Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1872-06-13
MEMPHIS. TENN. THURSDAY EVENING, JUNE lS 1872

} our first unfortunate meeting. But sh
would not go, | was very young
: loved the child she gave me, and througl
her the mother hoped, if were fire.
again, to win me back, and--and--. d
cannot tell you what she did in return
for the forbearance / had shown towart
her. 1t is her secret, and / will not re
veal it even in this hour, but it is tina
which i now find itimpossible TO forgive
! If you can give me absolution, knowing
, that, will accept it gladly at you
hands, although you are not one o
the accredited ministers Of eur Holy
Church" 8f fw ia
The heart of Mrs. Blake hardened az
! she listened. She felt the blood surgine
through her veins with fiery swiftness
i and all the passion Of her tropical ma
ture burst forth. iaag 1ahlil alua.
She tore the shrouding folds from her
head and face, and started to her feet,
standing over him as a menacing fate,
as she mockingly said: soh
Such consolation as / can give
you are welcome to, Armand Landry.
Whether it will facilitate your entrance
to the Paradise in which your lost Eli.
nor dwells, or into the Hades in which
shall hereafter claim you, l leave you To
imagine. Look at the woman you cast
oil so lightly-the woman who believed
that you loved her-and cover before
her glance as you soon will shrink before
that of the Omnipotcnt Being who will
Judge between us. !" ll q.
! You-yOu here!" he exclaimed, in a
loud, harsh voice. How dare you ap-
lproach me? How dare you profane the
sacred character you have assumed for
the purpose Of intruding upon pres
ence that was forbidden you? Hagar
Blake, you have been the curse Of my
life, and in death you persecute me still
CO. command you to leave this room
qnpollqted by the presence of mur-
deress."
Hagar' eyes blazed back defiance, and
she tauntingly said:
| You are in no position nor to en-
force your will. You are in my power,
not in yours, and intend to pay you
back drop for drop, for all the bitterness
you have poured into my cup and forced
me to drink" -..,t.......
The features of Landry were blanched
to the hue of death, and his black eyes
cleaned iiercely from their pallid set
ting, as he horsely asked laaaH..ao'
BY whese connivance were you per-
mitted to enter here? If Hester or her
betrothed husband aided you, it will be
the worse for them, for in that case |
will give her nothing. The paper /
caused her to write this morning will be
valueless unless it is signed and wit
messed and now | will do neither"
Oh, You threaten me with conse-
quenees, do your she mockingly asked;
but let me assure you that it is mat
ter of Indifference to me, and also to my
daughter, whether that paper is value
less or net. We have settled our plans,
and rave against them as you may, you
will be powerless to prevent them from
being carried into effect. Hester will
not accept the paltry provision you have
so magnanimously made for her. she
will claim what is hers, in justice at
least-the half of the estate which is
now held by your other children"
Womanl what do you mean by that?
All my God have / fallen into den of
thieves2 Is there no one to help me 2H
His voice broke suddenly, and he fell
back upos his pillows gasping for
breath. A "
" No oNeir repeated Mrs. Blake,
with stern emphasis You are in this
solitary country house, entirely at my
mercy, and that of those who are willing
to do all that | wish. The darling daugh-
ter on whom you have lavished so much
indulgence lies stricken into idiocy by
the injuries her head has received. She
will never more walk the earth in pride, |
looking down in scorn upon the sister |
whom you have beqneathed to her com
passion. In place of that have de-
creed that the two shall change places,
and the child of your adored Ellinor
shall stay with me, while my daughter
assumes the station of the heiress, and
wears the honors of her father house
The two sisters are so much alike that
no one will ever be able to distinguish
the true one from her counterfeit
The listener felt that the shock Of this
announcement had shortened his brief
span of life; he knew that the death
clutch was already on his vtals; but he
rallied his last remaining strength, and
said, with solemn emphasis: t D.,
IF you consummate this wickedness,
| leave to you, and to heimpostor who
will take the place of my darling. my
undying malediction. God is over all,
aud he will not permit such villainy to
90 unpunished even in this world"
Mrs. Blake unclosed her lips to reply,
but Landry raised his hand appealingly,
a change passed over his sunken face,
and with prayer on his lips in behalf
of his favorite child he passed away,
Hester arrayed herself in a black
dress which she found in Estelle's trunk,
and assuming the name and character
Of her halfsister prepared, on the fol-
lowing day, to accompany the remains
Of her father to New Orleans, for burial,
in company with Herbert Spencer,
young man from Boston, cousin of
Raymond De Lorme's, who had been
sent on by the family relations for that
purpose. What happened there, and
indeed the whole Of the thrilling story
If the rival half-sisters, Hester and
Estelle, will be found in the New York
Ledger, which is now ready and can be
lad at all the book. k.stores and news
lepots. Ask for the number dated June
Y, and in it you will get the continuation
# the story from where it leaves of