The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1878-08-06
A Skeleton in the Closet.
'BRAEDoN CoYLEl ARE YOU MApp'

she had Snatched the loaded pistol from hi
desperate hand and hurled 1t through th
open window into the bay below. And no
one instant too soon to save him from tn,
crime of self-destruction.
He whirled around upon her and they
stood facing each other with eyes flaming
defiance.
How like, yet unlike, were these fierce
beautiful creatures-twin sister and brother
She, with her slender well-rounded
lissom form; with her small, fine features
and clear, deadly-pale yellow face dark
ened by great, deep, hollow black eyes; the
whole overshadowed by heavy, clustering
auburn curls-a subtle, wstful face.
He, somewhat taller, fuller, and more
supple, like another human snake. of lit
tie larger growth, with a paler complexion
darker eyes and darker hair.
! They were the orphan niece and nephew
of Christopher Coyle, Esquire, an old
bachelor living on his ancient patrimonial
es ate of Caveland in the north of England
Now they stood glaring at each other q
full minute in silent menace. Then both
spoke at once:
"Aspirita!"
| "Brandonp'
"How dared you stop me?'
"How dared you raise your hand against
your own life?"
81 dare do what I please" he answered,
sulkily.
80 do I-cxcept-except to rush from
life to death-from the known to the un-
Mownm she retorted, solemnly.
There can be no more perfect perdition
than | suffer now! Why did you stop me?'
he cried, with groan of anguish.
because l would not have you destroy
yourself for the sake of a peevish girl.
Come, Brandon; rouse yourself! Do be a
mani" she exclaimed.
81 can not live without Ariellew he
walled.
"What a mooncalf you are, to be crying
after a girl! If you can not live without
her. then why don't you live with her?"
scOnfully demanded the girl
Live with her" You know she is to be
married to Vladimir Desparde Tomorrow
replied the young man.
'She is to be married tomorrow; but this
is to-day; and there's many a slip 'twiXt
the cup and'-but proverbs are vulgar, and
you know what l mean."
81 do not"
you must stop the marriage, Brandon!"
"Stop the marriageY | wish l could!
Stop the marriagep How am to do that,
| pray your
Hush, Brandon! Come and sit down
here on the sofa by me- and ! will tell you
what TO do to break off this marriage, near
as it is, and to win the bride for yourself,
much as she is now devoted to her atfianced
lover" whispered the girl.
The suicidal frenzy in him was laid for the
moment, even though it might return.
| "NoW, attend to me, Brandon. Before he
became your successful rival in the favor of
Lady Arielle Montjoie, Vladimir Desparde
was your most intimate friend was he nOt?'
inquired Asprita.
"Of course he was" exclaimed Brandon,
grinding his teeth.
You were in his entire confdence?"
"Yes."
"You have often heard him regret, de-
plore the unfathomable mystery that hangs
over his own and his sisters childhood"
"Oh, to be sure Haven't told you SO
often enough"
"And he rather resents his guardians,
Lord Beaudeyerc's, reticence Oh this sub
jectW
"Yes, yes; but what has all this to do
with the question of this dctestable mar
riage?" exclaimed Brandon impatiently.
ut has everything to do with stopping it,
But you must be patient, my lad. Calm
yourself, and collect your thoughts; for |
must put you through a crOss-eXamination,
and then feel my way"
81 don't understand you.n
"No? But you will as | go on. Tell me,
first, exactly how much Vladimir Desparde
really does know of his early history? lie
has told you, supposeT
Yes; but it is very little. He knows
only so much as he remembers. He has
heard nothing Lord Beaudevere, the only
person in possession of the facts, firmly re-
fuses to speak one word on the subject"
Il
| full"
What do you say?"
"Lord Beaudevere's reserve is very mer-
ciiul to Vladimir Desparde and his sister"
"What do you mean, Aspirita?"
81 will explain presently But go on and
tell me all Vladimir Desparde has told you
of his early life, Brandon"
"Lct me think. Oh! He remembers liy-
ing with his mother and his little sister, in
very poor lodgings, in the narrow street of
great city, whose name he has forgotten,
even if he ever learned it"
WAS it in this country%
"No. for he crossed water to come here?'
"In France, then"
'No, for they were English.speaking peo-
pie who inhabited the city, and they had
black servants. He thinks it must have
been New York or New Orleans, or some
other American city.
"New Orleans, probably if they had many
blacks But go on"
"The name of the city, and even of the
country, is lost to him i'll the morning mist
of his dawn Of memory.
"There was something concerning his
father, the elder Vladimir Desparde, whom
however he does not remember ever tC
have seen. But his mother never held W
her head again. She used to cry over him
and her sister, and pray to the Lord to take
them out of this world, and save them from
the evil to come"
"Ah!' gasped Aspirita, as she listened tc
every word of this little story.
"At length the mother took to her bed
from which she never arose again. One day
minister came and sat by the bed anC
wrote letter for her. which was sent away
After that she grew weaker. Another day
gentleman arrived, a stranger who after
wards proved to be Lord Beaudevere"
well, Brandon, why don't you go on?'
eagerly demanded the attentive girl, see
ing that her brother paused.
II am trying to remember what Despard,
told me of this stranger. Oh! he did no
know who he was until long afterwards
Lord Beaudevere had this mother and he
children Immediately removed TO more
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