The Tragedy of the Chain Pier

of the sun. There could not be any mistake; I had seen her face quite plainly in the moonlight, and it had been too deeply impressed on my mind fo

know that the wife whom he worshiped was a murderess? What else she had been, I did not car

ceful as fair; the woman I had seen on the Chain Pier was a wild, desperate creature, capable of anything. I could not rest; the soft bed of eiderdo

times over that I had never seen the Chain Pier, or that I had never come to Dutton Manor House; yet it might be that I was the humble instrument intended by Providence to bring to light a great crime. It seemed strange that of all nights in the year I should have chosen that one; it se

is heart a murderess-to live befooled and die deceived? My heart rose in hot indignation against the woman who ha

han I could do. After hours of weary thought, I came to this conclusion, that I must find out first of all whether my suspicions were correct or not. That was evidently my first duty. I must know whether there was any truth in

d with a secret brand? I must find out for Lance's sake. There were times when intense pity softened my heart, almost moved me to tears; then the recollection of the tiny white baby lying all night in the sea, swaying to and fro with the waves, steeled me. I could see again the pure little waxen face, as the kindly woman kissed it on the pier. I could see the little green gra

least shadow of blame. She seemed to me pure in heart, thought and word. At times, when she read or sang to us, there was a light such as one fancies the angels wear. Then I found als

I have known this beautiful woman, whose husband adored her, give up a ball or a party to sit with some poor woman whose child was i

ld whisper to me; "my w

id. But what was the soul like

ing suspicion I should have pronounced her a perfect woman, for I could see no fault in her. I had been a fortnight at Dutton Manor, and but for this it would have been a very happy fortnight. Lance and I had fallen into old loving terms of intimacy, and Frances made a most lovable and harmonious third. A whole fortni

anquil course of life, but from day to day I grew m

and Lance sat with his beautiful wife where a great group of

d the grass seems burned, I long for the sea. Love of water seems almost mania with me, from the deep blue ocean, with its foamin

her lips. Was it the shade of the flower, or did the color le

like the sea, Mrs.

replied,

I asked

answered. "It must be

like thee,

n why-I c

his I know

ke thee, Do

said. "I thought love for the sea was inb

with me,"

ion, but I was quite sure the color had faded from her face. Wa

d a laughin

. Last year I spent a whole month in trying to persuade her; this year I have begun in good ti

e sea?" I repeated. "Y

, "it makes me melanch

the rush and fall of the waves m

ect the sea has upon

en smiling at me as she went on: "You seem to think i

rtune," I replied

ous look came into her face, and for the first tim

om the moment we were never quite the same a

ve way this time," said Lance

lly wish it

ld do us all good. And, after all

to the great Northern sea, not to the So

e looked at me with a curious, intent gaze-a far-off

, John?" asked Lan

d shifting sand

orthern seas

n I should in all the seaweed that was ever thrown on the beach; to me there is more poetry and more loveliness in the ripple of the leaves

will, but never call the sea monotonous-it is never that

stery," I

and the words seemed forced

vessels that have sank laden with human beings! No one will know one-thi

e ground. She rose quickly an

y," she said; "I wil

my wife does not lik

range to my mind-