The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1872-06-12
THE RIVAL SISTERS
CHAPTER !.
A BEAUTIFUL But DANGEROUS HERoINl

Blake, the mother of one Of the Rivs
Sisters, as her home, on account Of thu
reputation of the scnool. Mrs. Blak'
made her advent 10 Blanton in TIT
character OF a widow who had recently
lost her husband, and she brough
with her a daughter ten years OF age
named Hester, who was placed witt
Miss Cranston as pupil.
Hester Blake was q remarkable
child.
Mss Cranston found her q curious
study.
| III she is not tempted. all may &c
well with her." thought the lady; "bu
If she is" and the ominous shake o
the head expressed more THAI words.
Mrs. Blake had fifteen hundred
dollars a year, which she stated
WAS derived from property 10 the South
but where it was tua,ed, and in wha,
place she had lived before she made
her advent in Blanton, was matter Of
conjecture. No amount Of pumping
had been successful in extracting such
information from either mother o,
| daughter.
For a few years the stranger lived
almost alone, tor her friendless adven,
among them had not inspired her
neighbors with much confidence in her
autecedents: 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 a
guest by the best families in the village.
People did not trust her, but they ad
mired her and pitied her; for they said
"she is goodly to look at. and she has
evidently been a sufferer in the battle Of
life. All ifthey had known how, and un,
der what circumstances that battle had
been waged, am inclined to think that
the repuled widow would have found
few friends or defenders in that strait
laced neighborhood.
The cottage occupied b. Mrs. Blake
stood about mile from the town. il
was a comfortable house. with veran'
da in front, over which towering vines
were trained, and the large yard that
surrounded it was shaded 10y elm trees.
She was now dreamilv regarding her
daughte-, who stood in front OF mir
ror combing ont mass Of black glisten'
ing hair.
The figure Of the girl was modelled
after that of her mother; there was the
same perfection of outline the same
snuous, elastic movement; but the
faces were not alike.
She suddenly turned, and facing her
mother, said:
The dull monotony of this place is be,
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 almost determined never to reveal
70 YOU"
Hester sat down, and prepared tc
listen to what she had 80 long desired to
know.
Mrs. Blake at length spoke
You ask me how it happened that
was cast oil by the man | adorei p
why he was permitted to wrong me SO
bitterly as 10 bring to his home another
wife while 1 yet lived and suffered?
II must 90 back to my early life, and
tell you OF myself before ! became the
wife OF Armand Landry. Ny father
was dissipated. reckless man, who
owned 4 small place near lie Bocage, as
the Landry plantation was called. was
his only child was educated in con
vent school in France, till ! was nearly
eighteen years old. Then my aunt took
ME home, having already arranged 8
marriage for me. | was not consulted,
but did not rebel against it, for Claude
Beltot was Young and good looking, and
| preferred remaining in France as his
wife, to returning 10 the dizziness o.
plantation lie.
MY father gave me twenty thousand
francs as my dover, and Beltot expected
TO get much more from him. | think
that prospect induced him to marry me
for soon found that he was as indiffer
ent to me as was to him.
Indifference soon merged into COM
tempt on nv side, and something like
aversion on his. We had evidently
made wreiched mistake, and we were
glad to separate by mutual consent. ]
returned 10 Louisiana and Beltot went
to Algeria.
when l came back to my early
home | found my father living as reck
lessly as ever.
Among the young men who came &c
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 for
sock the gaming table 70 linger NEAR
me, and I-well-I was mad enough
to give him the heart my hus
band had never tried TO win. loved
him to that degree that thought litt
would be worthless unless it was shared
with him
Armand seemed devoted to me, but
he never asked me to marry him. He
knew that his proud old father would
look with scorn on the daughter Of
such a man as my father was.
"My father swore that Armand
should vet be my husband, and for tina
purpose he obtained a divorce for mi
from Beltot. | was so infatuated tina
/ cared little by what means Armand
was to be ensnsred. provided / became
his wife. / entered into his plans
shameful as they were, and allowed my
self TO be united to man who had beer
lured again to our house, and when in.
capable Of acting for himself, was pro
nouuced my husband BY missionar!
who had been so short time in tn,
country that he knew nothing OF tn
wrong be was helping to carry int
| o@aot He was hro, yht To the house