The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1876-05-25
@rigiuaI Sturg.
BERKELEY HALL.
BY "LA CAROLINE"
BY "LA CAROLINE" I"
CHAPTER XIX.


'Men must learn now with pity to dispense,
For policy sits above conscience"
Entering one of the handsomest Offices
in the fashionable law range on
Street, we will take a glance at Richard
Egan, unmatched, as he supposes himself,
by human eyes-a higher surveillance he
deems but trick of priest craft, a bur.a-
boo with which to scare chill! !ren. The
church clock had struck +.en sometime,
the window shutters had been closely
and carefully drawn. and a high, green
baize screen had f,een cautiously placed
in front Of the Sindow to prevent sin
gle ray OF hr 1nt emitted by the dim stu
dents Ia mp from being observed by
Passels on the street. 1t was evident
M' y .. Egan desired no intrusion upon
chose hours, apparently devoted to intro
spection. Upon the table beside him
was bunch of the finest cigars, a bottle
of brandy, tumblers for two and pitch
er of water, all of them untouched
Richard Egan alone in his Office was not
the Maj. Egan of the beau monde. The
whole man betokened deep and painful
thought, his head dropped until his chin
almost touched his breast, the keen and
restless glitter had faded from his eyes,
his mouth no longer wore its old bland
and perpetual smile, for the thin lips
were closed firmly over the cleaning
white teeth. A physiognomist would
have read in his face deep purpose
foiled, but not conquered. For nearly
an hour he remained immovable and
silent, his clouded brow and compressed
lips alone indicating his gloomy thoughts.
But suddenly his humor changed, and
with spasmodic motion as of one recov-
ering from painful stupor, he arose
from his seat, and moving cautiously
and noiselessly to the door he locked
and bolted it, his eyes all the while
cleaning with an unnatural lustre, in
which was curiously mingled the soft
light of love, with the hellish glare of
pdrposed revenge. He approached
high, old-fashioned bookcase, ornamen-
ted with elaborately carved panelled
doors, and passing his hand with firm
pressure over one of the doors, he touched
a secret spring, which, with a slight
clicking sound, caused one of the panels
to open and disclose an almost living
likeness of Marion Maham in the first
flush of her maidenly beauty; at her
feet crouched beautiful Newfoundland
dog, upon which she gazed with admiring
pleasure; her lips wore smile of child
like innocence, and her broad, white
brow indicated intellectual repose-the
whole picture conveyed the idea Of youth
full purity and trust. Richard Egan with
folded arms stood and gazed upon the
beautiful face; and as he gazed, the de-
mon glare faded slowly from his eyes,
and tender but wavering light took its
place. Then, as if wooed by some o'er
mastering passion, he stretched his open
arms to the picture, exclaiming:
80, gentle and beautiful, withdraw not
from me those pure and holy eyes, leave
not the miserable Egan to the influences
of his own serdid soul! o, Marion,
Marion, be mine, my own; even at my
side with holy counsels, make of me
what you will, mould me to your own
beautiful ideal of a true and earnest
manhood, and it may be, pure and ethe-
real spirit, with you as my daily compan-
ioned, breathing the atmosphere Of your
beautiful and holy, although vain and
superstitious creed, even Richard Egan,
the. cold sceptic, the calculating worship
Per of mammon, will become one of those
simple ones who give freely the gains of
lifetime for the Christians one myth
cal pearl. But" land now legion of
devils seemed to glare from his eyes)
"cast me from. you, and, Marion, you
cannot guess-language will be powerless
to number-the demons of despairing
anger and wrath you call into beingl
But, ha! dotard that I am to have forgot
ten your soft billet doux! But" casting
a fond, lingering look upon the picture)
"I must hide from my charmed gaze your
syren face, Or will find no courage to
accomplish my fixed purpose"
So saying, he touched the spring, and
the eIaborately carved rosewood took the
place of the beautiful picture, and in
mournful accents Richard Egan ex-
claimed, Farewell, farewell sweet face!
fond dreams, farewell vain, foolish love,
farewell! No tender wooing in moonlit
groves, by murmuring streams, or beneath
the tender light of stars can be mine;
and, yet, Marion Maham shall be my
bride! All, see! the pure girlish face,
the angelic vision fades from my sight as
I read the defiant language of the scorn-
full womanw And as he spoke he drew
from the breast pocket of his coat letter,
which he read aloud in cold, clear voice,
and as he read his face grew fearfully
dark with concentrated rage:
BERKLEY HALL, June
Hiss Marion Mahana to Maj. Richard
Egan, Charleston:
Your reiterated snit for my hand, which
accompanied as it was in your last letter
by unwelcome fattery, strangely mingled
with unmanly threats, I am forced to in
form you, has ceased to be compliment.
Again and again have I, with express
e;ops of reoret for the main and disap-