The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1870-10-13

| "a
Percy set himself TO work to find out
something against young Warner But
that was impossible. He YVES beyond
rcproach. Atlength, however, he OBJ.
tanned the information so precious to
him, namely, the obscure and humble
parentage OF his rival. He knew we'll
Reginas great pride Of birth, and he
felt confident of the effect this knowl-
edge would have with her. And so
true it proved, and Percy St. Clair's
hopes were high. Thoughts Of speedy
success filled his mind. .
Three years after, Percy St. Clair's
long perseverance was rewarded. Re.
gina became his wife. A few. days
previous to the marriage Annie Seyton
was with her cousin looking over the
magnificent wedding dress. The cost
| ~ vail she held admiringly up before
her, and then approaching Regina
threw it over her, and with skillful
fingers placed the orange wreath over
the beautiful brow, and drawing her
up to the mirror, said:
"Ilow exquisite, how lovely you
look! See, Regina"
But the proud girls thoughts were
far away back with the past. Annie's
repeated words brought her back to
the miserable present and giving n
deep. drawn sigh, a hasty glance toward
the mirror, she tore the vail from her
head, and throwing it down, exclaimed ::
"Why do you wish to force on me
a glimpse of the hopeless future? Ills
like erecting the scatfold under the eye
of the condemned criminal" And a
bitter, mocking laugh followed her pas
sionate words.
Regina Seyton, how dar, you take
upon yourself those solemn VOWS, feel
ing as you do. Girl, You will perure
your soul You still love John War
ner.' ...
"Forget my foolish words, Annie.
No doubt l shall do very well. Percy
loves me, and-I-shall do my duty.
So do not worry about me-
Enough, my cousin; you will not
heed my warning. You have chosen
your path may it not be one of end
less tnorns. You have trampled under
flotI the love Of a true, noble man.
May YOU be happy! May Percy St
Clair prove worthy ofthe proud race
he represents. The future must decide
between these two men. You have al
ready" 'r ....s
A few more weeks, and John War.
ner, in his fan Western home, received
the intelligence of Regina Seyton's
marriage. 1t was a hard, bitter blow
one he almost sank beneath He had
struggled so hard, AMI was still strug-
ling to obtain laurels to lay at her feet.
Now that bright dream was over But
time soothed bis sorrow. And again
he began his onward career; now
heart and mind all given to ambition.
Rapii was his advancement in the
opinion of the people of his adopted
State. One position after another
each Of increasing Importance, was
given him. Annie Seyton watched
with deep interest the political career
!. other friend proud that he was so vel
! appreciated.
Five years of Regina's married life
had passed away. Five long, weary
y ears they had been-burdened with
weight of vague uneasiness and dark
forebodings. Night after night found
her husband absent from home--cn'
gagged in what she knew not
They lived in q style of magnificenct
unsurpassed by any Of their friends
How that was continued, Regina often
wondered. She knew that Percy was
considered very wealthy; but be mus
have, in those years since their mar
riage, spent an almost lprincely for
tune. When she first knew him, and
, for three or four years after, he had
large income from the rents of proper
! ty and interest from bank stock. But
then he attended to nothing of the
kind. His days were spent almost en-
tirely in sleep, and the nights-how
: She feared to think.
At last the knowledge was forced
upon her in terrible way-the arrest
Of a party Of counterfeiters, among
whom was Percy St. Clair. 1t was
bitter blow to Regina. Other wor'el
e would have grieved that the man they
4 loved was suspected, or guilty o.
t crime. But she writhed in an agony o.
modification. The man whose name
s she, bore-with whose her own, 50
. proud and old, was coupled-was ther
/ used in connection with others steepe(
in crime. r4viJ ~ .EfI0
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