Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1878-08-16

f and standing before her.
Aspirita put her hand in her pocket an
, drew forth folded newspaper. yellow an
, faded with age, and SO worn all around it
creases that it threatened TO fall to pieces ol
being opened.
What is that :" demanded Brandon, reach
ing forth his hand.
Don't touch it yet. 1t is the New Or
| leans Courier of sixteen years ago. uncl
sent me up with his keys to open his secre
, tary and fetch him some documents which h
described to me. That was this morning
while the bailitf was here. Well, | went NJ
to his secretary in the library, and unlocke.
the upper drawer. but had hard work TO pul
it ont. When l did so, by main strength,
last, pulled it too far, and 1t iell with
crash"
For Heavens cake. get on - inpatient.
exclaimed Brandon.
And the Jar or something, touched o.
started the spring OF a secret space at thu
back of the drawer that flew open and lie
this paper tumble ont. There was nothing
else in the hiding-place but this paper. Oh
You will call it fate-its falling into my pos
session in this way :"
The young man eagerly seized the paper.
He looked at the lines she had indicated
until his gaze dilated into n stare, his cheeks
grew pale, and his chin fell-aghast with hor
ror !
''Oh, this is terrible terrible terrible ~
he exclaimed when at last he could speak foi
emotion.
''If it be SO terrible in your eyes what
must it be in his?" whispered Aspirita.
.'What, inceed Oh, this is worse than
the worst that could be imagined y he NUT
tered.
"He-Valdimir Desparde ought not to be
permitted to marry Lady Arielle Montjoie. -
whispered Aspirita
"OugM not ? He must not and shall not
Oh that Lord Beaudevere could have known
this and kept in concealed =, bitterly excaim-
| ed Brandon.
He did it in mercy to Vladimir and vivi-
enne ~
'But what sort of mercy, or even Justice
has he shown in his dealings with Lord and
Lady Altotaire and Lady Arielle Montjoie 2"
Perhaps he thought this secret would
never come ont to injure them.
And yet an old paper fortunately comes
to light just in time 10 save the young lady
from ruin and her family from dishonor
will take this paper to the Earl OF Altofaire
this morning and lay the case before him -
No no Do not so y
why not =
Because, if you do, the earl will stop the
marriage, for Lady Arielle's sake, and then
hiitiit VIII Dt WIN
betrothed lover. and she will remain faithful
TO him, and perhaps elope with him :,
THAT is true What, then. would you ad
wise me to do with this paper 2
Take it to Vladimir Desparde Remind
him of his oft expressed desire to penetrate
the mystery OF his own early life, and of his
constant wonder at his guardian reserve on
the subject. Then tell him that you have ac-
cidentally discovered the secret-that you
feel in honor bound to reveal it to him. Then
show him the paper.
"Oh, Asp Asp what serpent you arer'
exclaimed Brandon Coyle, half in admira-
tion, half in dread.
Stay she murmured Il hope that
Vladimir does not suspect that you ever as
pired to the hand of Arielle?'
mo. He has not that matter of triumph
over me. 1t was while he was on his grand
tour that made fool Of myself, and ]
have not seen her since her rejection of my
suit
"And she has never told her betroihed of
your offer, you presume? ~
"Who !? Ariele, Arielle boast of her
conquest Of one man to another man have
heard of women who do such things, but Ari-
elle-never ~
80 much the better. Then your way is
clear. Go to him as his old friend, on the
tell him, with as much seeming hesitation
and delicate sympathy as you can assume, of
the discovery you have just made and of the
uncompromising sense of duty that con-
strains you to communicate it to him. He
will fly the country | kEo,c he will. But he
will come 10 bid me good-by first | know
hst too. And then if l do not commence
treatment of consolation and cure, my name
is not Aspirita Coyle ~
oh Asp Asp, So that is your game, is
it,"
That is my game, as you call it Brand.
You thought | had your happiness only in
view: Pooh, pooh, brother we are egotists
all. You love the bride elect | like the
bridegroom expectant We work together
for our mutual interests. Behold all =
But, Aspirita, would yoa marry man
who did not think himself good enough for
Lady Ariele Montjoie ? A man in his ex-
ceptional circumstances? inquired Brandon |
Coyle in surprise.
'Yes, | would. l am not Lady Arielle |
Montjoie. am Aspirita Coylo, the orphan, |
dependent on my bachelor uncle, whose es-
tates will all go to you. Besides. love him, |
added the bold beauty, without moments
hesitation.
"IIumph! A man with such reproach at
tached to his name You must love him for
himself aloss, them
NO for niySe5t alone l iiyht be capable
OF killing him to prevent another woman
having him y
Bravo, Asp, But oh , the futes forbid
that ever your sting should strike me y
Go now, and execute your mission to
Cloudland. 1t is time, unless you would pre-
fer a dramatic forbidding OF the bans at the
very altar tomorrow = said Aspirita not
whit discomposed by the questionable COM
pliments of her brother.
Cant forbid the bans, since there have
been no bans They are to be married by |
special license. said Brandon, almost gayly,
so much was he elaied by the prospect of
preventing the marriage.
They ,oere TO have been married, you
mean But they certainly are MOTTO be nolr,
amended Aspirita.
"And meanwhile, as the parties most con-
cerned, they should be informed of their
changed prospects, added Brandon Coyle,
with smile and, rising, with bow he left
his sister, and, few minutes later, departed
On his detestable errand
Aspirita Coyle looked after him, Il great
light of triumph dilating her dark eyes until
they seemed the mouths OF caverns leading
down to the abyss of her darker soul as she
to herself:
Mon. Vladimir Desparde, YOU shall be
mine 1t may take trouble and time. but
ran work and -lrdif!" The above we pub
ish as specimen chapter but the continua-
lion of tins story will be found only in the
\. y. Ledger. Ask for the number dated
August II, which can now be had at any
news Office or bookstore. If you are not
within reach of news Office, you can have
he Ledger mailed TO you for one year by
sending three dollars to Robert Bonner, pub
Usher, $50 William street, New York.