Elizabeth daily monitor. [volume] (Elizabeth, N.J.) 1868-1880, 1869-06-16

Their love was like the lava flood
That burns in Etnas breast OF flame.
Near the end of a dark autumn day not
many years ago, young couple, returning
from their bridal tour, arrived by steamer
at the old city of Norfolk; and, taking hack,
drove directly to the best inn.
The gentleman registered himself and his
party as Mr.. and Mrs. Lyon Berners, OF
Black Hall, Virginia, and two servants.
owe shall need private parlor and
chamber communicating for our own use,
and a couple of bedrooms for our servants,
said Mr. Berners, as he handed his hat and
cane to the bowling waiter.
Certainly, sir What would you like for
tea :" asked the landlord.
"0h, anything you please, so that 1t is
nice and neatly served,'' said Mr.. Berners,
with slightly impatient wave of his hand as
if he would have been rid of. his obsequious
host.
"Ah-ha anything please! 1t is easy to
see what ails him. He lives upon love just
now; but he II care more about his bill OF
fare few weeks hence" chuckled the land
lord, as he left the public parlor to execute
his guests orders.
The bridegroom was no sooner lett alone
with his bride than he seated her in the
easiest armchair, and began with atfectionate
zeal to unite her bonnet strings and unclasp
her mantle.
"You make my maid useless appendage,
dear Lyon" said the little lady, smiling up
in his eyes q You love me so much, dear
Lyon Yon love me so much Yet not too
much either for oh you should ever cea
to love me, or even if you were ever to love
I tn
should dow she muttered in long, deep,
shuddering tone.
"Why, Sybil, my wife you beautiful mad
creature! You are true daughter of your
housed A Berners of the burning heart
A Berners of the boiling blood A Berners
of whom it has been said, that it is almost us
fatal to be loved us to be hated by"
Suddenly in the midst of their converse
they heard the sound of weeping-lOw, deep,
heart-broken weeping.
Both paused, looked at each other, and lis
tened
The sound seemed to come from room on
the opposite side of the passage to their own
apartment.
''What is thatY' inquired Sybil, looking
up to her husbands face.
g 1t seems to be some woman in distress"
answered Lyon.
"Oh see what it is dear, will your en-
treated Sybil.
She was herself so happy, that it was real
ly dreadful to be reminded just then that
sorrow should exist in this world at MI.
But if she could have torseen the woe that
was to come to herself, to her husband, and
to the object of her sympathy, she would have
held Lyon back. as with the grip of fate,
from the mission on which she now sent
him.
For the weeper was beautiful woman
a deserted wife named Rosa Blondelle, who,
although but few days landed from the yes
sci which had brought her from Europe, had
been robbed of her jewels and money by her
husband, and left to her fate in that Norfolk
hotel
Sybil was deeply moved by this lady's
story, and insisted on taking Mrs. Blondelle
home with her to Black Hall, and Mr.. Bern
ers gave his assent to her wishes.
But before they got ready to set out on
their journey, Sybil bitterly repented of the
arrangement. Mrs Blondelle was so enchant-
ingly lovely, that Mr. Berners at once began
to yield to her charms and Sybil, for the
first time. saw him pay the homage of admi-
ration.to other beauty than her own.
This kindled the fires of jealousy in hel
heart. and by the time they reached Black
Hall, those fires had become famed into an
inextnguishable fame.
And no Berners had ever been known to
forgive an object of jealousy.
Black Hall, the abode of Mr.. and Mrs
Berners, was palatial old Virginia mansion
situated in the heart of the Black Valley, q
NIB lln fIn ntNT
1t had been in Mrs Berners' family tor gene
rations, and was renowned for the scenes Of
gayety and hospitality which had transpired
beneath its roof.
Mrs Berners, the last of her race, to give
vent to the emotions of her restless, jealous
heart resolved to reinaugurate the festivities
of the olden time and for that purpose an.
nounced mask bali for the ensuing All
Hallow Eve, and Mt once set about getting all
things in readiness
One day while she was absent at Black
Vile making purchases, Lyon and Rosa be-
came 50 absorbed in one another, as to be
come oblivious of the entry of Mrs. Winterose
the old housekeeper, who found them sitting
closely side by side, her hand clasped in his
On SYPHILIS return, the old housekeeper de-
scribed this scene to her, with many exag-
gerations. The revelation seemed to freeze
Sybil into ice.
ooh, my heart my hearth she moaned
turning deathly pale And then, after a
long silence, she bitterly added, Deceived
Betrayed Scorned Laughed at! Well
well y she continued, nodding grimly; well
well, since deceit is the fashion of the day,
too will be in the fashion; l too will wear a
mask of smiles But behind that mask,
will watch = Oh, how | will watch! Not at
my fancy-ball alone will play part, bu;
before it, and perhaps, after it None shall
ever know how watch, what see, until
descend with the fell swoop of the eagle
And henceforth let me remember that | am q
daughter of the house of Berners, who never
failed friend or spared foe. And oh, lei
the spirit Of my fathers support me, for
must endure until can avenge"
And oh could those tritlers with sacred
love-those wanderers on the brink Of fear
full abyss-have seen thejlook of her face
then, they would have fled from eac$ other
for over, rather than to have dared the
desperation of her reused soul
But they saw moth ng, knew nothing
suspected nothing
And thus all the three drifted towards the
awful brink of ruin.
CHAPTER III.