The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1869-06-25
THE BALLow.BvE MYSTERY.
Legend of the black Iaan.
CHAPTER /.

CHAPTER i.
TIE pERSERs OF THE BURNING HEARTS
.Their lsve was like the lava food
That burns In Etna's breast OF name.'
Near the end Of n dark autumn-day, no
many years ago, n young couple, return
ing from their bridal tour. arrived b,
steamer at the old city Of Norfolk; and
taking a hack, drove directly TO the hes
inn. -t.r
The gentleman registered himself an'
his party rs Mr.. and Mrs. Lyon Berncrs
of Black Hall, Virginia. and two servants
1--WE shall need n private parlor AM
chamber communicating for our own use
and q couple OF bedrooms Tor our ~
wants." said Mr.. Berners, rs no nal'ue"
his hat and cane to the bowling waiter; ,r
ssCertainly. sir. What wouiu you hA'
for tear' asked the landlord.
.Oh, anything You please, so tnat IL u
nice and neatly served" said Mr.. berners'
with a slightly impatient wave OF M
hand as ifhc would have been rid OF Ills
obscquious host.
"Ah-ha! anything please! 1t Is easy
10 see what ais him. He lives upon love
lust now; but he'll care more about III,
bin OF fare few weeks hence. chnckied
the landlord, as he left the public parioi
10 execute his guests orders
The bridegroom was no sooner lci'
alone with his bride than he seated her IN
the easiest armchair, and began Will
affectionatc zeal to unite her bonnet
strings and unclasp her mantle.
.You make my maid a useless appen-
dage, dear Lyon" said the little lady,
smiling up In his eyes. "You love me 50
much, dear Lyon! You love me so much
Yet not too much either! for oh! II you
should ever cease To love me, or even u
YOU were ever to love me less, l-l-dar,
not think what I should do" she mutter'
ell In long, deep shuddering tone.
"why, Sybil, my wife you beautiful
mad creature? You are true daughter
of your house? A Bcrncrs Of the burning
heart. A Bcrners OF the boiling blood
A Bcrners OF whom IL lias been said, thai
IL Is almost rs fatal 10 be loved Us to bc
hated by"
suddenly In The midst ofthelr converse
they heard the sound OF weeplnS-low
deep, heart-broken weeping.
Both paused, looked ut each other, an0
listened.
OH the opposite side ofthe passage to thcl'
own apartment.
"what Is that ~ inquired Sybll, looking
up to her husbands face.
1T seems to be SOME woman In dis
tress," answered Lyon.
.Oh. see what Il Is, dear, will your
entreated Sybll.
She was herslelf so happy, that II was
really dreadful to be reminded just then
tina, sorrow should exist In this world at
all.
But If shc'could have forcseen the woe
that was TO come TO herself, To her hns-
band. and 10 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
= n deserted wlfe-natped Rosa Blondelle.
who, although hut few days landed
from the vessel which had brought heI
from Europe, had been robbed of hel
jewels and money by her husband, ant
then left TO her fate In that Norfolk hotel
Sybll was deeply moved by this lady''
story, and insisted on taking Mrs. Blon
dele home with her to Black Hall, ant
Mr.. Berners gave his assent to her
wishes.
But before they got ready TO set out on
their Journey, Sybil bitterly repented OF
the arrangement. Mrs. BlOndcllc was so
enchantingly lovely, that Mr.. Berners ut
once began TO yield To her charms; and
Sybil, for the first time, saw him pay the
homage OF admiration TO other beauty
than her own.
This kindled the fires of jealousy In her
heart, and BY the time they reached Black
Hall, those fires had become famed into
an incNtinguishable flame.
And no Berners had ever been known 10
forgive an object of jealously.
Black Hall, the abode of Mr.. and Mrs.
Berners, was palatlal old Virginia man
sion, situated In the heart OF the Black
Valley, n few miles from Blackvillc, the
county town. IL had been In Mrs. Bern
crs' family for generations, and was
renowned for the scenes of gayety and
hospitality which had TRANSFERRED beneath
its roof.
Mrs. Bcrncrs, the last of her race, tC
give vent to the emotions of her restless
Jealous heart. resolved To reinaugurat,
the festivities Of the olden time. and fol
that purpose announced mask ball, fol
the ensuing All-Hallow Eve. and nc once
set about getting all things In readiness.
One day while she was absent at Black
Vile, making purchases, Lyon aud Rosa
became so absorbed IN one another. as To
become oblivious OF the entry of Mrs.
Winterose. the old housekccpcr, who
found them sitting closely side by side.
her hand clasped In his. On SYPHILIS
return, the old housckecpcr described
this scene tn her. with many eNaggcra-
tons. The revelation seemed To freeze
Sybll into lee.
"OA nay heart nay heart p she moaned.
turning deathly pale. And then, after n
long silence, she bitterly added, "Deceiy-
ell! Betrayed Scorned! Laughed ut
Well. wellr' she continued, noalding
grimly; ''well, well. since deceit Is the
fashion Of the day, too will be In the
fashion; too will wear mask OF smiles
But behind that mask. will watch oh
how will watch! lot at my fancy-bal
alone will play part, but before IL, ant
how watch, what see, until descent
with the fell swoop of the eagle. Ant
henccforth let me remember that / am
= daughter of the house Of Berners, wh'
never failed friend or spared foe
And oh, let the spirit OF my fathers sup
port me, for must ENDURE until L ear
AvENGE!"
And oh could those trifers with sacred
love-those wanderers on the brink of y
fearful abyss-hayc seen the look of hei
face then, they would have fed nom each
other for ever, rather than To have dared
the desperation OF her reused soul.
But they saw nothing, knew nothing
suspected nothingi
And thus all the three drlftcd towards
the awful brink OF ruin.
CHAPTER III.
TIE FIRST FATAL uALLow EVE.