Smyrna times., 1867-11-20

o. " Un""Se HSr condition, but the rather to air
80 at universal conquest. The ladies grew nc
r only Scandalous but wrOth, for so equally wer
o Joan'S tayOrs distributed that every man So
e pes creIly considered himself the most fortunate
,, anu ChuS, there being no rejected suitors, ther
: were no deserters and the wrathful indigna
! n tioh OF the neglected sisterhood was the NOR
5 eAc9isable. Things went on after this fashion
t until hunting meeting came off. Lyndhurs
+ was lull or great noblemen. The Lady Joal
: was the toast at many wild carouse. Tht
iunt lasted several days, and when the festivi
ties were at height an event occurred tba
put the place on the Qui rirc
:, AT the close OF long and successful dav II
, bride-hand
doners. -1'''
folk 0''N '"' -'' D''"s 'oh
! Yet, though unknown to the lady's ealou:
Ioilo"eTS, tne stranger was evidently not only
oI goou' put familiar terms, with the widow,
Who' IN place OF remaining the night at Lvnd,
hurst, RODE on to Lymington escorted bv the
new arrival Next day there was RAGE and
aLilazGmehG IN many a heart. Lymington
Gnurch bells changed Joyous wedding peal
Inc widow had Outwitted them.
disappointed suitors let loose their tongues.
ana ana out OF very, spite hunted up the fact that
tne M man VINO had outdOne them all and carried
on on tne PRIZE was am old lover, to whom, before
Sne was my.iady, Joan Armitage had plight
ed her troth, and who, they asserted had re-
NAMED IN the neighborhood disguised as a
forester, nothing 10th to wait for the knights
Well-tochered widow Nor was this all : darker
stories were whispered, and at last it was even
\ nlnted that the knight had met his death un
Ialriy, and that the settlement and will bv
enlcn the widow claimed her great wealth was
forged 6y the mysterious lover Joan heard of
these things, and only laughed. 6 married.
lot money once; L can marry for love tbiS
time. Yet in spite of the boasted love and
the constant presence of the man she had
choSen, great change became visible the
bright color faded out of her checks: her ewes
grew sunken and dim her laugh hushed life
and energy seemed to he fading away The
bridegroom, too, was changed man; he be-
came silent and mOrose scarcely ever left his
WIfe side; and watched her with pertinacity
wnIcn the lockers on called jealousy Some
sa!q Lady Joan was conscience smitten: some
SAID her husband ill-treated her: both renortS
were as tar from the truth as such generally
are. 1t was only Y to a chosen friend that the
unhappy man unbOsOmed himself
Night after night" he said, Il wake and
ipehOld her place vacant. Night after night /
nave endeavored to remain awake, that MIGHT
unravel the mystery, but in vain. | invariably |
iall asleep, and when morning comes Joan is !
iylhg Dy my side, and were it not that her face |
is pale and haggard and her feet emf and
travel-stalned, could believe that | was dream.
ing"
oG ~, have questioned the Lady Joan, of
course :" said his friend.
Not word, Dick F."
Then why not watch her?"
Ay, that is it / want you to help me-
DO you consent to lie in wait this very night.
and we will follow her
80 1t was arranged. Dick Berkely was wait
ing IN the street. when, shortly after the church
tolled twelve, the house door opened. and tbo
Lady, Jane, clad only in her night-dress. trim.
ped down the steps. Dick had always been an
admlrer OF the ladies'; but he stood amazed
exceedingly as he caught sight of her beautiful
race, lighted up with gleam he had never
seen before; her long hair floating, Godiya
Ike, IN the wind, her arms stretched over her
head, and her clasped hands seemingly wrung
ogetherr in agony. There was something SO
extraordinary in the circumstances attaching
% the lady-sOmethng so wild and passionate
n her attitude and expressiOn-that Dicks
!eart was strlken, and although he hesitated
or moment, he did not lose sight of her
lie had pledged his word to follow her, AMI so
le went, keeping close behind her as she !
walked down the high street, and through the
ll-paved bye-lanes leading to the so-called {
uay; AS she approached, a small boat, with 5
ne 6oatman, glided up the river, and as it '
rated against the steps, Lady Joan stepped in. I
Quick, quick - whispered her husband
ThO had come up with Dick little while be.
ore: Follow her to the devil"
Dick shuddered, but unfastened boat, and P
hey were soon in pursuit s
Not too near" said Dick, lying on his b
ars; for the husband, beside himself with n
ealous fury, was gaining upon the little boat. Il
MOI TOO near say. or they will suspect us t.
hey are making for the CASTLE" i
lie was wrong, however, they passed Hurst Ia
'astle and steered strait across the Solent a
1unded the Needles, and turned into Scratch ST
IL sight 90" q '0'i "a
The water was as smooth as glass, but bright ii
lth lurld, weird like flame; and upon II N
anced the Lady Joan, filling the air with her : :
!rleks' while all the time, round and round, di
er ghastly minuet
An hour, which seemed an age to the look 81
s on, passed. Held by some strange power OF
ley still sat, watching with staring eyes, and til
lrdhng blood, until the white figure was nc
ken back into the boat, and rowed to shore fiji
rain. r.
Not one word passed between the friends. . Is
1t next day Joan s husband set off on a Jour 81
" to London, where he meant to Law the Il
=
iritual and physical, in the hope of obtaining on
lease from his devil Possessed wife. to
Not 50 Dick Berkley. That love is caprici- it
Is, ana, moreover, covers n multitude af sins VIZ
all know. The glamour was over poor II
lck' who was so passionately enamored of tit
ldy Joan, that he even envied the devil the in
easure of terrying her to her nightly task mi
ID Lady Joan, who had grown weary of the co
II tempter and surveillance of her husband. he
owed herself nothing 10th to accept Dicks
image. And Dick, finding the lady willing,
d the coast clear, made such use of his time ca
at 10 week from her husbands departure, rec
an had consented to elope aith her new lover -
d carry off with them all the wealth she in.
uld bring to account. ''-0 nf
They embarked in French sloop, the can do
N OF which agreed to take them 10 Cher mC
urg; but, as ill-luck would have it, the shin sw
IS becalmcd just beyond the Needles, in the tho
united Scratchells Bay. '-' thi M
III be able to keep my vow at last"
lghed Lady Joan. Sir Samuel was buried
re; il there is a fiddler among the Grew he iii