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About The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 3, 1905)
THE SUNDAY OREGOXIAX, PORTLAND, SEPTEMBER 3, 1905. Adventure of the No ble Bachelor. THE Lord St. Simon marriage and Its curious termination have long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles-in -which the unfor tunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scan dals have eclipsed it, and their more pi quant details have drawn the gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to believe, however, that the full facts have never been reiealed to the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a considerable share ln clearing the matter up, I feel that no memoir of him would be comjrfeto without some little sketch of this remarkable epi sode. It was a few weeks before my own mar riage, during the days when I "was still sharing rooms with Sherlock Holmes on Bakor street, that he came home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the ta ble waiting for him. I had remained in doors all day, for the weather had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistency. "With my body in one cany chair and my logs upon anothor, I had surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers, until at last, saturated with tha nows of the day, I tossed them all aside and lay listless, watching the huge orest and monogram upon the envelope ijpon the table, and wondering lazily who my 'friend's noble correspondent could be. "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked, as he ontercd. "Yqur morning letters. If I remember right, were from a fishmonger and a tldewalter." "Yog, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety." he answered, smil ing, "and the humbler arc usually the more interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social summonses which flail upon a man either to bo bored or to lie."' He broke the seat and glanced over th 0Mt0JllR. "Oh. come. It may prove to be somothing of interest, aftor all." "Net social, then?" "No. distinctly professional." "And from a noble client?" On of the highest In England." "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." "I assure you, "Watson, without affec tation, that the status of my client is a matter of less moment to me than the in terest of his case. It is Just possible, Thowover, that that also may not bo want ing in this new Investigation. You have been reading the papers diligently of late, have you not?" "It looks like it." said L ruefully, point ing to a huge bundle in the corner. "I hv had nothing else to do." "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps ; be able to post me up. I read nothing except the criminal news and the agony oohtmnjThe latter Is always instructive. But Ifyou have followed recent events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon, and his wedding?" "Oh. yes. with the deepest interest." "That is well. The letter which I hold in Br hand Ib from Lord SU Simon. I will read it to you. and in return j-ou must turn trver those papers and Jet me have J wlwtjever boars upon the matter. This Is whtU ho savs: 1 My Dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes: Lord Backwater tells me that I may place im plicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I have determined, therefore, to call upon you, and to consult you in reference to the very painful event which lias occurred In nniirvllnn xHth mv -nA. ding. Mr. Lestrade. of Scotland Yard, isj acuns? aireaar in tun mat or hut v o wires me that he sees no objection to your oo-oporation. and that he even thinks that it might be of some assistance. I will call at 4 o'clock in the afternoon, and should you have any other engagement at that time. I hope that you will postpone It. as this matter is of paramount Importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON. "It is dated from Grosvonor Mansions, written with a quill pen. and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a Hmoar of ink upon the outer side of his right little anger," romarked Holmes, as he foMed up the epistle. "He says 4 o'clock. It is 3 now. He will bo here In an hour." "Then I have Just time, with your as sistance, to got clear upon the 'subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts In their order of tlfre while I take a glance as to who our client Is." He picked a red-covered volume from a lino of books of reference beside the man telpiece. "Here ho Is," said he. sitting down and flattening it out upon his knee. "Lord Robert Walslngham de Vore St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Bal moralHum! Arms: Azure, three cal trops in chief over a fess sable. Born In 3SIS. He's forty-one years of age. which is 'mature for marriage. "Was Under-Secretary for the Colonies in a late adminis tration. The Duke, his father, was at one tlmo Secretary for Foreign Affairs. They inherit Plantagonot blood by direct de scent, and Tudor on the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive In nM this. I think that I must turn to you, "Watson, for something more, solid." "I have very little difficulty In finding -what I want," said I, "for the facts are quite recent, and tho rriatter struck me as remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew that you had an inquiry on hand, and that you disliked the intrusion of other matters." "Oh. you mean the little problem of the Grosvonor Square furniture van. That is quite cleared up, now though. Indeed, It was obvious from the first. Pray give the results of your news paper selections." "Here is the first notice whloh I can find. It is in the personal column of the Morning Post, and datos, as you Bee, some weeks back. A marraige has been arranged.' It saj-s, 'and will, if rumor is oorrect, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert St. Simon, socond son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty Doran, the only daugh ter of Aloys! us Doran, Esq., of San Franeisoo. CaL, U. S. A.' That is all." "Torse and to the point," romarked Holmes, stretching his long, thin legs toward tho fire. "There was 'a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society papers of the same -week. Ah! here it is. There will soon be a call for protection in the marriage market, for the present free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Groat Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from Across tile Atlantic. An" important addition has been made during the last week to the list of the prizes which have been borne awayby those charm ing invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself for over 20 years proof Against the little god's arrows, has now definitely announced his approaching- marriage with Miss Hatty Doran. the fascinating' daughter of a California" millionaire. Miss Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much attention at the West bury House festivities, is an only child, and it js currently teported that her dowry will run to consideraby over the six figures, with expectancies for the future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has boon compelled to soil his pictures within the last few years, and as Lord SU Simon has no property of his own, save the small estate of Birchmoor. It is ob vious that the California heiress Is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to make the easy and common transition from a republican lady to a Britten peeress.'" '.Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning:. "Oh, yc-a; plentr. There is another note in the Morning1 Post to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that' it would bo at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen Intimate friends would be Invited, and that the party would re turn to the furnished house at Lan caster Gate which had been taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later that 1?, on Wodaosday last there is a curt announcement that the wed ding had taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord Backwater's place, near Fctorsfield. Thtse are all the notices which ap peared before the disappearance of the bride." "Bofore the what?" asked Holme,' with a start. "The vanishing of tho lady." When did she" vanish, then?" "At the wedding broakfasU" "Indeed. This Is more interostlng than It promised to be; quite dramatic, in fact." "Yo; It struck me as bolng a little out of the common." 'They often vanish before the cere mony, and occasionally during the honeymoon: but I cannot call to mind anything- quite so prompt asthta. Pray let me have the details." "1 warn you that they are very in complete." "Perhaps we may make them less so." "Such as they are, they are set forth J in a single article of a morning paper of 3'osterday, which I will road to you. IT is headed. 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding:' "The family of Lord Robert SU Simon has been thrown into tne great est consternation by the strange and painful eplsodo which have taken place In connection ith his weddipjr. The cenwuony. as sjhortly announcod In the papers of yiterdy. occurred on the previous mornng; but it is only j now that it has been possible to con- j n rm me strange rumors wnicn nave been so persistently floating abouU In spite of the' attempts of the friends to . hush the matter up. so much public ! attention lias now been drawn to it that no good purpose can be served by j affocting to disregard what is a com- 1 mon subject for conversation. j rue ceremony, wnicn was per formed at SU George's, Hanover Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, Lprd Backwator, Lord Eus tace and Lady Clara SU Simon (the younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia Whit tington. The whole party proceeded afterward o the house of Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where break fast had been prepared, it appears that some, little trouble was caused by a woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavored to force hor way into the house after the bridal party, alleging that she Iwd some claim upon Lord SU Simon. It was only after a painful and prolonged scene that she "was ejected by the but ler and the footman. The bride, who had fortunatoly entered the house be fore this unpleasant interruption, had j sat down to breakfast with the resC when she complained of a sudden in- J disposition and retired to her room. ; Her prolonged absence having caused some comment, her fathor followed her. but, learned from hor maid that she had only come up to her chamber for an inatanU caught up an ulster and bonnet, and hurriod down to the pus sage. One of the footmen declared that xi e had seen a lady leave the house thus apparelled, believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his dhughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran. in conjunction with the brldogroom. Instantly put them selves into communication with the police, and very energetic Inquiries are beinc madn. which will tirnhahlv rcsultv In a speedy clearing up of this very singular business. Up to a lato . hour last nlghU however, nothing had ' transpired as to the whereabouts of ; the missing lady. There are rumors of foul- play in the matter, and it is said tnat tne ponce nave caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the orig inal disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some other motive, she may have been concerned In the strange disappearance of the bride.'" "And is that all?" "Only one little item In another of the morning papers, but it is a suggestive one." "And that is" "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, has actually been arrested. It appears that she was ! formerly a danseuse at the 'Allegro,' and that she has known the bridegroom for some years. There are no further par ticulars, and the whole easels in your hands now so far as it has been set forth In the public press." "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, Watson, and as the clock makes It a few minutes after 4, I have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble cllenU Do npt dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, if only as a check to my own memory." "Lord Robert 8U Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cul tured face, high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about the mouth, and with the, steady, well-opened eye of a man whose pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His manner was brisk, and jet his gen eral appearance gave an undue Impres sion of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little bend of the knees as he walked.'' His hair. too. as he swept oft his very , curly-brimmed haU was grizzled round the edges and thin upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of foppishness, with high collar, black frock coau white waist coat, yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-colored gaiters. He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which hold his golden eye-glasses. "Good day. Lord St. Simon." said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague. Dr. Watson. Draw up a little to the Are, and wc will talk this matter over." "A most painful matter io me, as you can most readily Imagine. Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I under stand that you "have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir. though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of society." "No, I am descending." "L beg pardon." "VMy last client of the sort was a king." "Oh. really! I had no idea. And which king?" The King of Scandinavia." "What! Had he lost his wife?" . "You can understand." said Holmes, suavely, "that I extend to the affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to you In yours." "Of course! Vory right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to my own case. I am ready to give you any Information which may assist you in forming an opinion." "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take It as correct this article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." Lord SU Simon glanced over it. "Yos, it is correct, as far as it goes." "But it needs a great deal of supple- r ' . ! RBS f i&'ffl m lis i Tl I j S11K HAD CAUGHT TV AS VUSTKR AND BONNET. " - - i .... . - - ------- .j mentlng bofore any one could offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most directly by questioning you." "Pray de so." "When did you first meet Mies Hatty Doran?" "In San Francisco, a year ago." "You wore traveling in the States?" "Yos." "Did you become engaged then?" "No." "But you were on a frlondly footing?" "I was amused by hoc1 society, and sho could see that I was amused." "Her father Is very rich?" "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope.' "And how did he make his money?" "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold. Invested 1U and came up by leaps and bounds." "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's your wife's char acter?" The nobleman swung his glasses a lit tle faster and stared down Into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was twenty before her father be came a rich man. During that time she ran free in a mining camp, and wand ered through woods or mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than from the schoolmaster. She is what "we call in England a tomboy, with a strong nature, wild and free, un fettered by any sort of traditions. She is impetuous volcanic. I was about to say. She is swift in making up her mind, and fearless in carrying out her resolu tions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the name which I have the honor to bear" he gave a little stately cough "had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I believe she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice, and that anything dishonorable would be re pugnant to her." "Have you her photograph?" "I brought this with mc." He opened avlockeU and showed us the full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a pho tograph, but an ivory miniature, and the artist had brousht out the full effect of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at 1U Thon he closed the locket and handed it back to Lord SU Simon. 'The young lady came to London then, and you renewed your acquaintance?" "Yes, her father brousht hor over for this last London season. I mot her sev eral times, became engaged to her, and have now married her." "She broughu I understand, a con siderable dowry?' "A fair dowry. Not more than Is usual in my family." "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage Is a fait accompli?" "I really have made no inquiries on the subJecU" "Very naturally noU Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the wedding?" "Yes." "Was she In good spirits?" "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do In our future lives." "Indeed! That Is vers Interesting. And on the morning of the wedding?" X -sne was as origan as possiDie at least until aftor the ceremony." "And did you observe any change In her then?" "Well, to tell the truth I saw then the first signs that I had ever seen that her temper was Just a little sharp. The incldcnU however, was too trivial to re late and can have no possible bearing upon tho case. "Pray. lat us have it,-for all thau" "Oh. It Is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went toward the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it fell over into the pew. There was a moment's dolay, but the gentle man in the pew handed it up to her again, and It did not appear to be the worse for the falL Yet when I vspoke to her of the matter she answered me ab ruptly, and in the carriage, on our way home, she seemeu absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." "Indeed!" You say that there was a gentleman In tho pew? Some of the gen eral public were present, then?" "Oh. yes. It Is Impossible to exclude thorn when the church Is open." 'This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" "No. no: I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a common looking person. I hardly noticed his ap pearance. But really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." "Lady SU Simon, then, returned from the wedding In a less cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to IU What did sho do on re-entering her father's house?" "I saw her In conversation with her maid." "And who is her maid?" "Alice Is her name. She Is an Ameri can, and came from California with her." "A confidential servant?" "A "little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed her to take great liberties. Still, of course. In America they look upon those things in a different way." "How long did she speak to this Alice?" "Oh. a few minutes. I had something olse to think of." "You did not overhear, what they said?" "Lady SU Simon said" something about i 'Jumping a claim. She was accustomed to use sSang of the kind. I have no Idoa what she meanu" "American slang Is vory expressive sometimes. And what did your wife do when she finished speaking to her mald? "She walked Into the breakfast-room." "On your arm? "No, alone. She was vary independent In little matters like that. Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose hurriedly, muttered some word of apology, and left the room. She never came back." "But this maid. Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to her room, cov ered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a bonnet, and went ouu" "Quite so. And she was afterward seen walking Into Hyde Park In company with Flora Millar, a woman who Is now in custody, and who had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that morning." "Ah. yes. I should llk'e a few particu lars as to this young lady and your rela tions to her." . ; Lord SU Simon shrugged 'his -shoulders and raised his eyebrows. "We have been on a friendly footing for some years I may say on a very friendly footing. She used to be at the 'Allegro.' I have not treated her ungenerously, and she has no Just cause of complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed, and devoted ly attached to me. She wrote me dread ful letters when she heard that I was about to bo married; and, to tell the truth, the reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to Mr. Doran's door Just aftor wc returned, and she endeav ored tO OUsh hor WSV In. llttnrtnr- vnrv abusive expressions toward my wife, and even threatening ncr; nut I had loreseon the possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police fellows there In private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a row." "Did your wife hear all this?" "No, thank goodness, she did noU" "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterward ?' "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade. of Scotland Yard, looks upon as so serious. It Is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid some terrible trap for her." "Well, It is a possible supposition." "You think so, too?" "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon this as likely?" "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." "Still, jealousy Is a strange transformer of character. Pray what Is your own the ory as to what took place?" "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I have given you all the facts. Since you ask mc. however, I may say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of this af fair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous disturb ance In my wife." "In short, that she had become sudden ly deranged?" "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back I will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to without success I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." "Well, certainly that Is also a conceiv able hypothesis." said Holmes, smiling. "And now. Lord SU Simon, I think that I have nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the breakfast table so that you could sec out of the window?" "We could see the other side of the road and the park." "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. I shall com municate with you." "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our client, ris ing. j "I have solved iu" "Eh? What was that?" ' "I say that I have solved IU" "Where, then. Is my wife?" That Is a detail which I shall speedily supply." Lord SU Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked,' and. bow ing in a stately, old-fashioned manner, he departed. "It Is very good of Lord SU Simon to nonor my head by putting it on a level with his own." said Sherlock Holme3, laughing. "I think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the case before our client came into the room." "My dear Holmes!" "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole exam ination served to 'urn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial evidence Is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau'a example." "But I have heard all that you have hoard." "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It Is one of those cases but, hello, here is Lestrade! Good afternoon. Lestrade! You will find an extra tumblor upon tho sideboard, and there are cigars in the box." The official detective jras attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a black canvas bag In his hand. With a short greeting, he seated himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. "What's up. then" asked Holmes, with a twinkle in his eye.. "You look dissatis fied." , "And I feci dissatisfied. It is this in fernal SU Simon marriage case. I can make 'neither head nor tail of the busi ness." Really! You surprise me."' "Who ever heard of such a mixed af fair? Every dew seems to slip through my fingers. 1 have ben at work upon It all day." "And very wet It seems to have made! you." said Holmes, laying his hand upon the arm of the pea-Jackou "Yes, I have boon dragging the Ser pentine." "In heaven's name, what for?" "In search of the bddy of Lady SU Si mon. Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. "Have you dragged tho basin of Trafal gar Square fountain?" he asked. "Why? What do you mean?" "Because you have Just as good a chance of finding this lady In the one as In the other." Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose yoii know all about It." he snarled. 'Vel. I have only Just henfd the facts, but my mind is made up." "Oh. Indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part In the matter?" "I think It very unlikely." 'Then perhaps you will kindly explain how It Is that we found this In It?" He opened his bag as he spoke and tumbled onto the floor a wedding dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discolored, and soaked with water. 'There," said he. put ting a new wedding ring upon the top of the pile. 'There is a little nut for you to crack. Master Holmes." "Oh, Indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. They have been Identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me that If the clothes were there the body would not be far off." "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found in the neigh borhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope to arrive at through this?" "At somo evidence Implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." "I am afraid that you will find It dif ficult "Are you. Indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I am afraid. Hplmes, that you aro notjrery practical glth your deductions and your Inferences. You have made two blunders in as many minutes. This dress does Implicate Miss Flora Millar." "And how?" "In the dress Is a pockeU In the pocket Is a cardcase. In the cardcasc Is a note. And here Is the very note." He slapped It down upon the table In front of blm. "Listen to this: 'You will sec me when all Is ready. Come at once. F, H. M.' Now, my theory all along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora Millar, and that she. with confed erates, no doubt, was responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her Initials. Is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped Into her hand at the door and which lured her within their reach." "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes. laughing. "You really are very fine in-J paper Iff a listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he gave a little cry of satisfaction. 'This is Indeed Important." said he. "Ha! you And it so?" "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" "On the contrary, this is the right side." 'The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil over here." "And over here Is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel bill, which inter ests me deoply." There's nothing In IU I looked at it before." said Lestrade. " 'OcU 4, rooms Ss. breakfast 2s 6d, cocktail Is. lunch 2s 6d, glass sherry Sd.' I sec nothing In thaU" "Very likely noU It Is most ImportanU all the same. As to the note. It Is im portant also, or at least the initials arof so I congratulate you again." "I've wasted time enough," said Le strade, rising. "I believe In hard work and not In sitting by the Are spinning fine theories. Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom of the matter firsU" He gathered up the garments, thrust them Into the bag and made for the door. 'Just one hint to you.. Lestrade," drawled Holmes, before his rival van ished. "I wiU tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady SU Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any such person." Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, tapped his fore head three times, shook his head solemn ly, and hurried away. He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose and put on his overcoaU "There is something in what the fellow says about outdoor work." he remarked, "so I think. Watson, that 1 must leave you to your papers for a little." It was after i o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a confectioner's man with a very large fiat box. This he unpacked with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and presently, to my very great aston ishment, a quite epicurean little cold sup per began to be laid out upon our hum ble lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold woodcock, a pheasant, a pate de fole gras pie, with a group of ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, my two visitors vanished away like the genii of the Arabian Nights, with no explana tion save that the things had been paid for and were ordered to this address. Just before 9 o'clock Sherlook Holmes stepped briskly into" the room- His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his eye which made me think that he had not been disappoint ed In his conclusions. 'They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." v "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in." said he. "I am surprised that Lord SU Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." It was indeed our visitor of the morning who came bustling- In, dang ling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very perturbed ex pression upon his aristooratic features. "My messenger reached you. then?" asked Holmes. "Yes, and I confess that tho contents startled me beyond measure. Have you good authority for what-you say?'' 'The best possible." Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his fore head. "What will tho Duke say." he mur mured, "when he hears that one of the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" "It Is the purest accidenU I cannot allow that there Is any humiliation." "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." "I fall to see that anyone Is to blame. I can hardly see how the lady couHl have acted otherwise, though her ab rupt method of doing It was undoubt edly to be regretted. Having no mother, she had no one to advise her at such a crisis." "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, tapping his Angers upon the table. "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so unprecedented a position." "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have been shamefully used." "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, thero are steps on the landing, if I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view of the matter. Lord St. Simon. I have brought an advocate here who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered In a lady and gentleman. "Lord SU Simon." said he, "allow me to Introduco you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I think, you have 'already met." At the sight of these new-comers our client had sprung from his seat and stood vory erect, with his oyea cast down and his hand thrust into . the breast of his frock coat, a picture of offended dignity. The lady had taken a quick, step forward and had held out hor hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her plead ing face was one which it was hard to resist. "You're angrv, Robert," said she. "Well. I guess you have every cause to be." "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon, bitterly. "Oh, jes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of rattled, and from the time when I faiw Franll- here aaraln T itie ftikln"t knW what 1- was doing or say- HK. x ouiy wonaer I didn't fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave the room while you explain this matter?; 'If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, "we've had Just a little too much secresy over this mat ter alroady. For my prt, I should like a11 Europe and America to hear the rights of It." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man. clean shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. Then I'll tell our story right away-," said the lady. "Frank here and I met In 81, In McQuiro's camp, near the Rockie, where pa was working a claim. e were engaged to each other. Frank and I; but then one day father struek a rich pocket and made a pile, while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to nothing. The richer pa grew, the poorer was Frank; so at last pa wouldn't hear of our en gagement lasting- any longer, and he took me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything about .11. It WOUld onlv hnva i-r. ,J V. I j to know, so we Just Axed It nn nil v "uuc mill iliuu r?eS- ran 8a,d that he nic! so and make his pile, too. and never come back to-claim me until he had JCh, aSv.pa So then 1 Promised to wait for him to tho end of time, and Pledged myself not to marry any one else while he lived. 'Why shouldn't he i5Erled,r,firht awQy- en. said he -and then I will feel sure of you until tW lm, ,to bc yoUr husband X vaI com, hack? Well, we talked waftlnsr Vhnf clerpman all ready in waiting:, that we Just did It right there; and then Frank went off to seek his fortune, and I went back to pa. Tne next. I heard of Frank was that SJn Montana. and then he went prospecting In Arizona, and then I heard of him from New Mexipo. After tnat came a Ions newspaper story about now a miners' camp had been attacked bj Apache Indians, and there was my Franks name among- the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was very sick -or months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took me to half the doctors of Frisco. Nor a word of news came for a year or more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really dead Tnen Lord SU Simon came to Frlco and we came to London, and a mar riage was arranged, and pa was verv pleased, but I felt all the tlmo that no man on this earth would ever take the place in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. "Still, if I hud married Lord SU Si mon, of course I'd have to do my duty by him. We can't command our love but we can our actions. I went to the alter with him with the Intentlen to make "aim Just as good a wife as It was in me to be. But you may imagine what J felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I glanced back and saw Fronk standing and looking at me out of the flrst pew. I thought it was his ghost at flrst; but when I looked again there ho was still, with a kind of ques tion in his eyes as If to ask me wheth er I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I didn't droD. I Wnnw i,. everything was turning round, and the words of the clergyman were Just like the buzz of a bee in my ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to know what I was thinking:, for ho raised hia Anger to his lips to tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, and I knew that he was writing: me a note. As I passed his pew on the way out I dropped by bou quet over to him, and he slipped note Into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a line asking me to Join him 'when he made the sign to me to do so. Of- course I never doubted for n moment that my Arst duty was npw (o him. and I determined to do Just whatever he might direcU "When I got back I . told my maid. who had known him In California and had alwKys been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing-, but to get a few things packed- and my ulster ready. I know 1 ought to have spoken to Lord SU Simon, but it was dreadful hard be fore his mother and all those great people. I Just made up my mind to run away and explain afterward. I hadn't been at the table ten minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of the road. He beck oned to me and then began walking into the park. I slipped out, put on my things and followed him. Some woman, came talking- something or other about Lord SU Simon to me seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little secret of his own before mar riage also but I managed to get away from her, and- soon overtook Frank. We got Into a cab together, and away we drove to some lodgings he had taKcn in Gordon Square, and that was mr true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to Eng land, followed me there and had come upon me at last on the very morning, of my second wedding." "I saw it Irf a paper, exclaimed the American. "It gave the name and the church, but not where the Iudy lived."' 'Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all for open ness, but I was so ashamed of It all that I felt as If I should like to vanisn away and never see any of them again Just sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladles sitting round that breakfast table and waiting for me to come back. So Frank took my wed ding clothes and things and made a bundle of them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away somewhere where no one could And them. It is likely that we should have gone on to Paris tomorrow, only that this good gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to U3 this evening, though how he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and that we should ue putting ourselves In the wrong if we were so secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord SU Simon alone, and so we came rlgnt away round to his rooms at once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry If I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very meanly of me." Lord St. Simon had by no means re laxed his rigid attitude, but nad lis tened with n frowning brow and a compressed Hp to this long narrative. "Excuse me," he said ."but it is not my custom to discuss ray most intimate persoi-al affairs in th.is public manner." "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" "Oh. certainly. If It would give you any pleasure." He put out his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. , I had hoped." suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us In a.' friendly supper." ' - "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his lordship. "I may ,be forced to acquiesce in these recent de velopments, but I am hardly be expected to make merry over them. I think that, with your permission, I will now wish you all a very good-nlghU" He included us all In a sweeping bow and stalked out of the room. "Then I trust that you at least will honor me with your company," said Sher lock Holmes. "It Is always a joy to meet an American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister In fargone years will not pre vent our children from being some day citizens of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." "The case has been an interesting one." romarked Holpaes, when our visitors had left us. "because it serves to show very clearly how simple the explanation may be of an affair which at flrst sight seems to be almost Inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing stranger than the result when viewed, for Instance, by Mr. Lestrade. of Scotland Yard." "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" "From the flrst two facts were very obvious to me. the one that the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, the other that she had re pented of It within a few minutes of returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the morning then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that something be? She could not have spoken to any one when she was out. for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she ssen some one. then? If she had. it must be some one from America, because she had spent so short a time In this country that she could hardly have allowed any one to acquire so deep an Influence over her that tho mere sight of him would Induce her to change her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a pro cess of exclusion, at the Idea that she might have seen n American. Then who could this American be. and why should he possess so much influence over her? It might bc a lover; It might be a husband. Her young womanhood had. I knew, been spent In rough ocenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got before I ever heard Lord SU Simon's narrative. When he told us of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's man ner, of so transparent a device for ob taining a note as the dropping of a bou queU of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very significant allusion to claim-Jumping which in miners' par lance means taking possession of that which another person has a prior claim to the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a previous husband the chances being In favor of the latter." "And how in the world did you find them?" "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held Information in his hands the value of which, he did not himself know. The Initials were, or course, of tho highest Importance, but more valuable still was It to know that within a week he had settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." "How did you deduce xhe select?" "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eIghtpencefor a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expen sive hotels'. There are not many In Lon don which charge at that rate. In the second one which I visited in Northum berland avenue. I learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. 'Moulton, an American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking over the entries against him I came upon the very Items which I had seen In the du plicate bill. His letters were to be for warded to No. 22S Gordon square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate enough to find the loving couple at home. I ventured to give them some paternal advice, and to point out to them that it would be better In every way that they should make their position a little clearer both to the general public and to Lord SU Simon In particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I made him keep the appolntmenU" "But with no very good resulU" I remarked. "His conduct was certainly not very gracious." "Ah. Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be very gracious either. If. after all the trouble of wooing ajjd wedding, you found yourself deprived In an Instant of wife and of fortune. I think that we may judge Lord SU Simon very mercifully, and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves-In the same position. Draw your chair up, and hand me my violin, for the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away these bleak, autumnal evenings." (Copyright by Harper & Brothers.)
