoyer, the, most noble marquis of tJastleton wll receive one also.:, v. Hardwicke (was beaten, and' i:new it. ,He ws ; " wrung with. sorrow. not. alone, for. himself,' Cbut for the unhappy girl, into whose .life .he; had .unwittingly . brought . so . much .tragedy,; ;. Muttering hoarsely thit he was unable to . discuss matters , that7 dayVbnt would see Merriam . by "appointment next (morning, ; . he rushed out of the. house. .,( -' (' '? ,-N iVi .That very evening Burton , took his fiancee Jfor'a long drive into - the 'country .. They . were detained , somewhat later than they had counted on, 'SO. the chauffeur increased, the speed for the homeward journey. As a consequence, perhaps, he took risks he nght have avoided otherwise.' The fact refhains, . at-ny rate'tllat at street coreer heran down arid -fatally injured a well-dressed man. - '- ; Burton alighted instantly and helped to extricate the unfortunate pedestrian. from under the heavy car. : Happening to . glance at Beatrice, when tfte light from a street lamp fell full on her face as Jia leaned out to ask what had happened, he saw a look of . terror there whichseemed to him . to . Be only (the natural emotion of a woman shocked by a ghastly accident. '' ,'. ' ;, V: t .';-.';; .. '. - , , .,(s ,.;,? - ' But it was more than that: BeatriceJtiad reco- . nized the dying man. Her eyes had gazed into his. . It was Doctor Albert Merriam ; V i The accident happened at a somewhat late hot.rt and was not bruited about the city until the follow ing morning. Burton, who had retired to "rest ;.f ery late, after many hours' of anxiety due. to Merriams -unfortunate death, was somewhat late for , break fast. HS; had Just opened an Importarif-loOklffg : letter, carrying the superscription of a local' bank; r when Arthur Hardwicke rushed in, followed cby "a ' scandalized butler (who had failed completely toi W stop the entry of an impetuous visitor. ' ; ' , V; "For heaven's, sake, . forgive me, Mr. Burton !" . a crazy man tWs morning ut the one sure thing in m' mmu 18 luni uu uBut ut w . reaa..:wuai iv.m that letter until you have heard my story first."; , John would be more than human if he were not -puzzled and suspicious because some hint of Van ; earlier attachment between Beatrice and ( Hard wicke had already reached his ears. . Nevertheless, : ,he agreed to listen, and; with a mighty effort Hard wicke contrived to pour out a broken confeSsionrof : his first wrongdoing, and the excessive price,; in suf fering and treasure, which had already - been , ex acted of him. r . '- mon. I am not seeking to mak;e ybn Jier 'Judge.ii C, tm here to-ask- you, .s man to' man,not "to 'strike r;' -at me through her t" . '. . ':- '''W SifS' Si I(f "t7 rir' "WJiatis in that paper, then?" he said, indicating. J onn sat tor a lew minutes gazing into space. the letter, Hardwieke held In nerveless fingers. "Oh, that is Merriam's "story,!, was" the despondeht . answer. "Thatwas the threat-he held over me. s In f 'case of his death or . accident, and if I hadnot " : bought back the manuscript it was to be sent, ndt only to you but to the editor of every newspaper v in the district." . ':( ','-; ' . v.( y -, Burton leaped to his feet . ( ((- "Good God, man !" he almost screamed "wbiltf . you and I are wasting time here, ; this horribly v : screed may already have been, published. ..Tou go .(( at once to Miss Tourneur. and tell - her that - the " ' woist is now over. I'll rush to pvrr HAwimsrit .- . ' . ) . nma in tha fv anii Vtnn nnhiiMHml n lrawiam . xoevtwo men separated nastily, uurton would not trust to the te trust tO the teleDhorie. but'heran a round tf. the newspaper . offices. :; ?-i - .i-'r?- '-- miyjjs" in that eltyas In'everybtheran evei hour before B,urtbriu reache4 the editor's ear. v'i '7i 'r So jthe drab story of (human; folly was; blazoned ' 'far ahdjwldeAandwh was yet pleading' for : '; I ts suppression; BeatrIc.Topr Hardwicke were dW& - the -ohe; by 'poison,' the "othe V': bya, bullet. ?V,&i , Ana mac was tne Deginnmg and the. end ox Joant second love stom The butterflies, la (END OF SEVENTH EPISODE. v ( : ; ; ,'V "t i ' -V ;-;vvt.;Vf''J. ;:,'": ;'t;.v--.- ... V .fv 5.' "VV t.-?-? 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The Wilmington Dispatch (Wilmington, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Sept. 24, 1916, edition 1
13
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