Litchfield enquirer., 1869-06-24
THE DOUBLE LIFE; :.
THE HAMPTON MYSTERY.
BY MRS. HARRIET LEWIS.
CHAPTER I.
THE LADY BEATRICE

CHAPTER I.
 THE LADY BEATRICE. Had she lived before the siege of Troy, Helen. whose beauty summoned Greece to arms
 And drew a thousand ships to Tenedos, Had not been named in Homer's Had; Her name had been in every line he wrote. MARLowE. The Lady Beatrice Hampton, only chile of the Earl of Hampton, had passed hel youth and early womanhood, and was stil unmarried. She had had no lack of suit ors, for she had inherited from her moth CT an immense fortune, and was beautiful witty, accomplished, reignings belle, and leader Tn society. Her friends were pug zied at her adherence to celibacy, and nc one was more puzzled than her father, whose greatest desire was to see her hap pily married. It was an unsolvable preb- lem to the Earl, that his daughter should persist in refusing the most eligible offers, and she was looked upon, even by her ad- mirers, as beautiful mystery, a delightful puzzle, Q marble-hearted and incompre. hensible Sphynx.
 One March eyening,in the drawing-room of his town house, Lord Hampton sat thinking of his daughter. The night was wild and stormy. The pleasant room present. ed strong contrast to the gloom without A sea-coal fire famed in the polished grate The great chandelier flooded the room with light. Flowers, fresh from tho green : house, with moisture yet upon their pet als, were crowded with profusion into va ses; whose delicate sculpture would have fired an artists heart. The heavy, warm hued curtains fell in folds to the floor, shutting out the darkness, and shutting in the light and warmth and fragrance.
 The Earl was tall and stately, with be- coming portliness of figure, and eyes as keen as in his early youth, complexion of unusual ruddiness, hair and whiskers of iron gray, and manly features, whose ex- pression inclined to sternnness. He had almost reached three-score years and ten, but he exhibited none of the feebleness of age. His mind retained its vigor, and his manners were those of courtly old school gentleman.
 His thoughts were evidently anxious and troubled. He reused himself from them at last, and stretched out his hand towards the bell-pull. At that moment the cur talns dividing the apartment from second drawing-room were lifted, and the Lady Beatrice entered.
 You sent for me, ,father?" she 1nq uired, approaching him. '' You desired to see me?"
 fdid. Beatrice,' responded his Lord ship, CT have something of importance to say to you.'
 The Lady Beatrice stood leaning against the marble mantel- piece in an expectant att titude.
 She was superbly beautiful woman. At least four and thirty years of age, she look ed scarcely five and twenty.
 Lord Hampton looked at her with a fathers pride, yet with strange express ion. This being, so cold to others, was equally cold to him. He wondered if she had ever experienced any womanly emo- tions, and, while he wondered, the Lady Beatrice broke the silence
 You have news from your friend, Lord Adlowe, have you not?" she asked.
 " Yes; his lordship has returned to Eng land," replied the Earl. "I received Q line from him this morning, informing me that he arrived Tn town last evening. I called upon him and invited him to dine with us to-day. He is all impatience to see you. It is of Lord Adlowe that am about to speak to you."
 The Lady Beatrice bowed her head with out speaking. Encouraged by her atten. tiveness, the Earl resumed:
 Lord Adlowe comes back to us, after his five years journeying, more than ever your slave. He has been for eight years your faithful lover. It was you who made him an exile and a wanderer. He has kept him. self single. waiting patiently, never re- preaching you for your coldness, never forcing his attentions upon you."
 "Because he never dared tol" inter- posed Lady Beatrice, with an icy smile. I do not like Ormond Adlowe, father. He is false and bad of heart, his years of de- tion to me notwithstanding. He has re- turned to renew his prosecutions of me. He is tired of rowing. l suppose, and his coffers need replenishing. Of all my suit ors l like him least I must repeat what have said so many times to you and to him, I shall never marry.
 "And why not?" demanded the Earl. '' Have you realized that time is slipping away, and that you are advancing in years? How long will it be before you will be pushed aside m society by younger rivals :? shall soon die and you will be left alone. I long to see you mistress of your own household, happy wife. Gan it be that Godfrey Trevelyan-the unworthy scion of Q aO0AO uouoOs el4O 4OUU0E LII HIS uncle"
 "Stopp' said the Lady Beatrice, swift flush overspreading her features s.I do not care to hear Gsofrey Trevelyan' s name. They say he is dead ''o1a N9t eaIei.
 s" Yes, he is dead, 7 said the Earl, thought fully. He died many years ago, in a for eign land-poor fellow! After all he was but a boy, and his untimely fate always saddens me. He had in him the stuff for a nobleman, but was warped by harshness and evil associates. Had Lord Trevelyan, his uncle, whose heir he was, pursued him less vindictiyely for his crime, Godfrey might have been living, and honored to- day. I don't blame you for grieving for him, for you were his betrothed wife. But he was unworthy and is dead. You were but mere child when he disappeared. Surely you do not cherish love for his memory still. -t5 sasS6i .I am not romantic, father,'' said the Lady Beatrice, dryly. .' You say that all men are not like him, meaning that Lord Adlowe is without Geofrey's weaknesses and faults. Lord Adlowe is not weak, but his is not the strength like. The truth | is, I cling to my freedom, father. I like to rule in society. like to be admired and worshipped, but I have no heart fol my admirerefs to win. have no heart. .',- Why must you disappoint the hopes have so long cherished. Beatrice?n ques