coupled with a threat to break the door down, but she paid no heed. She had darted to her mother’s side, and was anxiously bending over the silent form. [Pg 81] [Pg 81] “Mother!” she shrieked aloud, in fear and terror, for the aspect of her mother filled her with wild foreboding. Mrs. Fielding’s eyes were wide open, and her lower jaw had fallen, while her face and hands already had a cold, clammy feeling that forced the truth on the almost distracted daughter. The poor, feeble heart had given way under the shock of fear and grief, and she was dead. While Fair was making this awful discovery, George Lorraine, who had fortified himself for this occasion by a copious libation of whisky, was trying what brute strength could do toward forcing an entrance to the presence of his obdurate bride. With a few vigorous kicks, he forced the lock of the frail door, and precipitated himself into the room, boldly followed by several of the inmates of the house, who had been attracted by the uproar he made. And what a sight met their curious eyes! The dead woman lay extended on the bed, and at their entrance poor Fair lifted a wild, white, agonized face from her mother’s breast, and, seeing[Pg 82] George Lorraine’s flushed, triumphant face, she advanced toward him, screaming wildly: [Pg 82] “Arrest him! Arrest that fiend, for he has killed my mother!” There was a wild hubbub of cries in the room, and George Lorraine saw lying on the pillow, in all the awful majesty of death, the face that only yesterday had smiled upon him with a mother’s pride. The change was so swift and sudden that his limbs shook beneath him, and a cold sweat started out upon his forehead. Like one dazed, he heard Fair going on wildly: “He came to the door and ordered me to open it, and I begged him to go away, because mamma was sick with her heart, and I feared the excitement would kill her. But he only cursed me, and when I ran to look at her she was dead.” George Lorraine, recovering somewhat from the first shock of his surprise, answered sullenly: “Why didn’t you open the door, then, without making such a fuss? You are my wife, and I had a right to come in,”
Prev.
Back
Top