The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-09-28
THE BARONET,s BRIDE.

TJ>HB BARONET'S BRIDE;
OR,
A wOMAN's VENGEANCE,
MRS. MAY AGNES FLEMING.
FORMERLY 'cOUsIN NAY CARLETON,
CHAPTER !.
THE BARONET's BIRTH.
"And there is danger Of deatn-for mother and
childfn
"well, no, Sir Jasper-no. cir, no certain danger
You know, but in these protracted cases. Dr. Parker
Godroy paused, and cOughed behind his hand, tit
can do no harm, Sir Jasper for the clergyman to be
here. He may not be needed-let MS hope he will
not Debut your good lady is very weak-very weak,
I am sorry to say. Sir Jasper Kingsand."
81 will send for the clergyman" Sir Jasper Kings
land said not looking at the grave little London doc
tor; "do your best as know you VIII, DR.. Godroy,
and for Gods sake let me know the worst or best as
soon as may he. This torture OF suspense is hor-
rible.n
His voice was sharp and arsh with inward pain.
DR.. Parker Godroy looked alphabetically at him
through his gold bowed spectacles.
~ will do my BEST Sir Jasper" he said grayely.
The result is in the hands of the Great Dispenser of
life and death. Send for the clergyman and wait and
hopen
He quilted the library as he spoke. Sir Jasper
Kingsland seized the bell and rang shrill peal.
'Ride to the village; ride for your lifer he said
fetch the Rev. Cyrus Green here at once"
The man bowed and departed and Sir Jasper
Kingsland, Of Kingsland Court, Baronet, was alone
Alone in the gloomy grandeur of the vast library
alone with his thoughts and the wailing midnight
storm.
For 1t was midnight. clock high up on an
ancient turret pealed noisily forth the weird hour
when "churchyards yawn and graves up their
dead" and an army of rocks, disturbed In their
''beauty sleep" by the discordant noise, cawed
harshly in reply little toy timepiece, of buhl,
the stone mantel. chmed unsteady its story OF the
hour and Sir Jasper Kingsland lifted his gloomy
eyes for q moment at the sound He was leaning
against the old, quantity carven chimney piece look.
ing at the smoulderng fire. his dark face full of un-
utteraDle trouble and pain. A tan, spare, middle
aged man, handsome Once-handsOme STILL some
people sald-with iron-grey hair and proud patri-
clan face.
"rwelve," his dry lips whispered to themselves
midnight, and for three hours have endured this
maddening agony OF suspense. Another day is given
To the world, and before its close all love best may
be cold and stark in death. o my God have mercy
and sparel"
lie lifted his clasped hands in passionate appeal.
There was picture oppOsite-a gem OF Rafaelles--
the Man OF Sorrow ainting under the weight OF the
cross and the fires shine playing upon ii seemed To
light the palid features with derisve smile.
1.-The mercy you showed to others the same shall
he shown to you Tiger heart, you were merciless
In the days gone by Let your black, bad heart
No voice sounded yet he was answered. Con-
science had spoken In trumpet tones, and with a
hollow groan the baronet turned away and began
pacing up and down.
1t was a large and spacious apartment. this lib
rary of Kingsland Court, dimly lighted now by the
fckering wood fire and the mellow glow OF n branch
OF wax lights. Huge bookcases filed TO overflow
Ing lined the four walls and pictures precious as
their weight in rubies looked dusklly down
from their heavy frames. Busts and bronZes
stood in brackets and surmounted doors;
a thick rich carpet of moss green sprinkled
with oak leaves and acOrns muflied the tread
voluminous draperies of dark green shrouded the
tall, narrow windows The massive chairs and
tables, fifty years Old at least were spindle-egged
and rich in carving upholstered In green velvet and
quantity embroidered by hands mouldered 10 dust
long ago. Everything was old and grand ami fun OF
stored interest; and there, on the wall was the
crest OF the house the uplfted hand graspIng dag
ger, and the motto, In old Norman French, "Strke
once and strike well.r
traced their ancestry far back beyond the days OF
the baronet-maKing king, James the First. stood
a dreary sort OF wonder that they could afford him
no help and no comfort In his hour Of supremest
need.
ItIs a very fine thing 10 be "A baronet-a Knpsland
Of kingsand, with fifteen thousand year, and the
finest old house in the county: but II Death Will
stalk grimly over your threshold and snatch away
the life you love more than your own, then even
that glory IL not Omniscien For this wintery mid
night, whilst Sir Jasper Kingsland walks moodily up
and down-up and down--I.ady kinpslant, In her
chamber above, lies III unto death.
An hour passed-the clock IN the urret and the
bnll toy on the stone mantel toll solenny one. The
embers drop monOionously through the grate-a dog
bays deeply somewhere In the quadrangle below
the waing wind OF coming morning signs amenta-
hy through the tossing copper beeches and the roar
OF the surf afar Off comes ever and anon, like dis
tant thunder The house IL silent as the fomD-so
horribly silent that the cold drops start out on the
face OF the tortured man. Who knows Death has
been on the threshold OF that upper chamber all
night, waiting for his prey. This awful hush may he
the pecan that proclaims he IL Master
tap at the door. The baronet paused In his
stride and turned his blood shot eyes that way His
very voice was hollow and unnatural ~ he said.
Come in.r
servant entered-the same who had gone his
GRAND.
The Reverend Cyrus Green is here sir. shall I
show him upY
"Yes-no-I cannot see him. Show him into the
drawing room until be is needed
'IIe VIII not be needed" said u voice NJ his elbow
and Dr. Parker Godroy came brisky forward. .'My
dear Sir Jasper, allow me TO congratulate YOU All