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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Herald, 1906-12-28, Page 7...... ......... cccocac 0 ,AGI 0 LIFE o 0 3 0 "You ase right. Something has hap- pened. Something of such grave import that I deem it necessary to communicate it to you before our marriage proceeds," she replied, gravely and sweetly, as she took a seat at the table, and motioned him to take another. ' He turned very red and sank into a chair, dreading to hear her next words, as visions of certain gambling and other debts of honor and of dishonor, arose before him. Then resting her head upon her hand, and speaking slowly, she continued: "Within the last twelve hours, Mr. Hastings, I have made a discovery which may—I cannot tell yet whether it will —separate us forever" "Lady Etheridge," he exclaimed, deep- er flush mounting to his brow, "I trust that you have permitted no enemy to ' calumniate my character in your pre- sence." She looked up in surprise and perplex- ity. So foreign to her noble nature was the low vice of listening to the slander- er. "I beg your pardon, Mr. Hastings, I do not quite understand you, she said. `Laura, I have enemies —bitter, mal- ignant, unrelenting, and unscrupulous en- enries—wh•o would dash my present cup of happiness from my lips, and move heaven and earth to ruin me—who, to effect their purpose would not hesitate to abuse your ear with calumnies against me." "No enemy of yours has ever come be- neath my roof; no slanderer would dare to breathe your name in my presence," she answered, with a certain noble and gentle dignity .peculiar to heself. "Then, my cherished Laura, what is it. You spoke of having made a discov- ery, or rather a supposed discovery that might—but never should—separate us forever. Now, dear Laura, what is the nature of this supposed. discovery." "It concerns myself, Mr. Hastings; and It cannot, it shall not be true," he cried, in great excitement. "It is perfectly true. Albert Hastings, you have heard of such events as neg- lected infants, put out to nurse, being changed by the nurse, who, after some interval of time, foists upon the friends of her little charge her own offspring." He did not, he could not reply. He could only gaze upon her with eyeballs strained outward as though they would burst their sockets. "Mr, Hastings, the infant heiress of Swinburne Castle was just such a wrong- ed child. Losing her mother when "she was but a few weeks old, she was in- trusted to a confidential, but disaffected female servant. Alas! that I should have to speak thus of my poor mother. She was left in charge of this high -trust- ed. woman, while her widowed father went abroad to dissipate his grief. When, at the end of a few months her father returned, and claimed his infant, this misguided woman, from motives of re- venge for abitter wrong, imposed upon him her own child, myself." "Good heaven of heavens! Am I mad or dreaming!" ejaculated Robert Hast- ings. "That is the question I asked myself twelve hours ago; but I am now calm and reasonable." "It cannot be true. It is impossible. Who has abused your noble mind with such a ridiculous fabrication?" "No one. The woman, full of remorse and believing herself to be dying, sent for me last night and made a full con- fession, bringing many proofs of the truth of her story." `It is impossible, I repeat! It is im- possible, I insist! The woman is either crazy or designing. She has told you an impudent and absurd falsehoeod! No strange child could ever be foisted upon a father as his own. It is utterly and forever impossible! Nature herself cries possibly you, as you are interested in out against such a strange deception," me." She paused and sighed. exclaimed Mr. Hastings, trembling for "A discovery that concerns you, dear the rich inheritance of his promised bride. Laura? I need not repeat that it can nev- "Ah- Albert Hastings! you must know er, whatever its nature may be, separate that such a fraud is not impossible, but us, as you seem to think possible; but that it has been more than once commit - explain, my dear Laura. I long to share ted. And in this instance deception was your secret," he said, drawing nearer to temptingly easy. The infants that were her and taking her hand in his own. changed were of the sante age—three "Ab, how can I ever inform you, Al- weeks old—and infants of that tender beet Hastings? Yet why do I hesitate? age all look alike. The father went away Whence comes this reluctance to speak for many months, and when he returned of a misfortune for which I am in no it was as easy to give him one child as degree responsible? Is it possible that, the otherso that the other was kept out unconsciously, I cherish in my bosom a of his sight." lurking pride of caste, that shrinks, from "Good heavens! Lady Etheridge you adl non$edgg'ing to -day the humiliating seem absolutely to be a partisan and an fact that must be made public to -mor- advocate of this otherwise preposterous row? Or do I doubt your constancy un- claimant:' der the trying ordeal? I know not; but "I am a partisan of the truth, an ad - this weakness must be overcome," she vocate of the right, wherever I find said, speaking more to her own soul them. The validity of this woman's than to another. statement is palpable to me. Her earnest He sat—now that his selfish fears were manner, believing herself to be near allayed—listening with attentive tour- death, the vraisemblance of her story, tesy, while she continued: and the fact that the young girl, whom I "Mr. Hastings, whom do you take me have seeen, bears a strong resemblance to be? You believe me to be—as until to all the family portraits, while it is no - last night I believed myself to be— torious that I resemble none of them." Laura Etheridge, Baroness Etheridge, of "Lady Etheridge—for such you are, Swinburne." and so I shall call you—you cannot be so "Assuredly," replied Mr. Hastings, in ignorant of the usages of law and society surprise, privately asking himself, "What as to imagine that an obscure claimant, is this? Has she jilted me? Is she pri- upsupported by stronger proof than that vately married to some earl or duke, which has been advanced, ami unaided by who has raised her a step or two in the money or influence, can have any chance peerage, and covered her title with his against the wealth, connection, and pow - own?" Her next words showed him his en o the present baroness." mistake. "Mr. Hastings, I feel an inner convic- "I am not so. No drop of the blood tion that that nurse's story is true, and of Etheridge runs in my veins," she said, that girl's claims are just, and I would calmly. die rather than use my position and "Laura! Lady Etheridge! In the power against her just rights. name of all the saints in heaven, what "Lady Etheridge! my adored Laura! do you mean?" he said, startled from all pause! consider! and if ever you honored his imposed calmness by sheer astonish- with your priceless affections the hum - went, as though he thought she had sud- ble man before you, leave this matter in doily gone mad. nay hands. In a few hours more I shall "I mean just what I have said. 1 am be your proud and happy husband—hi a no Etheridge. I am simply Laura Elmer, position to protect you. Leave it to me, the daughter of the late gamekeeper," then, to compromise with these people, she continued, with something like the and settle their preposterous claims," ex - seething cruelty, but real mercy, where- claimed Albert Hastings, earnestly. with the surgeon firmly uses the probing While he spoke, she looked at him knife. with a countenance in which surprise, "Laura! lady! madam! What is this incredulity and doubt gradually gave —this accursed thing that you tell me? place to an expression of deep pain. 000.00000000 000 000 0 its 1Q® A Boston schoolboy was tall, weak and sickly. His arms were soft and flabby. He didn't have a strong muscle in his entire body. The physician who had attended the family for thirty years prescribed Scott's Emulsion. NOW s To feel that boy's arm you would think he was apprenticed to a blacksmith. ALL DRUGGISTS; 50e. AND $1.00. ,na aern�rn ra,1r rydb'`@i tit 0 ate 4 4 tab 4 0040 t41450, 41 4 "You consent to tilis, Lady Etheridge," he went kiy. "You will intrust rites matteron, toquieurs, to be arranged after I shall have become your husband," "Nay; pardon rne, ifr, Hastings. 1 must become your wife in my true col- ors. I must resin my rank and title, too le.ng wrongfully, though most ignor- antly, held. The hand I give you must be clean and honest, holding no posses- sion to which it has no right," replied tho lady, sadly, buttfirmly. "Laura Etheridge," said Mr. Ilastings, coldly, 'your ss'mpatlties and affections apear to me o side with any rather than with me.'You seem willing to re- sign, with a culpable levity, a title, rank, and fortune, as precious to me hs they should be to yourself. "Nay; not so, Albert. I, too, have greatly valued the advantages of a posi- tion tI so lg liemi and, ifhat I resign theonmbenoevw, d itto is be becausene. I cannot keep them and keep honor as well. Oh, Albert Hastings! I was this morning stripped of name and title, rank and wealth. I stand before you as poor as the poorest cottage girl in our valley, having but one treasure, the priceless treasure of my life's unsullied honor. Ah! tempt me not to barter it for Swinburne Castle and barony,'with all their appur- tenances." ,she pleaded, fervently clasp- ing her hands and gazing appealingly into his face. "Tut. tut! my dearest Laura; you talk like a fanatic. Now, is there a man or woman living who would yield up a pos- session like the barony and castle of Swinburne without trying to crush, or compromise with, or buy up the pre- tensions of their opponents?" "Yes," she answered, gravely and sweetly. "There is such a woman; and I—bereft of everything but honor— am she; and there is, I hope, such a man, and you are the one." "Not I, by my soul, Lady Etheridge! I beg your pardon, my adored Laura; but you shall not impoverish yourself, or discrown your noble brow of the coronet it so well becomes. Fortunately, your generous eonfidence invested me with the possession, of your landed estate and personal property by gift of deed. I shall deem it right to hold and defend the same against every claimant. More fortunately still, I have your promise to become my wife, Per your own good now, sweet one, I shall hold you to that promise. And when once you have vow- ed love, honor and Obedience to me, though I shall always remain your most devoted slave, yet ' in one particular I shall exact, for your own benefit, the performance of your vow of obedience. I shall require you to be perfectly passive in this natter, and leave the settling of 'these people to me! Sweet Laura! it is near the hour that we should be at the church, and I long to call you mine," said Mr. Hastings, rising. She also arose, saying: "Albert Hastings, do rot be deceived. I shall perform alI my p,mises and vows, res you continue you will not Swinburne, game -keeper's eputed child the true Bar - erne 1' er 1 is she the if, under the eircumst to wish it; but in marry Lary Ethe but plain Laura El. daughter; while R of the village laundr oness Etheridge of Sir "Rose! Rose E' party?" exclaimed Mr.!Hastings, failing back several paces, and gazing in aston- ishment upon his betrothed. "Rose; gentle Rose, miscalled Elmer, is the party. Do you know her?" "Mrs. ,Elmer is my laundress. But you never told me that they were the parties!" "It was inadvertence. I was not aware that I had not named them," said the lady, while her betrothed turned and walked up and down the floor, murmur- ing within himself. "Rose, Rose Elmer, Baroness Ethe- ridge! It may turn out so! it may! and if it does—" dere he stole a look at one or two of tits family portraits. "And she is wondrously Iike the family! 'a softened image' of those grim old barons! Strange, I never noticed the likeness before! It is certainly very striking! And now,. if I should marry for her fortune this Laura whore I do not love, and afterward discover that Swinburne belongs to Rose, whom I do love—why, what a fool I shall have proved myself! I must gain time to see how this will end. I am sure of either of the women—that's a comfort—and I shall marry the Baroness Etheridge of Swinburne, whichever that shall prove to be." IIere he stole a look at Laura. She was still seated at the table, with her elbows resting on its top, her noble brow supported by her hand, and her large, earnest eyes cast down as in trou- bled thought. She was ruminating, prob- ably, over the strange phases of her lover's character, as brought out by the crisis. ' She raised her eyes to meet his per- plexed glance. "Lady Etheridge;" he artfully began, "I think yon are right. As we cannot agree upon the proper course to be pur- sued in this inatter of the new claim, as you differ widely from pie, it is best, perhaps, that I should leave your con- science untrammelled in this action," "Olt, Albert Hastings, how much I thank you!" she exclaimed, fervently, dismissing her late distressing doubt as to his integrity of purpose, and cordially holding out her hand to him. Ile took it somewhat coldly, pressed slightly, dropped it, and continued: "And in order to leave you a. moral free agent to sot as you please in this affair, it is necessary that I make the great sacrifice of offering to ''defer our marriage to -day until this matter is fin- ally settled." She raised her eyes to his with one long, wistful gaze, as though she would' have read his soul. And' she did read it, and as she saw the dark characters of selfishness and duplicity inscribed there- in, her eloquent countenance went through all the changes of astonishment, wonder, doubt and conviction, settling at last into an expression of bitter dis- appointment, shame and pain—for him, not, for herself—for him, that he should have fallen so far below her estimation of his character. She hacl no word of vain reproach for him, She understood at once his whole policy, and in that policy she learned his nature. Ile had endeavored to persuade her to use her power to• crush or buy up a claim, priceless as it was just, and failing to do so, he' had determined to postpone their marriage and wait the issue of the contested claim—could any one doubt with what final purpose? "You do not answer me, Lady Ethe- ridge! Perhaps the proposition is dis- tasteful to you?" he said, indulging himself in a slight touch of irony. "On the contrary, I thank you for making it, Mr. Hastings. It relieves me for the present, and very much simpli- fies my course of action," she calmly replied. "Oh, perdition! I do not wish to break with her finally and entirely. I wish to Jiave it in my power to marry her, should she be confirmed in her present position, which I really think the prob- able termination of this affair, I must soothe her, and make her understand that our marriage is deferred, not broken off. Nor shall it be broken off unless she is positively proved to be the laundress' daughter," thought Albert Hastings. Then, addressing his betrothed, he said: "My dearest Laura, you will see that my proposal leaves you free to act as you please in this affair of the contested inheritance, but it does not release you from your marriage engagement, to which, fairest lady, I, must still hold you She was very pale and firm as she re - "Understand me, Albert Hastings. In this great crisis in my life, you propose to defer our marriage. I accept your proposition, and defer our union forever. But you wish to wait the issue of what yon consider a doubtful case. I can save you time and trouble by telling you at once what that issue will be. Rose Elmer will be declared Baroness Ethe- ridge, of Swinburne. Mr. Ilastings, you are free from this moment forever!" "But. Lady Etheridge! Laura! I can- not and will not consent to your break- ing with me in this manner. I only wishod to postpone our marriage until "You should know whether I should be confirmed in my inheritance of the title and estates of Swinbrune. Pardon me, Albert Ilastings, but poor as I have grown within the last few hours, I can- not keep myself attendant upon your pleasure, to be accepted or rejected. You ' are free. Albert Iiastinge! So am 1! f Farewell! The Lord knows, I wish you had a better heart and a nobler spirit! Once more, farewell," she said, rising to leave the rom. He seized her hand and forced her to sit down, while, with all the impassioned eloquence of his gifted but perfidious mind, be besought her to reconsider 'her decision—to give him time. "To what end? To find myself re- jected at last, when Rose Elmer shall have been declared to be Lady Etheridge! Oh! Albert Hastings, spare me that humilation !" "Laura, you will be sorry for this!" he cried, passionately. "1 know it. I do not pretend to strength, or hardness, or coldness that does not belong to me. I shall be sorry for—for this loss of love. I am sorry even now; but my sorrow is, and shall be, a thing 'between myself and my Creator. Once more I wish you well, 11r. Ilastings. Good-bye." And before he could again prevent her she bowe dand left the room. she bowed and left the room. fierce impatience. and began walking uy and clown the floor, exclaiming: "Here is a pretty dilemma. If she should, contrary to her expectations, be confirmed in her possessions? But I roust try to prevent that. Iter final and entire rejection of me has at least de- cided my course. Rose Elmer's pros- pects look well. Now, then, I shall em- brace the cause of Rose Elmer. I shall hasten to her side, and persuade her to marry me, before she suspects her good fortune; and then I shall devote time, money and interest to the establishment of her rights." And so saying, Albert Hastings left the castle, leaving to Lady Etheridge the task of explaining to her guardian the reason why their marriage was broken off. On leaving the castle ground he took the road to the village, and bent his steps to seek Rose Eloper. CHAPTER VI. Lady Etheridge—we will continue to call her by this familiar name until she is legally deprived of it—Lady Etheridge stood where Mr. Hastings had left her, buried in thought, until site was aroused Hastings was awaiting her in the crim- son drawing rom. by the sudden recollection that Colonel Then, calmly and majestically, she left the Library, crossed the spacious hall, and entered the presence of her guar- dian. She found him reclining indolently in a lounge chair; but on seeing her enter he arose and caste forward to meet her, with some gay salutation on his lips, when the marble whiteness of her face and the stern rigidity of her features startled him. "Good Heaven, Lady Etheridge, what has happened?" he exclaimed, taking her hand and putting her into an easy chair. "The marriage intended between Mr. Hastings and myself is broken off by mutual consent," replied the lady, quietly. "The marriage between yourself and Albert I•Iastings broken off, Lady Ethe- ridge! You astound me! And at the last moment, tool Tt cannot be so! It is madness! Just madness!" exclaimed Colonel Hastings. "1 have," she replied, "only just made a discovery, of which I felt in honor hound to inform Mr. Hastings, leaving It to his •discretion, under the new circum- stances, to complete or not our marriage engagement. He proposed a middle course—to postpone our wedding and. wait for events. I could not accept his propasa1, ud so, as I Mold you, our mar. riage en gement has. been 'broken off by mutual consent." • ,(To bo Continued.) A CHURCH SEXTON'S STORY Mow Bileans Restored Him After Long Suffering From Biliousness Headache and Liver Trouble. Mr. John J. Wilson, sexton of the Church, of Messiah, Toronto, and living , at 53 Wickson avenue, has recently told a press representative how Bileans cured ,him of Chronic Biliousness, Diz- ziness and Liver troubles. Mr. 'Wilson says: "Practically from! boyhood I have suffered from Bilious- ness and Liver and Stonnaeh troubles, and ondy recently I was cured by Bit- ean.s. After food I should have acute pain until I vomited. Headache troubled Inc very moach, sometimes so bad that I could hardly see. At other times there would seem to be a rush of something to my head. I should turn, dizzy and I have even fallen down in the street. The bibousness was so bad that for long periods at a time I have been unalble to take food. Bileans were •recommended to me, and I gave them a fair trial. To my delight they were 'equal to my case, and after a short course they cured me completely. I now enjoy the best of health, and am free entirely from the ailments which caused me such acute suf- fering for so long. Bileans are worth their weight in gold." Means are altogether different to ordinary medicine. They are compound- ed from vegetable essences and are free from alcohol, bismuth, mercury, or any of the harmful mineral ingredients and poisons found: in so many liver and stomach remedies. They have the support of many eminent scientists and aro fregeuntly prescribed as a cure foe constipation, piles, and stomach, liver and intestinal diseases generally. They also cure female ailments and irregu- larities. headache, debility, dizzy spetis, heartburn, palpitation, heat flushes, etc. As a general tonic they are unequalled and as it family ieinedy. All druggists sell these, at 54) cents a box, or post free from the Bilean Co., Toronto, upon re- ceipt of price. 0 boxes for $2.50. .P POSTAL CARDS 01' LEATHER. Demand. for These Souvenirs Has a De- cided Effect Upon the Market. "Leather postal cards are a constantly increasing fad ,and the demand for them has produced an appreciable effect on the leather market," said Frank W. Lord representing aMassachusetts shoe firm, at the Plankington. "Everywhere I go I notice that the dealers are laying in larger stocks of cards than ever. The fact that the women are now making pillow coverings out of the cards is mainly responsible for the great demand for the leather oblongs. "Hundreds of thousands of square feet of leather is utilized in the production of postal cards, and when one considers what a multiplicity of uses leather has and the many articles which are manu- factured from it there is little to be wondered at when the price of hides soar upward. "As a matter of fact, only a portion of the entire number of hides taken from animals slaughtered in the Chicago and other western packing bouses.is tanned at all. Probably 25 per cent, of the hides are held back in order to stiffen the market. To the packer they are valu- able for making soap fat, and he has nothing to lose, while by keeping tho supply low he manipulates prices tekliis own advantage. "Several Japanese some time ago pur- chased nearly $10,000.000 worth of hides and placed them in storage in southern Indiana, where they aro now. Since the Japs bought the market price has risen steadily, and were they to sell to -day, the almoud-eyed financiers would net fully 40 per cent. profit Lower Grade of Affection. "Oh," sobbed the young wife, "George doesn't love men as he did." "Nonsense," replied her mother. "Only this morning I heard hint call you 'the dearest girl in the world,' " "yes, but he used to call me 'the dearest that ever livedtr Russian railway stations are usually about two miles from the towns which they serve. This is. a precaution against fire, as many of the Russian dwellings, particularly in rural districts, are thatch- ed with straw.