The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1878-08-08
"Ahl" erasped Aspirita. as she listened

from WHICH sne never arose again. One
day minister came and sat by the bed
and wrote . letter for her. which was sent
away. After that she grew weaker.
Another day gentleman arrived, stran-
ger, who afterwards proved TO be Lord
Beaudevere,'
We'll, Brandon. why don't you go on2"
eagerly demanded the attentive girl, see
ing that her brother paused.
Il am trying to remember what Des-
psrde told me Of this stranger. Obi he |
did not know who he was until long after |
wards. Lord Beaudevere had this mother
and her children Immediately removed TO
q more comfortable house, and provided
them with everything they could want.
Desprade remembers distinctly his moth
er's perceful death, while Lord Beaude-
we're stood, with Vivienne 10 bis arms and
Vladimir by his side, promising the dying
women to be q father to them while he
should live. Then followed the funeral
and the black dresses. Then long, long
voyage in a sailing ship, all vaguely re-
membered by Vladimir
did his sister-did ViYienne recollect
nothing of this2 4
Nothing. Her earliest memories date
from their life at Cloudland, whittier their
guardian took them Immediately on their
arrival in England"
And we know all the rest from hearsay
how the bachelor. Lord Beaudevere,
represented these children to their neigh
bors as his little cousins and wards, how
he sent Vladimir to Elton, and afterwards
to Oxford, where the young man disting
uished himself as much by devotion to
study as by skill ip athletic sports; how the
guardian sent him on his continental tour,
and at his return celebrated his mojority
at CloudIand, presenting him TO the tenan-
try as the heir; how the baron procured the
most accomplished goYerness and masters
| for Vivienne, and took her to London end
| had her presented to the queen. All this
we know of these two individuals, whose
earliest days were passed in squalid te-
nement-house In foreign city, said Aspir-
tia, scornfully.
We'll the fellow is the heir-presump-
tive of the title and estates of Lord Beaud-
eyerel If it were not so, he might never
have dared to aspire to the hand of Lady
Arielle Montjoie Or if he bad, his aspir-
atoms would have been treated with con-
temp"
Then if he is the heir of the Barony Of
l
mother, for he cannot he SO through his
father. since the name of Desparde is not
to be found in the Beaudeyere genealogy,"
said Aspirita, sententlously,
1t is probably through his mother, who
ever she was, since Beaudevere is one OF
those baroDies that, failing male heirs, de-
scend to the female. But know nothing
about it" replied Brandon, testify,
DO you know that ne really as the
heir?"
Yes, because it is so set down in the
! Peerage. Under the tabular list of noble
men, with their titles, family names. seats
and heirs, you will find this entry: 'Beaud
evere-Baron; Family name, Beaue; Seat
Cloudland, iu-shire; Heir. Presumptive
Vladimir Desparde Esq.
"Ah! lust now you alluded to this young
mans father as Vladimir Despard the cid
: err. So that the son bears the exact name
of his father?"
Yes, the exact name of his father"
HE knows that, does hep
/, yes, he knows that; but that is abso-
: lutely all that he does know of his father.
Then we will try to enlighten him !
n exclaimed Aspirita, with blaze of malig
); nifty from her big black eyes.
You do know something, then?" crieC
y Bradon, starting.
. Eyes, do. l know that Lord Beaude
we're is merciful in leaving Vladimir Des
o pard in his ignorance, and that he woult
have been much more merciful to hav
o left him in obscurity," said Aspirita, sol
. EMMY.
; Sister, What do you mean2. What dis
- coyery have you made?" exclaimed Bran
y don, in. great excitment.
: ''One that intend you to reveal t
Vladimir Desparde. And when yo,
= shall haye done so, should he be tn,
y man of honor we believe him, he will re
. lease Lady Arielle from her, engagement
to him, and he will fly to the uttermos
parts of the earth rather than wed wit
/ her.
What is this discovery? Explain !your
!! self" exclaimed Brandon Coyle, startin
% up and standing before her.
Aspirita put her hand in her pocket an
n drew forth a folded newspaper, yello,
u aud faded with age, and SO worn all aroun
;. its creases that it threatend to fall to piece
n on being opened.
o What is that?" demanded Brandon
reaching forth his hand.
II Don't touch it yet. 1t is the New Or
}. leans Courier of sixteen years ago. Uncl
e sent me up with his keys to open his SCI
u rotary and fetch him. some document
e which he described to me, = That waa thi
e morning, while the bailiff was here. Wei
/ went up to his secretary in the library
D, and unlocked the upper drawer, but ha
hard work to pull it out. When / did S
by main strength, at last. l. pulled it to
far and it fell with crash"
} For Heavens sake, get on!" impatien
Is ly exclaimed Brandon.
y And the jar or something, touched c
80 started the spring of secret space at sh
back of the drawer that few ope
3, aud let this paper tumble on
D. There was nothing else IN the hiding plaC
but this paper. Oh! you will call it fai
10 Its falling Unto my possession in tn
: way?"
y The young man eagerly seized the pape
t. He looked at the lines size had indicate
m until his gaze dilated into stare, h
i cheeks grew pale, and his chin fell-agha
D. with horrori
"Oh, this is terriblel terriblel terrible!
he exclaimed, when at last he couldSspea
III for emotion.
IT IF it be so terrible in your eyes, VIII
s. must it be in his?" whispered Aspirita.
What. indeed! Oh, this is worse tina
vs. the worst that could be imagined" |
as muttered.
he "He-Valdimir Desparde-ought not
3, be permitted to marry Lady Arlelle Mon
ne joie," whispered Aspirita
Ought not? He must not aud shall NJ
r Oh! that Lord Beaudevere could ha,
known this and kept it concealed bitter
exclaimed Brandon.
r He did it In mercy 10 Vladimir ar