Wilmington daily commercial., 1872-06-18


| ''Was the wrong against you so unmerited
that you feel thus bitterly ?" fl lh+.
"Unmerited Yes; l assert that and be-
lieve it. She who committed 1t was one did
not love, though was tricked into marriage
with her"
In faltering voice Mrs. Blake said:
You did not to0e her. Areyou quite sure
of that?"
Landry was too deeply absorbed in his own
thoughts TO notice the menacing tone that
thrilled through the muffled voice of the
| speaker.
mo, Inever loved her,"
us 1t just to lay all the blame upon the
woman who risked so much 10 gain a legal
claim upon your To those who have loved
truly much should be forgiven; and she, you
say, loved you" -
| i gave all that she had right to claim at
| my hands-and had she so Wiiled il. | would
| have sent her from me as free from reproach
as in the hour of our first unfortunate meet
ing. But she would not go. / was very
young. loved the child she gave me, and
through her the mother hoped, IL were free
again, to win me back, and nd-I cannot tell
you what she did in return for the forbear-
| ance had shown toward her. It is her Sc
cret and ! will not reveal it even in this hour.
but il is that which 1 now find 1t impossible
to forgive. If you can give me absolution,
knowing that | will accept it gladly at your
hands, although you are not one of the &C.
credited ministers of our Holy Church"
The heart of Mrs. Blake hardened as she
listened. She felt the blood surging through
her veins with fiery swiftness, and all the
passion of her tropical nature burst forth.
She tore the shrouding folds from her head
and face, and started to her feet, standing
over him as menacing fate, as she mocking-
ly said
',Such consolation as I can give you arc
welcome to, Armand Landry. Whether it
will facilitate your entrance TO the Paradise
in which your lost Ellin0r dwells, or into the
Hades in which I shall hereafter claim you'll
leave you to imagine. Look at the woman
you cast off so lightly-the woman who be-
lieved that you loved her-and cover before
her glance as you will shrink before that of
the Omnipotent Being who will judge be-
tween u.s."
"You-y0u here!" he exclaimed, in a loud
harsh voice. ''How dare you approach me?
How dare you profane the sacred character
you have assumed for the purpose of intFu-
ding upon presence that was forbidden
you? Ilagar Blake, you have been the
curse of my life, and in death you prosecute
me still. 20! command yon TO leave this
room unpolluted by the presence of muir
deress"
she tauntingly said;
You are in no position now to enforce
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"
The features of Landry were blanched to
the hue of death, and his black eyes CLEANED
iiercely from their pallid setting, as he hoarse-
ly asked:
by whose connivance were you permitted
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 l will do neither"
"Oh, you threaten me with consequences,
do you ?" she mockingly asked 'but let me
assure you that it is matter of indifference
to me, also to my daughter, whether that pa
per is valueless or not. 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 magnani-
mously made for her; she will claim what is
hers, in justice at least-the half of the es-
tate which is now held by your other chill
dren."
"Womanl what do you mean by that?
All my God have l fallen into den of
thieves? Is there is no one to help meP"
His voice broke suddenly, and he fell back
upon his pillow gasping for breath.
NO oDe!" 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 daughter on whom you
have lavished so much indulgence lies stricken
into idiocy by the injuries her head has re-
ceived. She will never more walk the earth
In pride, looking down in scorn upon the
sister whom you have bequeathed to her
compassion. In place of that Ihaye decreed
that the two shall change places andthe child
of your adored Ellinor shall stay with me,
while my daughter assumes the station of the
heiress and wears the honors of her fathers
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 an
had shortened his brief span
of life; he knew that the death clutch was
already on his vitals; but he rallied his last
remaining strength, and said, with solemn
emphasis:
IF you consummate this wickedness,
leave to you, and to the imposter who will
take the place of my darling, my undying
malediction. God is over all, and he will not
permit such yillainy to go unpublished, even
in this world"
Mrs Blake Enclosed 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 black dress
which she found in Estelle's trunk, and as
summing the name and character of her half
sister, prepared on the following day 10 ac-
company the remains of her father to New
Orleans for burial, in company with Herbert
Spencer, young man from Boston, cousin
of Raymond DeLorme's, who had been sent
on by the family relations for that purpose.
What happened there, and indeed the whole
of the thrilling story of the rival half-sisters,
Hester and Estelle, win be found in the New
York Ledger, which is now ready and can be
had at all the bookstores and news depots
Ask for the number dated June %, and in 1t
you will get the continuation of the story
from where it leaves off here.