The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1878-05-15
The Fatal Marriage,

sYour future is dark. see much
trouble for you. I see bloodshed, vio-
lence, and, worst of all, murder!
~
With piercing cry, Inez Opher drew
her hand from the clasp Of the gypsy
woman, who flung the silver at her feet,
darted into an adjacent thicket OF pines,
and was lost to view. She had noticed
the girl, had begged to tell her fortune,
and this was the result. Pale, tremb-
ling in every limb, and with staring eyes,
the girl turned to her humble home, in
the yard of which she was then stand
Eng. As she crossed the threshold, her
mother astern-looking woman, met her.
She did not notice her daughters agita-
zion, but exclaimed
''Your uncle, John Morton, will be
Mere this evening. You must take care
mot to offend him, as he is very peculiar.
L have not seen him for almost twenty
gears; but he has now forgiven my fool
Gsh marriage, feel sure"
Her daughter sank into the nearest
seat, and her large gray eyes wandered
swealily over the scanty furniture of the
room.
"He is wealthy, is he not?'' she asked,
sn low measured tones.
"Yes, indeed.'
"Then, mother, this visit means some
thing to US. Oh, how hate poverty !"
lam glad to hear you say that, for
you must see at once how foolish it is
Tor you to encourage Guy Barton. You
Eannot afford to marry poor man; so
you must give him up"
The girl turned pale, and strange
expression passed over her face. She
moved uneasily in her chair, as she said,
with an EFFORT
"That will be hard"
"Pshaw don't be fool" was the
brusqe reply. "You are handsome
enough to marry wealth and position,
and you must do it. There is no doubt
but that this visit of your uncle will
change your whole life. Hear my past
history and learn from it. Prior to my
marriage | was reigning belle, admired
by all. lived with my brother, John
Morton, the wealthy planter. Among
my admirers was Robert Opher, your
father, a man of talent, but poor. He
won me, and we were married, when my
I, nA2 Ypa n J11p
his homes He had set his heart on my
making splendid match and the disap
pointment changed him from a genial
hospitable man into a gloomy recluse
Morton Hall has been closed to societ!
aver since. Your father perished in
Northern prison, leaving me penniless
Istruggled on as BEST | could. How
have succeeded may be judged from ou
present surroundings"
Mrs. Opher spoke rapidly, and watche'
her daughter closely, but Inez made n
reply when she ceased. Just then tn
conversation was interrupted, and wa
not resumed.
proud, austere, yet generous man. but un
yielding as fate. He allowed no one t.
defy his authority. The meeting be
tween brother and sister was some
what formal and constrained, and thei
first words were tinged with bitterness
and reproach. But "plood is thicke
than water" and soon they were as ten
der to each other as of yore. The year
of separation had been thorough
bridged.
When John Morton returned, bot
Inez and her mother accompanied him
He was charmed with his niece, and h
ut once resolved tomake her his heires'
and introduce her into society. Th
girl bore her new position with dignity
Lifted from povety into eminence, sh
remained unchanged. Her uncle SCENE
only too anxious to repay her for pa
aeglect. He had the hall and grount
renovated; an array of workmen kel
the place in confusion for weeks, thel
their labor done, they disappeared.
e Inez had suite of rooms which wei
sxquisitely furnished; her wardrobe WI
inexhaustible; her every wish was graf
fed; the elements which surrounde
her were taste, elegance, and wealt
Yet she was not happy. Down in tt
secret recesses of her heart was cherish'
. secret which embittersd her very e
istence.
Inez was sitting in her room one NOR
ing, two or three months after her a
rival at the wrapped in thou1f
She had pushed aside the curtains