The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1873-08-22

ton with our approaching nuptials. An
mabel tells me that she has neither father
nor mother, nor, indeed, any friend In
London except yourself"
THAT certainly was my belief said l,
"until lately"
Mr.. Trevelyan only smiled at this sig
nificsnt reply.
"well, madam. this being so, and you
having reason. | believe, TO be satisfied
with Annabel as 10 her moral qualities,
come TO ask Of you the great favor Of your
giving her away at the altar"
al give Annie away snd TO you, a per-
feet stranger. Never!''
my dear madam, honor your scru-
Piles, returned the young man with a low
bow land l must say, for grace OF manner
have seldom seen his equal); "but this
is the address of my lawyers, and this Of
parish clergyman I'm your vicinity, who
will both vouch for my responsibility and
good family. Beyond these facts, and
that have sufficient means, Independent
of profession, TO support wife, don't
feel called upon to speak"
Mr.. Trevelyan seemed such very nice
young man, and had such a true regard
for Annabel, that, absurd as the proposi-
ton Of my giving her away TO him at first
seemed, finally came In to il, and about
ried by special license. She was not at
all pulled up by her good fortune, and
though he gave her great sum for her
trousseau, she expended it with her usual
quiet good taste. Annabel Brown was
adapted for any position In life into which
she happened to be thrown that did not
require energy or powers of conversation,
in which she was certainly deficient and
out Of the fifty maid-seryants that have
had in my service from first to last, she
was the only one of whom could say as
much.
but how" my readers may ask. .'did
Annabel get on after she became Mrs.
Trevelyanr'
That can't tell you, but can tell you
what happened TO me In consequence,
which is the terrible part of 1>e whole
story. ~
A stately carriage drove on6day up to
my door. and my new maid "a very differ
emit one from dear Annie) came running
up the stairs in state of great excite
ment. "Oh mum. please, mum, there's
lords coach at the door, and her lady
ship wishes TO see YOU"
whats her name?" demanded |
quietly for did not wish this grinning
idiot 70 suppose thatI was never called
upon by members of the aristocracy.
"Here's her card, mum: the Lady Hal
Lis Something or other"
1T is not your business to read visit
ors' cards." said stifiiy. '.Show Lady
Alice Trevelyan up"
The similarity of name with that OF
Annabel's husband of course struck me
~ II cot.
lecture her business with poor insignifi-
cant me. Twas not long, however, left
In doubt. A tall, bony. stih-backed
woman OF about sixty years of age pres
emily sailed into the room.
Miss Twitter, | believer said she.
The same" replied politely. "Will
not your ladyship take seat?"
Certainly not" answered she snap
pishly. IL merely came TO see that sort
Of person by whose nefarious assist
ance my unfortunate nephew has been en-
trapped into matrimony. This Is the
house. Is it." said she, looking round my
little drawing-room in G very deprecia-
tory way, '.where this covzsDiraev was
hatched ? In this vile hole you baifed
your trap, did you, for that innocent
boy;"
what you mean," said Though began
to guess, except you intend TO make
yourself offensive"
"fou are right there, woman" she re-
joined, acidly, "if You should never
again be right in your life. 1t is the only
consolation left TO me, after the ruin Of
our house, to tell you to your face what
think of you. You are treacherous, de
signing creature; you entered into
fraudulent conspiracy. Yes. know it's
actionable, IL there's witness; but If
you dare to come near the bell. rH knock
you dos0ni / say you conspired to seduce
the affections of my nephew, the Honor
able Arthur Trevelyan, heir-presumptive
to the Earl of Manilands. don't say you
did it yourself; | wish you had, because
would only have lasted your lifetime you
employed a youthful accomplice, who
passed as your maid-servant, 1t seems.
and whose fatal charms overcame poor
Arthur's scruples. 1t Is my belief that
you both ought to be hanged. Don't an
swer me; don't venture to speak to me.
lest the sound Of your hated voice should
provoke me beyond all boundsl You
were a witness to this atrocious marriage.
have read your foolish name in the regis
ter, you false. perjured, crafty, abomina-
BILE woman. Ii was not lady born and
bred. don't know what shouldn't call
your
What she would have called me had she
not been a lady Of hereditary title, 1t is
TO conjecture; she had an i'm
mense vocabulary Of abuse even as 1t was,
and she exhausted il.
81 shall come again and let you know
what my opinion OF you really is!' were
her last words, which were perhaps the
most terrible Of all. She had nearly
frightened me out of my wits as il was
and then the threat of that scene being
repeated lay heavy on my soul for many
a day, until my lease was out and took
another house.
Once. however. [ saw Lady Manilands