The daily gazette., 1878-04-15
LADY VENTZ.
BY ANNIE II. JEROME.

pu,chiy BtaclolsneSS won shl-bOth men
anu women-though, to be sure, only the
men went mad over her.
Lady Ventz She was when she came
and Lady Ventz she remained in the
rather rough neighborhood which She
had chosen us her home In spite of our
republican institutions the people ,wAke
proud OF having real titled lady among
them, somehow imagining that their
own personal Importance was increased
thereby.
SO she was my lady'd, and amply SUD-
phed with the dainty needlework she
sought as means of subsistence i'm
mediately after her advent among us.
lt was mystery to the good people of
the neighborhood how Lady Ventz hap-
pened to be poor as to be obliged to pro-
VIDE forthe wants of herselfand her Young
dehcate-faced son by her own exertions,
especially as everything about her proved
that such had not always been the case.
But mystery is remained. Gentle and
gracious rs she was, impertinent curio-
sity found an impossible barrier in the
native queenliness ofthe young and beau
tliul woman. Whatever the mystery of
her past, no one ever attempted the sec
ond time to penetrate it by word or
even "A look; and her one faithful serving
mald-Peggy-who had crossed the ocean
with her mistress, was as reticent as her
mistress self
As have limited, the men went mad
over this beautiful, mysterious widow,
who would bend like pure lily over her
needlework or follow the hounds with
the best of them, taking five-barred
fence with the ease and grace ofa winged
bird.
But she liked the hunt better than the
needle, if her proud, flashing, eager eyes
and crimson checks and lips told u true
Gff nd
all the better for that and that was Squire
Dusbrow, whose fine gray mare she al
ways rode, and who generally contrived
through all the hot excitement of the
hunt to keep at her side.
People said it was Il match but after
awhile it was whispered that Lady Ventz
has refused the handsome squire, and /
happen to know that the whisper was
truth. One day the squire did lay his
heart, hounds, and horses at her feet, with
passionate vehemence that brought poor
Lady Nentz to her senses as to his real
feelings.
She burst into tears and shook her beau
tiful head sadly, and then followed long
sad talk, after which they shook hands,
and the squire departed, looking ten
years older than before the talk.
During the two months that followed
they saw little of each other; but Just at
foreign mail, with great black seals,
reached Lady Ventz. She staggered and
turned pale when it was placed in her
hands, and carried it at once to her bed
room. An hour later she came out with
tear-stained eyelids, but a happy smile
ipon her lips.
Godfrey" she said to her little son,
"run over to Squire Dusbrow's and tell
him mamma would like to see him on
i'm Mt hnuinaao ~ hn l.
tho time"
And then she went into the little cot
tage parlor and laid the package of
papers on the table, and sat down and
clasped her hands in smiling reverie on
her knees. Presently the squires step
sounded without and he entered the
room. AS he did SO Lady Ventz started
to her feet with a deep blush and grace
fully advanced and welcomed him.
Godfrey ran off to his play and they
were alone.
"You sent for me-" he said gravely
holding her hand for a minute in tight
clasp. "How can | serve you?"
She turned rcd and pale in quick sue
cession, and then looking up at him,
faltered
"He is dead, Edwin-my brutal hus-
band is dead-has been dead year and
they have only just discovered my place
VI II VI NY DOy y Sdkb,
must go at once to England"
While she was speaking the squire
stared breathlesSly at her, his fine face
lighting and lighting till it was fairly
radient. Then, with quick movement,
he stepped a pace forward and clasped
her to his breast.
"My darling my own precious dar-
ling?"
1t was all he said, but he bowed his
| fn ha, fatr al
big tears fell among the ripping flaxen
tresses. In moment no lifted his head
with glowing smile.
Eyes, you must 90 love-" he said, "but
not without me. You will become my
bride tomorrow morning"
And Lady VentZ, softly whispered
eyes" too happy to say more. So the re-
mainder of that day was spent by the
faithful Peggy in making bride cake
ing a bridal party filled the little cottage
parlor.
Lady Ventz and the squire stood
side by side, the handsomest pair that
had ever been seen in that county.
"Wilt thou take this woman to DO thy
welded wife"
Tho Clergyman uttered the words
quietly and solemnly. but tho remainder
was cut short by a clear, ringing voice at
"If you please, hold on my good
friend" Knocked the newcomer. "Lady
Ventz will, l am confident, be content
with one husband Permit me to intro
duoe myself to this happy party, and
more especially to Lady Ventz, as Lord
Ventz, the husband OF said Lady Ventz,
and the father of that pretty boy yon-
der"
And he bowed with all the grace of a
finished courtier, his singularly hand
some, but evil face aglow with malig-
nant triumph.
"Alive!-not dead r'-gasped Lady
Ventz, staring at him with white, parted
| lips, and wild eyes. "Not dead! Not
dead"
Lord Ventz laughed.
"No; not dead, my beautiful, runaway
wife, but alive and ready to take you
both under my protection again"
And the malignant smile deepened in
malignancy.
mot dead" again gasped Lady Ventz,
her gaze still fixed changelessly on
him.
| "Not dead" he shrugged his shoulders
and laughed. "That story of being dead
was little romance of mine when l
found your far-off hiding place. |
thought it would be fun to see how the