Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1872-06-20

ereQ all the natural energy OF Ills lulllu.
and began once to fear that he would
be permanently injured by the drug |
had permitted to be administered to him.
But the time came when he fully under
stood the position in which he was
placed, and then-such scenes as passed
between us cannot describe. He fierce
ly resented the part had taken in en-
trapping him into a marriage that would
be odious to his proud father, and de-
clared that he could never forgive me-
''Vainly tried all my powers of fas-
cination to enthrall him, and win for
giveness from him.
Gas soon as he was well enough to
leave the house, he went off in search
of his father, in spite of all | could do
to- detain him. His father instituted
proceedings for divorce, after sending
Armand to Europe to make a tour. i'll
company with Mr. Russell and his two
daughters.
'When | heard that, ] was devoured
with jealousy for EIlinor Russell was
the young lady who had been chosen by
Mr. Landry for his sons wife, and re-
port said that she was both rich and
charming. | afterward learned he was
bethrothed to Miss Russell
F'When this happened, you were but
few weeks old, and / was left with you
to take care of, and little enough to do il
with.
'Ah. how / hated that fair beauty
who had caused me so much woe Many
night, after you were asleep, have
stolen from my cottage, and made my
way to the stately home in which that
woman dwelt, surrounded by loving care
that of right belonged to me. Conceal
ed in the shrubbery, ] have listened tC
his voice speaking to her in accents OF
deeper tenderness than he had ever used
to me, and vowed within my soul that
| would find means to blight the happi-
ness they seemed to find in each other.
They were married.
''My hate eliminated whena daughter
was born who was destined to fill the
place in your fathers house of which
you had been defrauded.
''YOur half-sister is two years young
er than you, and in your childhood yon
were so much alike that but for the diff
ference in size you might have been
taken for twins.
"Armands joy in his new treasure
was soon turned to sadness, for the
health of his wife began to fail She
faded slowly away with a mysterious
disease. Everything was tried that pro-
missed relief, but the spell of an evil eye
was upon her, and there was no hope for
her.
1.-The doctors said it was the climate
that did not suit her, but 1 knew better
than that.
''She was taken away for change of
air, but Zelma, the woman that went
with her as nurse, was one of the
slaves that had belonged to my father,
and was devoted to me.
'Mrs. Landry fingered for many
months, but she at last died, when you
were five years old.
'.The years passed on, and Armand
was travelling in Europe, rarely writing
home, and never sending me line.
"You were ten years old when he
came back. Zelma was dead, and | felt
safe now that the only one who could
accuse me of instigating the death of
Elinor Russell was gone.
But all my hopes were fcarfully dash
ed to the earth; for he brought with
him a young wife, a cousin of Ellinors,
and also an heiress. They stopped in
New Orleans, and from there Armand
wrote me the following lines:
''NEw ORLEANS, Oct. 30tn, IS
II write to you, Hagar, to say that
no option viii be allowed you as to your
removal from the vicinity of me and
mine.
Il came back to my native land,
bringing with me cousin of my lost
one as my wife, the resemblance in
character and person between the two
attracting me irresistibly to Helen.
Il might have taken her to LeBocage
to meet the same terrible fate, had l
not here encountered the priest who at
tended Zelma in her last illness, and re-
ce50ed her confession.
"Ah, my heart, cannot write It'll
$50 far away-take your daughter.
II am not rich in my own right, but
when she is old enough to marry, l
will give her a suitable dover This is
all | can, or will do.
''ARMAND LANDRY"
II had nothing to do but obey Ar
mand's command, continued Mrs. Blake,
land so | came hither with you, where
we have lived till now. This is my his
tory"