Daily Kennebec journal., 1878-11-15
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Pearl had no conception Of the honor
that was intended her. She saw that the
mother was more condescending than be-
fore. while she noticed that Sir Arthur
followed her with the assiduitv of lap
dog.
Sill, knowing her aunts indomitable
pride and her own poverty. she never sus-
pected the real motive. That he liked her
as cousin she believed, and finding him
rather more childish in his ideas than most
young men OF his age, she humored him.
She noticed that he eschewed reading.
that books were in fact. his horror, ana
the only things he cared about were music,
cards, and chess. which he however played
mechanically. He liked the open air, de-
lighted to feed the fish in The ponds, and,
above all. 10 smoke on a favorite bank in
womaply office.
AT length he pressed his mother so hard
that she had to speak.
were alone. 'i
ss"Miss Ravenscroft," she said in a rath-
er earnest way, Il have something very
important to communicate TO you
sI'Indeed, aunt - replied Pearl, who was
day. s'Have you heard OF situation for
me ?"
s.Nom Situations are utterly out of the
question:" she continued, hastily. my
son wishes you to become his WIFE
Pearl stood appalled,.
ssHis wife Impossible |" she cried.
Why asked Lady Holdsworth, with a
sharp, suspicious glance at the other, ''ii
may presume to ask? My son is not q
genius; he need not be; he is a country
gentleman of means and position; you are
apoor orphan. and only my great love for
my son has induced me TO consent to your
marriage. 1t is one you surely should be
proud 10 accept"
"Madam, In the first place, do not
never can love your son. said Pearl. IA
little haughtily; ''in the next place,
though mean to exonerate him from the
bond. am the affiahced wife of Captain
Leslie Montague"
''Hush p cried Lady Holdsworth shak-
ing as with palsy; ''mention not that
name. know and hate him q Go to
your ROOM
And Pearl did go TO her room not to
leave it for day or two, she was so over
come 'sg y, t,Di r't
When she came down Lady Holdsworth
was more calm. while Sir Arthur was
very excited and irritable.
IL am glad to see you better" said the
lady. "Sr Arthur has been wretched
during your ndisposition,"
"That / have" he cried, ''wretched,
miserable; no company, no conversation,
no music. You will play presentlyp'.
Pearl rather alarmed, went to the piano,
and, - far rs she was able, sang and
played, but soon retired to rest
Now began wretched existence. The
son was more than ever devoted, more
than ever being perpetually after her.
His admiration and devotion were un-
doubted.
- Lady Holdsworth plead her sons love,
his single minded love for her, and the
fact that never before had he cared for
woman. and kept his health so long.
One day Lady HoldswoIth entered with
an open letter. 1t had black envelope,
and soon Pearl was told that her gallant
soldierllover was dead
With this news all courage vanished.
She became ill., and fell victim to an
Epidemic fever that was then raging in
the locality. Youth however prevailed.
and she rose from her sick bed weak aud
pale, the shadow OF her former self. She
was mere puppet now in their hands
ss .sDo with me as you will" she said.
And SO the marriage became fixed
thing, and was to take place by special
license at the hall in one week Sir Ar
thur was wildly. madly happy The com.
ing event to him was glimpse of elysi-
um. Pearl was inantimate, and scarcely
knew what was going on.
There WAS chanel in the nlI pnauoioY
and here the ceremony was to be solemn
lied. Only the clergyman. his clerk,
Lady Holdsworth and the bride and BRIDE
groom were to be present. In addition
to this were few servants as witnesses.
AL 81 whom looked sad and sorrowIul.
All was ready. The clergyman took
hin place. Lady Holdsworth was tremu.
aloas with excitement. the bridegroom
proudly happy. Only Pearl looked utter
ly miserable.
eo"Commence," said lady Holdsworth.
-,s,,1 Hold !" cried terrible voice, more
awful than the creak of DOOM "Would
you unite the unhappy girl with ravlng
Z sssol"Leslie y shrieked Pearl, and tainted in
bis arms.
1.-The bridegroom staggered, and then
= with all the furious madness which he
had concealed for SO many weeks, flew at
. them both. But help was at hand, and
two keepers secured the lunatlc alter a
terrible struggle.
Lady -Koldsworth fell in fit.
Pearl was removed, and then it was ex-
planned that Sir Arthur was dangerous
madman, with occasional lucid intervals.
!. During these he was sent home, the keep
ers retiring out of sight.
3. Leslie bad returned suddenly, his mis-
= sion being finished and had at once start
ed for Holdsworth. Meeting one of the
keepers. he questioned him, and the man
AT first very reticent-tod the tale and.
amply paid by Leslie, came in time to stop
the hideoas union.
y Leslie was Arthur's heir. If he died
: without issue, which accounted for the
mothers intense hate and miserable false
hood,
: We need say little more. Sir Arthur
never left the lunatic asylum again, and
died shortly alter, raying mad. Leslie
Montague soon contrived to restore the
roses to the cheeks of Little Pearl, whose
. iribulations ended in happy marriage.