The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-08-05
A SKELETON TN THE CLOSET.


below. And not one instant TOO soon to save him
from the crime OF self destruction.
He whirled around upon her. aud they stood facing
each other with eyes flaming defiance.
How ike, yet unlike, we're these fierce, besutiful
creatures-twin sister and brother!
She, with her slender, wcll-rounded, iissom form
with her small fine features and clear, deadly pale
yellow face darkensd by great, deep. hollow black
eyes; the whole overshadewed BY heavy. clustering
auburn curs--a subtle, wistiui face.
He, somewhat taller, fuller and moro supple, like
another human snake, OF little larger growth.
with paler complexion. darker eyes and darker
HAIR.
rnsy were the orphan niece and nephew OF ChrIsto-
pher Coys Esquire an old bachelor living his
Client paIrmonial estate oil csvsaud In The North of
Now they stood elaring At zach other full minute
In silent menace. Then both spoke AZ oncc:-
"Aspirital"
"BrandOn !" Il. ,tt
''How dared you stop ms!"
.How dared you raise your hand against your own
ifeS''
81 dare do what please he answered, sulkiiy.
$50 do I-cxcep-except to rush from lie TO death,
from the known TO The unknown" she rstorsed, SOL
..rherc can bs no more perfsc, pcrdition than
suffer now. Why did you stop mss" he cried. with
..Beoauss would not have you destroy yourseIfior
the sake OF u peevish girl. Come, Brandon. Rouse
yoaTs sapno. i've without Ar,eiis!' he walled
"what mooncaii you are, TO DO crying after a
grill YOU eanIo, i've Without her. then why don't
a.Livs with hers You know she Is 10 be- married
10 Vladimir Desparde TO morrow" replied The young
Shs ia to be married tomorrow. but this Is to-day,
and rhere's many u slip 'twixt tho cup and but
proverbs are vulgar, and you know wnat nean'
"You must stop the marriage, Brandon! !"
".Stop the marriage? wish couidl stop the
unarriagc!' How am TO do thai, pray your"
.tfusn. Brandon Come aud sit down here on the
sofa by me aud will tell vsu what 10 do to break on
y"urss. much as she Is new devoted TO her sfaneed
iOver,'' whispered the girl.
me SUICIDAL ircnzy in him was laid for the
ment even though II might return.
CHOW attend to me, Brandon. Before be became
your successful rival in the favor Of Lady Arienc
Ioutjoc, Vladimir Desparde WAS your lost intimate
friend, was he not?'' inquired Aspirin
sOi course ne was'' exclaimed Brandon, grinding
you were in his entire conndsnoef"
"YOu have often hoard MIN regret, deplore the I'M
ia,homable mystery that hangs over his own and his
sisr's cnildnosd?'
.Ou, to be sure. Haven't told you SO often
.And he rather resents his GUARDIANS, Lord Beau
devere's S, reticence on this subject?"
, ea, yer IN. .s.estabs marri.s.S" exclaimed
Brandon, impsttcnty.
"lt has everything TO do with atoppiDEit But You
must be patient, my lad. Calm yourself and collect
your thoughts, Tor must put you through a Cross
examination aud then Ieel my way"
al uOn't cnueIStuuu you.
..No9 Blu. you VIM as 80 on. Tell me. hrs., ex.
as,ly how much Vladimir Despsrde really does know
Of his carly history? He has TOLD you sappossr
as he remembers. He has heard nothing. Lord
Beadevo the only person In possession OF the facts,
firmly refuses 10 speak one word on the subject"
sLord Beaul.vere's reserve IS very mer;iiul."
'What do you Say r. ..F
'sLord Besudeveres reserve is very mercful 10
Valdimir Despprde and his sister"
N.What do you mean, Asplritar'
az will explain presently. But go on and tell me
nax do has a IN
lie. me .p,nk. Oh! he remembers living with bis
the narrow street OF great city, whose name he has
forgotten, even II he ever learned IT."
Twas II In this counlryT
s.No, Tor he crossed water to come here"
ain France, then2"
.No, Tor they we're Enslish- speaking people who 10.
habitoa she CITY, and they had black servants. Ao
tn,nts n must have been New York or New Orleans,
or some other American CITY,
"New Orleans, PROBABLY, II 'hey had many blacks
"fhe name OF she CITY, and even OF the country is
lost him IN tue mora'ns mist OF his dawn Of
"Thers was somsthns concerning hts father, the
elder Vladimir Despards whom, however, he does
nos RENE mber ever 10 have seen. But his mother
never held up her head again. She used 10 cry
him and his sister, pray 20 the Lord 10 take them
OF this world and save shem IRON the evil 10
"Ahin easpsd Aspirita, as she listened 10 every
WORT Of this little story.
"Xt length the mother took to her bed, from which
she never again. One day . minister came
and by the bed ana wrote letter Tor her, which
vsssent away. After that she grew weaker. Another
dsy gentlemas arrived. . stranger, VINO atterward
proved 70 be Lord Beaudevere." .et
swell, Brandon. Why dont yeu 60 ON f' eagerly
demanded she attentive gS seeing That hcr brother
paused.
of thts stransef. on no did not know who he
until long aiserwards. Lord Beaudevers had This
mother end hsr children Immediately removed TO
everything they could want Despards remembers
distinctly his mothers peaceful death, while Lord
ysoimir By his side, promising the dying woman 20
DO father to them while no should live. Then fol-
lowed the funeral and the bIsck dresses Then
long, long voyage Ia a sahng ship, vagusly rsmcm.
bered by Vladimir.
"Did hts sister--dia vivienns rseolsct nothing Of
thmf"
.sNothing. her earliest memories date from their
life ut Cicudisnd, whittier their guardian tovk them
mmssiAtely on lbs,r arrival 10 EaSland."
bachelor Lord Bsaudsvere represented these children
to bis ns,gnbors rs his little cousins and wards; how
he sent Vladimir Eaton, aud aitsrward TO Oxford,
where the young man dstipsuished himself as much
BY devotion TO study as by ekl In athletic Sports;
how the guardian sent him on his continental tour,
and At his return celebra.ed his majority at Cloud
land presenting him the tenantry Ms the hsir how
the Baron procured tho most accomplished governcss
and masters Tor vvennc, ana took her TO London and
had her presented 10 the Queen All this We Know OF
these two individuals, whose earliest days were
passed 10 squalid tenement house In foregn city"
said Aspirits, scorniuly.
.'wel,, tho fellow Is the heirpresumptive OF the
uo ana estates OF LORD Beaudeverc! II it were not
she Lady Arslls Montjoic or II no had bis aspira-
tfohs would nave been tfened with contempt -
.rhcn NJ he rs the heir OF the Barony OF Beaude
we're be must be through hrs mother Tor he cannot
be SO through his father since the name OF Despsrde
not 10 be found IN tue Bsaudevere gsneaogy" said
1T 10 probably through bis mother, whoever she
isinng male heirs, descend 10 the ismaie< But
know nothing about II, replied Brandon. testify
apo you know tina. no really is the ncrf"
yes because II Is so set down in the Pesrage.
Under the tabular Inst OF n0blemeD with thor titles