Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1872-06-17
AUGUSTA. ME-. MONDAY MORNING. JUNE II.
TIE RIVAL SISTERS.
CHAPTER |.

been selected by Mrs. Blake, the mother
of one of the Rival Sisters, as her home,
on account of the reputation of the school.
Mrs. Blake made her advent in Blanton in
the character of n widow who had recent
~ lost her husband. and she brought with
her a daughter ten years of age, named
Hester, who was placed with Miss Grams
ton as pupil.
Hester Blake was a remarkable child.
Miss Cranston found her curious stu
dy.
''lf she is not tempted. all may go well
with her." thought the old lady; "but if
she is and the ominous shake of the
head expressed more than words.
Mrs. Blake had fifteen hundred dollars
year, which she stated was derived from
property in the South; but where it was
situated, and in what place she had lived
before she made her advent in Blanton.
was matter of conjecture. No amount
OF pumping had been Successful in extrac-
ting such information from either mother
or daughter.
For Il few years the stranger lived al
most alone. for her friendess advent ad-
vent among them had not inspired her
neighbors with much confidence in her
antecedentS: but as time went on. she
won upon the good opinion OF those
around her. and at the time my story
opens. Mrs. Blake was received as guest
by the best families in hevillage.
People did not trust her, but they adj
mred and pitied her; for they said ",hc is
goodly TO look at. and she has evidently
been sufferer in the battle of life All !!
il they had known how. and under what
circumstances that battle had been wa@ed,
| am inclined to think that the reputed wild
ow would have found few friends or defen-
ders in that Stratgh laced neighborhood
The cottage occupied by Mrs. Blake
stood about II mile from the town. II was
Il comfortable house. with veranda in
front, over which Towering vines We're
trained. and the large yard that surround
ed it was shaded with elm-trees.
She was now dreamily regarding her
daughter. who stood in front OF Il mirror
eumbiug ont mass Of black glistcning
hair.
The figure of the girl was modelled af-
ter that OF her mother there was the same
perfection of outline; the same sinuous,
elastic movement: but the faces were not
alike
She suddenly turned. and facing her
mother. said:
1.-The dull monotony of this place is he
coming uncomfortable to me. | wish to see
something Of the world must see it,
mother
With a sigh Mrs. Blake said
"Sit down on that low chair, and try to
be quiet while speak OF things had al
most determined never to reveal to YOU"
Hester sat down, and prepared to listen
to what she had so long desired to know
Mrs. Blake at length spoke:
You ask me how it happened that
was cast off by the man adored why he
was permitted to wrong me 50 bitterly as
to bring to his home another wife while
yet lived and suffered ?
II must 20 back to my early life, and
tell YOU of myself before became the
wife OF Armand Landry. Ny father was
Il dissipatcd, reckless man, who owned a
small place near lie Bocage, us the Ian
dry plantation was called. was his only
child. | was educated in a convent school
in France, till was nearly eighteen years
old. Then my aunt took me home, hav-
ing already arranged marriage for me.
was not consulted, but | did not rebel
against it, for Claude Beltot was Young
and good looking, and preferred remain
ing in France as his wife, to returning to
the dulness of plantation life.
My father gave me twenty thousand
francs as my dover, and Beltdt expected
to get much more from him. think that
prospect induced him to marry me, for
soon found that he was rs Indifferent to
me rs | was to him.
"Indtlerencc soon merged into con-
tempt on my side. and something like
aversion ON his. We had evidently made
Il wrctched mistake, and we were glad to
separate by mutual consent. | returned
to Louisiana. and Bcltct went to Algeria
''Whcn | came back to my early home
found my father living a> rccklcSSly as
ever.
Among the young men who came to
his house was Armand Landry. He was
two years Younger than |, for he had not
completed his twentieth year when ! first
met him. He soon torSook the gaming
table to linger near me, and l-well-l
WAS mad enough to give him the heart
my husband had never tried to win.
loved him to that degree that | thought
life would be worthless unless it was
shared with him.
Armand seemed devoted to me, but he
never asked to marry me. He knew that
his proud old father would look with scorn
on the daughter of such man rs my
father was.
MY father sworc that Armand ShoHld
vet be my husband, and for that purpose
he obtained divorce for me from Bcltot
was so infatuated that | cared little 10y
what means Armand was to be ensnared
provided became his wife | entered
into his plans, shameful as they were, and
allowed myself to be united to man who
l.ad been lured again to our house, and
when incapable of acting for himself was
pronounced my husband by missionary
who had been so short time in the coun-
try that he knew nothing of the wrong he
was helping to carry into effect. He was
brought to the house n few moments be-
fore the ceremony was performed, and
left Immediately afterwards.
"A time had been chosen when the ell
der Landry was absent from home | be-
lieved that Armand loved me rs truly as
| did him.
at was several weeks before he re-
covered all the natural energy of his mind,
and began once to fear that he wonld be
/ permanently injured by the drng | had