The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1874-01-17


on the round young checks, and her hands
were clasped teuderly around the arms of
man who was bending towards her, and
did dream? No; there in hateful dis
tinctness was the hideous woman Of the
Cedar Closet--the same in every distorted
line, even to the starred dress and golden
circlet. The swarthy hues of the dress
and face, had at first caused us to overlook
her. The same wicked eyes seemed to
glare into mine. After one wild bound
my heart seemed to stop its beating, and
| knew no more. When recovered from |
a long deep swoon, great lassitude and in
tense nervous excitement followed; my ILL
ness broke up the party, and.for months |
was an invalid. When again Roberts
love and patience had won me back to my |
old health and happiness, he told me all |
the truth, so far as Il had been preserved |
in old records Of the family.
Il was in the sixteenth century that the |
reigning lady Of Draye Court was weird,
deformed woman, whose stunted body,
hideous face, and temper which taught
her to hate and villify everything good
and beautiful for the contrast offered to
herself, made her universally feared and
!, was Cor mns;c hnt 90 y;ld onJ stranae
were Inc strains she drew from ,be many
;n.,r,msn,s ne wh;cb sho wac m;s,ross
,ba, ,be o;Ft onIv Intensified Tho dreod
with which she was regarded. Her father
had died before her birth--her mother
none she Ind lived her lonely loveless
l;se from vontb N middle aee When n
vounp Girl came 10 the court. no one knew
more t6an that sbe was A moor relation
The DARK woman seemed 10 look more
kindly ON this Young cousin chan ON any
one that had hitherto crossed her sombre
natb and indeed 20 great was the charm
which Marian's goodness, beauty and in
uocent gaiety exercised on every one, that
the servants ceased to marvel at her hay-
inc gained the favor of their gloomy
mistress The girl seemed to feel 4 Lind
of wondering, pitying affection for the
unhappy woman she looked ON her
throng6 an atmosphere created bv her own
sunny nature. and for time all went we'll
When Marian had been at the court for n
wear. foreign musician appeared on the
scene. He was Spaniard. and had been
engaged by Lady Draye TO build for her
an organ said to be of fabulous power and
sweetness. Through long bright summer
DAYS he and his employer were shut up
toSether In the music room--he busv in
the construction and watching his work.
These days were spent by Marian in
various ways-pleasant idleness and pleas
ant work. long canters on her chestnut
pony. dreamy mornings by the brook with
rod and line or in the village near where
abe found 4 welcome everywhere. She
played with the children; nursed the
babies, helped the mothers in a thousand
pretty ways, gossiped with the old people,
Frightening he day for everybody with
whom she came in contact Then in the
evening she sat with Lady Draye and the
Snaniard in the saloon. talking in that soft
foreign tongue which thew generally used.
But this was but the music between the
acts the terrible drama was coming. The
motive was of course the same as that of
every life drama which has been plaved
ont from the old, old days when the
cnrtain rose unon the garden scepe of
Paradise. Pbilip and Marian loved each
other. and having told their happy secret
TO each other. thew as in duty bound took
Il n their natroncss They found her IN
the music room Whether the pl;mnse
sbe caupb, Of 4 beautiful world from which
sbe vas sbut ont maddencd her ar wbetber
.he too had loved the FOREIGNER was never
certa;nly shown bnt tbron9b The closed
door nassionate words were heard and very
soon Pb;l;n came ont alone and lef, he
house without n farewell 10 apy in n
when the servants did at last venture to
enter thew found Marian lifsless on the
aoor Iody Drave standing over ber with
crutcb uni;fted and bload f]ow;ng from n
wonnd IL tbe o;rrs foreheaJ Tbsv car.
rod bor ,vay .nd nursed bsr ,enderIv.
,ho;r yn;stress lockad ,he door 90 nav ioG
and all r;oh, ,ono rem,;,ed alons ~ dart'
noss The mns;s which e.ma on, w;,han,
nsuse an ,be st;ll n;obt air was ws;rd and
wicLed hevond any s.ra;ns wb;ch Mad
sver hofore Aowsd eysn from hsnos,h ber
snr.rs !, eeasod w;,b ,norn;nr I;ch, .na
as sbe dav wo~e on n was fonnd that
Mar;sn S.d aad dnr;nn ~ n;rh, and
that Pb;lin's organ Ind sonndsd ;,s last
s,ra;n-Iadv nrave h.d sha,,arad and nd
s;lenced /. f3rsysr She never seemed 70
no,;os Mar;an,s shsonos and ~ ono S.rsd
! ~ msn,;on hsr name No,h;ns was aver
Inown cor,a;nlv Of her fate + wa. sun.
nosad sbs h.J ;o;nsd hsr Lv.r f
p' Years nssssJ and a. with % each LADY
Dr.va,s ,annsr oraw sar.ar and mors
malsvolsn. Che nsvs, Quilted her rom
nnlsss on ,ho snn;vsrsary | &C ,h., Jav and
n;ah, whsn ,be tann;ne os hsr cru,cb and
b;sh bsslsd shoss rpS rps 6ssrd sor bours a.
. she vailed nm md down The mus;c room
wh;oh was nevar Entered sora e. ,l;s
! yearly vis;l The tenth snn;vsrs.rv ~ came
younS apd ,b;s ,;ma ,ha r;r;l - NO,
.lJ | Ta IN - ~,