Lexington weekly intelligencer., 1878-01-05
R REDE MPT ION
WOMAN'S POWER.
WRITTEN YnR THE lSrELLIGENCER.
CHAPTER I.


Power. will, sensation, memory, ia'i III '"rn;
Your essence seems to pass away
Like thin cloud that melis across the morn,'
Lost in the blue INN, nsity OF heaven
The sun had long since withdrawn his
light; the evening shades were fast de-
scending and night was settling darkly
over the vast city. The hour which con-
ceals the murderer steel, and wells. for a
time the iniquities OF man, was Fastening
on; business for the day is suspended.
and the usual peace which the stiffness |
OF night throws over the eternal world al |
most reigns. Bleak winds came in heavy |
gusts, bringing great, feathery flakes OF
snow which blinded the eyes of the few
passers-by, who were hurrying to the
warmth and comfort which awaited them
IN their respective homes. and which
was most certainly inviting on night
like this.
A woman. .enveloped in a heavy cloak.
with thick. black veil pinned carefully
over her face, SO as to render: recogni-
ton impossible, glided cautiously down
| the marble steps that red from the front
of a princely dwelling on Fifth avenue.
She walked hurriedly tor 4 short dis
| tance; then, stepping into cab. she was
driven rapidly away. a swift ride soon
brought her to No 80 Wall street. Here
the strange looking woman got out. car
| rying in her arms L mysterious bundle.
She was met at the door by 4 coarse,
rough man, who let her in, and closed
the door with an unceremoGiouS bang in
the face of the half-frozen driver, who
muttered to himself incoherently about
women having business out on such q
dreadful night.
In that superb mansion, from which
this woman proceeded. under the cover
of night, surrounded by all the luxurie:
that wealth can obtain or love can pur
chase; where everything which tends tt
make life joyful on this earth. in he
darkened room. lay Bercnice Maynard
alone, and on the very verge OF eternity
her ife-blood had almost ceased to flow
like the last tide which surges the shor
after storm. was it ebbing slowly out
The angel of death. winged for immorta
flight. was waiting until the last draw
breath would still the heart forever. an
give the soul its freedom. DR.. Gray ha
thought for several days that she woul
die, but he did not think the end woul
come SO soon. Sir Henry MAYNARD. Ber,
pice's husband, and the doctor had bee
watching faithfully bv her bedside #
weeks and weeks, never leaving her
help. But tonight she seemed restin
easy, and the doctor said tina: he and S
Henry might retire for an hours res
Florence Shelly, "a cousin to Berenice al:
urged upon them the Importance of tn
action; for being up SO continuously ";
telling upon Sir Henry. tor he locke
woln and haggard.
Florence begged them just to let h
and Hagar, Berenice's faithful old q
tendant, watch with her cousin tn
once. Her petition was granted and Il
two men retired.
After having first assured herself,
a studious application OF her ear to t
key-hole. that both men were asiee
Florence dismissed Hagar with the
junction that she must try and get sol
rest also Z at she had taken 4 long II
in the afternoon, and was not sleep
~ neither was she afraid to sit alone W
her cousin for while, and if there "
Sc: the very slightest change in her s
would awaken them all immediate
IN Hager saw that there was but one alt
native. and that was to obey; yet it "
with feeling of intense reluctance Il
she lett the room. She nursed and cal
for Berenice when a little baby, and
"'i watched over her all of her preci(
lite When her mother laid down
gentls lille. and passed quietly into
Hagar's to soothe and comfort the p
tried heart. and now to leave her in
last moments. alone with woman
;, whom she had no confidence whate,
but one she mistrusted above all VIII
she had ever known. was the very ha
est thing she had ever done in all of
life Florence and Berenice were c
cousins, but they were just as dissim
in every respect as 1t was possible
them to be. The latter was per
blonde, with large. dreamy blue e.
with an intense sweetness ever ari:
from their clear. tranquil depths.
complexion was fair and soft-tinted
the first delicate blush of the morn
together, she was creature of un
passed loveliness, and her beautiful S
metry was grace and ease itself.
disposition was exemplary in all its c
acteristlcs. She sought after and
tanned all those virtues of the mind W
the youthful heart is capable of com
hendlng. Her very lie was syn
nous with all that was good and p
OF Florence cannot speak so well 4
the painful fact that there is not
praiseworthy in her nature. Though
much | will admit. She was
splendid looking woman-a VERT
queen to be admired. yes, worship
bv those who were unfortunately
cent of her duplic,ty. Florence's
plexion was very dark. though it
freshened and relieved by an unusi
brilliant color her eyes were large,
black, and whose quick, fierce exl
sion told of intense passion mingled
hatred and revenge if stirred to a ce
depth She was, at all times, pie;
and attractive; particularly so ,
prompted by self-interest. At such t
it was impossible for the most
hearted person to resist her cha
Therefore the most stolid opinions
often set ut variance by her judi
'h, reasoning and a complete recogniti
her power was acknowledged and