Dawn

Chapter 59

The news of George Caresfoot's tragic death was soon common property,

and following as it did so hard upon his marriage, which now was

becoming known, and within a few hours of the destruction of his house

by fire, it caused no little excitement. It cannot be said that the

general feeling was one of very great regret; it was not. George

Caresfoot had commanded deference as a rich man, but he certainly had

not won affection. Still his fate excited general interest and

sympathy, though some people were louder in their regrets over the

death of such a plucky dog as Aleck, than over that of the man he

killed, but then these had a personal dislike of George. When,

however, it came to be rumoured that the dog had attacked George

because George had struck the dog's mistress, general sy