New-York tribune., 1872-06-10
The Rival Sisters.

.1rr1rr1. nrr nANGERors HEROINE.

recently lost her husband, and she brought with her
daughter ten years OF age, named hester' VINO was
placed with Miss CranstOn as pupil
Hester Blake remarkable child
Miss Cranston found her a curious study
"If she is not tempted all may 80 well with her."
thoueht the old lady, "but If she is" and the omnous
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;
where t was situated and in what place she had lived
before she made her advent in BaDton matter Of
conjecture No amount Of pumping had been successful
IN extracting such information from either mother or
daughter.
few years the stranger lived almost alone. for
fnendless advent among them had inspired her
neghbors with much confidence in her Gnecedents but
time on, she upon the good opinion OF those
around her. and, at the time my story opens Mrs Blake
received guest by the best families in the VII
lagc.
People did not trust her. but they admired and pitied
her for they said goody TO look at and she has
evidently been sufferer in the battle Of life" An
they had known how and under what circumstances
that battle had been waged, inclined to think that
the reputed widow would have found few friends or de-
tenders in that strait-laced neiChbOrhOOd.
The cottage occupied by Mrs. Blake stood about mile
from the town. IL a comfortable house, with
veranda in 'front.' over which Towering vines t"ero
trained, and the large yard that surrounded II was
shaded by elm-trees ,
She was now dreamily regarding her daughter, VINO
stood in front Of mirror combing out mass oi o"cA
glistening hair. ,,
The figure of the girl modelled after that OF her
mother; there was the perfection OF outhnei the
same simmons elastic movement; but the faces were not
alike.
She suddenly turned and facing her mother said:
"The dun monotony of this place is becoming unendur
ablo TO me- wish to something OF the world ""S'
see 1t. mother"
With sigh Mrs. Blake said;
"st down on the low chair and try TO be quiet while
dptp
TO you"
Hester sat down, and prepared to listen TO what she
had so long desired 70 know.
Mrs Blake at length spoke:
.You ask me how it happened that was cast off by
she inan II uadored why he twas permitted TO wrong
me bitterly 20 bring TO MS nome ahOtnef VIC We
Iyet lived and suferedl
81 must 90 back 10 my early life, and tell you of myself
before became the wife of Armand Landry. My father
was dssipated, reckless man, who owned small place
near lie BOcage. the Landry plantation was called.
was his only child 1 was educated in convent school
In France till was nearly eighteen years old. Then my
aunt took me home having ALREADY arrahgeu alrast ~
It, for Claude Bet6t young and good-lOong andl
preferred remaining in France his wife, TO returning
NV father gave me twenty thousand francs as my
dover and Bet6t expected TO get much more from him.
think that prospect induced hun to marry me, Ior
soon found that he was as Indifferent to me as was TO
Indifference soon merged into contempt on my side,
and something like aversion on ms we had eYldenty
made a Wretched mistake, ana we were Rlau 10 sep
arate by mutual consent returned TO LOUISIANA ana
Belt6t went TO Algeria. - -, -. q, ,,, -
when came back to my early home found my
father living reckless as ever.
Among the young who came to his house was
Armand Landry. He two years younger than L. Tor
ne had not completed his twentieth year when | first
met him He soon forsook the gaming table to linger
near me- and I-wel-I mad enough to give him the
heart my husband had never tried to win Iloyed him
TO that degree that thought HE would De worthless u
ess il was shared with him.
Armand seemed devoted to me, but he never asked
me 10 marry him. He knew that his proud Old father
would look with the daughter Of such man as
MY father swore that Armand should yet be my hus
band and for that purpose he obtained divorce f0r me
what means Armand was to ensnared provided be
came his wife entered INTO is b paLs Isd sdeiuI m ms5 sS
who had been lured again 70 our mouse anG wnS % bn M
band bv missionary who had been short time in
the country that he knew nothing OF the wrong lie was
hoase a few moments before the ceremony wss per
formed, and left Immediately afteFward ,-,-.
time had been chosen when the elder Landry was
absent from home believed that Armand loved me as
lit was several weeks before he recovered all the
energy Of his mind and began once to fear that
mitted 10 be administered TO him. But the time came
when he fully understood the position in which he was
Cannot describe He fercey resented the part had
Oous his proud father and declared that he could
"Va3y tried all my powers of fascination to enthran
HIM and win forgiveness from hun.
AS soon as well enough to leave the house, he
10 detam him His father instituted proceedings for
AFT sending a
in company with Mr.. Russell and his two daughters
"When heard that, was devoured with Jealousy;
for Enor Russell was the young lady who mad been
chosen by Mr. Landry for his sons we ana report sa
that She was both rich and charming. 1 afterWard
learned he was betrothed TO Miss Russell:i
When this happened you were but few weeks old,
and left with you TO take care Of and little enough
'Xh how hated that fair beauty who had caused me
so much wOei Many night, after you were asleep,
have stolen from my cottage and made my way TO the
stately home which that woman dwelt surrounded py
loving care that right belonged 70 me- Concealed IN
the shrubbery, have listened 10 his voice speaking 10
her in of deeper tenderness than ne hau ever
used 10 me. and vowed within my soul that l would
fnd means TO blight the happiness they seemed 10 ma
in each other They were married.
.'Ny hate eliminated when daughter was born who
was destined fill the place in your fathers house OF
which YOU had been defrauded.
"Your hafsister is two years younger than you, and
in your childhood much alike thdt, out Ior
the difference in size, you might have been taken ior
'Amand's joy in his new treasure soon turned 70
sadness for health Of his wife began TO fail She
faded slowly away with mysterious disease. Every
thing tried that promised relief but the spell OF
an evil eye upoG her. and there no help for her
The doctors said the climate that did not suit
her, but knew better than that.
She was taken away for change OF air. but Zema tbe
woman that went with her nurse, of the
that had belonged TO my father and was devoted
10 me ,,s-, ,,..o.o, to mann. ,,on,hs hu+ sbo .,
last died, when you were five years old
The years passed on, and Armand was travelling
Europe, rarely writing home, and never sending me
You were ten years old when he came back Zelma
was dead, and felt safe that the only one who
could accuse me Of instigating the death OF Ennor
Bu all my hopes fearfully dashed to the earth;
for he brought with hm young wife, cousin OF ELI
leans and from there Armand wrote the following
lines: o o.,,o N 70
Hsga 70 say that no option will be allowed you as
your removal from me nG1 & o. & me ana MN Mi5e 81, m t
one resemblance pesOn and character between the
bt taken her % lie Boage to meet the same terrible fate
not here encountered the priest VINO attended Lema IN heT last III
rfeeiUed hr confession