West-Jersey pioneer., 1869-06-25
THE HlLLOW- EVE MYSTERY.
A LEGEND OF BLACK HALL.
CHAPTER l.
THE BERNERs OF THE BURNING HEARTS.
seTheir love was like the lava food

CHAPTER L.
| THE BERNERs OF THE BURNING HEARTS.
ssTheir love was like the lava food
| That burns in Etnas breast OF fiame.'
| Near the end of dark autumn-day, no
many years ago. young couple, returning
from their bridal tour, arrived by steamer al
the old city Of Norfolk; and, taking a hack
drove directly to the best inn.
| The gentleman registered himself and hi
| party as Mr.. and Mrs. Lyon Berners, OF blacE
Hall, Virginia. and two servants.
"We shall need private parlor and cham
Der communicating for our own use, and q cou
pie of bedrooms for our servants, said M
Berners, as he handed his hat and cane TO th'
bowing waiter.
"Certainly sir What would you like fol
tea 2" asked the landlord
"Oh, anything you please, so that it is nice
and neatly served" said Mr.. Berners, with a
slightly impatient wave of his hand as if he
would have been rid of his obseq uious host
Ah-ha, anything l please 1t is easy to
see what ails him. He lives upon love just
now; but he'll care more about his bill of fare
a few weeks hence" chuckled the landlord, as
he left the public parlor to execute his guests
orders.
The bridegroom was no sooner left alone
with his bride than he seated her in the easiest
armchair, and began with affectionate zeal te
unite her bonnet strings and unclasp her man.
tie.
"You make nay maid a useless appendage
dear Lyon" said the little lady smiling up In
his ewes. "You love me so much, dear Lyon
You love me so much Yet not too much
either for oh if you should ever cease to love
me, or even if you were ever to love me Tess,
I-I-dare not think what | should do ~ she
muttered in a long, deep, shuddering tone
"Why, Sybil, my wife-you beautiful mad
creature! You are true daughter of youl
house! Berners of the burning heart A
Berners of the boiling blood A Berners Of
whom it has been said, that it is almost as
fatal to be loved as to be hated by"
Suddenly in the midst of their converse they
heard the sound of waeping-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.
.sWhat is that ?" inquired Sybil, looking up
to her husbands face.
:" 1t seems to be some woman in Distress
answered Lyon.
ooh! see what it is, dear, will your en-
treated Sybil.
She was herself so happy, that it was really
dreadful to be reminded just then that sorrow
should exist in this world at all.
But if she could have foreseen 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 al
though but few days landed from the vessel
which had brought her from Europe. had been
robbed of her Jewels aDd money by her nus
band and then left to ker fate IN that Norfolk
hotel.
svbil was deeply moved by this lady's story
and insisted IN taking Mrs. Blondelle home
with her to Black Hall, and Mr.. Berners gave
his assentto her wishes.
Rut tefore they got ready to set out on
thair journey, Sybil bitterly repented of the
arro cement. Mrs. Blondelle was so enchant-
;naW lovely, that Mr.. Berners at once began
+. Weld 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
h esnt, and by the time they reached Black Hail.
tbAe fires had become famed into an lnextln-
flame.
And no Berners had ever peen Anowh u iof-
rive an object of jealousy.
Black Hall, the abode of MIR. and Mrs.
Berners. was palatial old Virginia mansion,
situated in the heart of the Black valley rev
miles from Blackville, the county town. Ii
had been in Mrs. Berners family for genera
tiops. and was renowned for the scenes OF
gayety and hospitality which had trarsplred
beneath its roof.
tba ocf IF hnr rQn
vent to the emotions of her restless, jealous
heart. resolved to renaugurate the festivities
of the olden time, and for that purpose an
a mask ball for the ensuing All Hal
low Eve, and at once set about getting all
things in readiness.
One day while she was absent at Blackvile,
making purchases, Lyon and Rosa became so
absorbed in one another, as to become ooll-
vious of the entry of Mrs. Winterose, the old
who found them sitting closely
side by side, her hand clasped in his On
Sybips return, the old housekeeper described
this scene to her with many exaggeratlons.
The revelation seemed to freeze Sybil into ice.
&C Oh, my heart my heart % she moaned,
turning deathly pale. And then, after long
silence. she bitterly added, "Deceived! Be-
trayed Scorned Laughed at Well, well!"
she continued, nodding grimly; swell, well,
since deceit is the fashion OF the day, too
will he in the fashion; too will wear q mask
of smiles ! But behind that mask will watch
oh how will watch Not at my fancy
ball alone will play part, but 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 I am a daughter OF the
house of Berners, who never failed friend or
spared foe. Apd oh, let the splr,. ,m.;1 ., ny 7
fathers support me, for | must ENDURE un'ii
can AvEsaE" -, auoa
And oh could those trifers with sacred
loye-those wanderers on the brink OF rear
ful abyss-have seen the look of her face tDen'
tbey would have fed from each other Ior ever
rather than to have dared the desperation VI
her reused soul.
But they saw nothing, knew nothing, sus-
pected nothing
And thus all the three drfted towards tne
awful brink of ruin.