The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1874-10-29


not be disputed He possessed the in
tellectual forehead of his revolutionary
ncestors; he could boast Of the Rhett
ewes, the Rhett mouth, and the ringing
melody of the Rhett voice.
"What do you think of him2" Viola
found time to whisper 10 Park Moultrie.
"He is the person he represents him
self-Sumter Rhett's son, was the stu
dents reply. "But there is something
about him / do not like, Viola. can
not explain myself now"
Marion Rhett gradually assumed the
reins of government on the plantation.
He treated Park Moultrie deferentially
for fortnight, when he suddenly began
to wax cold toward him. He hinted
that there was a good opening for law
students in Richmond, and, unable to
bear his rulings longer, and unwilling,
for Viola's sake, to resist after the man
ner of the Carolinian, he quilted the
estate.
81 shall feel lonely while you are
away, Park" Viola said TO him on the
night prior to his departure. 81 do not
like my cousin He treats me kindly;
he is very entertaining but there is
something about him | do not like"
Park Moultrie started at her last re-
mark. He had made use Of them while
addressing her shortly after Marion
Rhett's arrival on the plantation.
"What have you discovered, NiolaP
"Nothing, Park-only there is some
thing about him l do not like l cannot
explain myself"
Park Moultrie kissed Viola Rhett be-
fore he went away, and a week later
letter informed her that he had opened
a law office in Petersburg, Va.
Occasionally, during the year that fol-
lowed the departure of the student Vi
ola heard from him and he from her.
To his repeated advice to watch the
doings of Marion Rhett she at last be-
gan to return evasiye replies, and one
evening the contents of certain letter
startled him. ... ....
Viola was about to become the wife of
Marion Rhettl
This announcement, made by the fair
girl herself, drove Park from the chair,
and he stared at the letter unable to
credit the evidences of his senses.
"He has fascinated her with those
balefll eyes of hislp he cried, crushing
the letter in his hand. 81 love the girl;
she loves me, or did. / know thisl By
heavens, his plans shall amount to moth
ing. | will battle him, if am compelled
to kill him on the field of honor. They
are not fitted for one another; the angels
in Heaven above revolt at the match,
and the demons down under the sea re-
ioice. He has charmed her, as the SER
pent charms the bird. He drove me
from the plantation that he might have
none to modest, nor make him afraid.
l will not give Viola up without a strug-
gle. With the spell broken, she will re-
turn to me- She is not sinning-no, no,
Marion Rhett has done II all"
Maddened almost beyond control,
Park stood over his law tables with
bloodless lips and clenched hands. The
room was growing dark, and the lamp
lighter was making his rounds. The
lawyers form was not visible from the
street, but his door, flung wide, told pas
sers-by that he had not deserted the
office.
While he stood in the dusk, slowly re-
covering from the effects Of the excite
ment into which Viola's letter had
thrown him, he heard boys voice at
the door.
"This is the place, ma'am, but guess
Mr.. Moultrie's gone out"
"No, am here" said the lawyer, has
tening to the door. "If the lady will
step in, willlight the gas"
He saw the door darkened by form,
clad in female attire, and turned the gas
on. The next moment he closed the
door, and turned to his visitor.
He found her woman who had not
passed her twenty-second year. She
was very beautiful, fragile in form, intel
lectllal i'm cOuntenance, but there lurked
the fire of passion in her dark southern
eyes, and it heightened her loveliness.
She dropped into the chair which the
lawyer pushed to her, and looked him
in the face.
"Do you listen to clients after office
hours?" she asked, in rich voice, which
rippled into a smile that played over her
coral lips.
eyes, miss-or, madam"
"Madam, if you please, Mr. Moultrie,"
she said, her eyes flashing hatefully, and
then she laid white, ungloved hand on
the table. "That hand" she murmured,
"you must separate forever from the
hand it grasped before the altar five
years ago. Do you understand, MIR:
Moultrie?"
81 think do. You seek a divorce"
"And must not seek in vain" she
said, firmly.
Park Moultrie drew some paper from
the drawer, AMI sharpened his pencil.
please state your case, madam" he
said, glancing at her ... .l..
Five years ago, come the tenth Of
next October, |, as Maud Raymond, bet
ter known to the playgOing world as
Mademoisele Beauchampe, was united
in marriage to Marion Rhett."
At mention of his rivals name Park
almost dropped his pencil. The woman
did not seem to notice his emotion, and
continued after a brief pause. .....
81 don't know why | married him. 1
never loved him. He had no money"
Perhaps he had prospects," suggested
the lawyer.
Prospects" echoed the petitioner,
with a smile. "Ah! he had prospects.
He had a rich uncle-Randolph Rhett l
think his name was. Heexpected mon
ey there, ,lbut his marriage with me ruin
ed all his prospects His uncle cursed
him in a long letter, and told him that
he had cut him off without a cent.
hold the letter. After that, he soon
tired of me. He basely deserted me in
Mobile. That was three years ago.
have spoken to him but once since. 1t
was in Harrisburg. was playing my
last engagement there. 1t was the night
of the twentieth of October, 1858"
"What" cried the lawyer, starting
again. ......- .r
The woman repeated the declaration.
"Are you confident of the date?p
81 am. can swear that | talked to
him then and there"
q II 4. 4. 4