The Portland daily press., 1878-08-07

coyery have YOU made ?" exclaimed Brandon,
in great excitement.
Zone that intend you to reveal to Valdi-
mir Desparde. And when you shall have
done so, should he be the man of honor we
believe him, he will release Lady Arielle from
her engagement to him, and he will fy to
the uttermost parts of the earth rather than
wed with her."
"What is this discovery? Explain your
selfr' exclaimed Brandon Coyle, starting up
| and standing before her.
Aspirita put her hand in her pocket and
drew forth folded newspaper, yellow and
| faded with age, and so worn all around its
creases that it threatened to fall to pieces on
| being opened.
reaching forth his hand.
ssDon't touch it yet. 1t is the New Orleans
| Courier of sixteen years ago. Uncle sent me
up with his keys to open his secretary and
| fetch him some documents which he described
to me. That was this morning, while tAe
bailiff was here. Well, went up to bis
secretary in the library, and unlocked the
upper drawer, but had hard work to pull IT
out. When I did so, by main strength, at
last, pulled it too far, and 1t fell Win
| crash-''
ssFor Heavens sake, get onv' impatiently
| exclaimed Brandon.
ssAnd the jar or something, touched or
| started the spring of a secret space at the
| back of the drawer that flew open and let
| this paper tumble out. 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 stare, his cheeks
grew pale, and his chin fell-aghast with hor-
ror!
| sob, this is terrible! terriblel terrible"
he exclaimed, when at last he could speak
for emotion.
eff it be so terrible in your eyes, what
must it be in his ?" whispered Aspirita.
ssWhat, indeed Oh, this is worse than
the worst that could be imagned?' he NUT
| tered.
"He-Valdimir Desparde-ought not to be
| permitted to marry Lady Arielle Monfjoie,"
whispered Aspirita.
| sought not? He must not and shall not!
Oh! that Lord Beaudevere could have known
this and kept it concealedE bitterly ex-
claimed Brandon.
''He did it in mercy to Vladimir and Vivi-
ennew
"But what sort of mercy, or even justice,
has he shown in his dealings with Lord and
Lady Altofaire and Lady Arielle Montjoie ?"
"Perhaps he thought this secret would
never come out to injare them"
siAnd yet an old paper fortunately comes
to light just in time to save the young lady
from ruin and her family from dshonor. /
will take this paper to the Earl of Altofaire
this morning and lay the case before him!'
"No, no! Do not sop
"Why not?"
because, if you do, the earl will stop the
marriage, for Lady Arielle's sake, and then
all Lady Arielle's sympathies will be with her
betrothed lover, and she will remain faithful
to him, and perhaps-even elope with him p
"That is true! What, then, would you adj
wise me to do with this paper ?"
stake it to Valdimir Desparde! Remind
him of his oft expressed desire to penetrate
the mystery of his own early life, and of his
constant wonde, at his guardians reserve on
the subject. Then tell him that you have
accidentally discovered the secret-that you
feel in honor bound to reveal it to him.
Then show him the paper"
sob, Asp! Asp! what serpent you arew
exclaimed Brandon Coyle, halt in admiration,
half in dread.
''Stay," she murmured. IT hope that
Vladimir does not suspect that you ever as
| pired to the hand of Arielle ?"
"NO. He has not that matter Of triumph
over me. It was while he was on his grand
tour that made tool of myself, and
have not seen her since her rejection of my
suit"
| huQ ouC uGo ACtCl GOtu uCL UCllObuOu Vi
your offer, you presume?'
"Who? Arielle? Arielle boast of her
conquest of one man to another man?
have heard of women who do such things,
but Arielle-neverp
$50 much the better. Then your way is
clear. Go to him as his old friend, on the
strength of your old mutual affection, and tell
him, with as much seeming hesitation and
delicate sympathy as you can assume, of the
| hou inst poodo nd nf bo nm
compromising sense of duty that constrains
you to communicate it to him. He will fly
the country; knoao he will. But he will
come to bid me good by first; know that
too. And then if do not commence treat
ment of consolation and cure, my name is
not Aspirita Coylep'
%oh Asp Asgam s s. B ha god j. cali sHi'f it. Brand
You thought had your happiness only in
! view? Pooh, pooh, brother! we are cyclists
all. You love the bride elect. I like the
bridegroom expectant. We work together
for our mutual interests. Behold allr'
"But, Aspirita, would goa marry man
wno did not think himself good enough for
| Lady Arielle Montjoie? A man in his ex.
ceptional circumstances % inquired Brandon
COyle, in surprise. ss
Yes, would. l am not Lady Arelle
Montjoie. l am Aspirita Coyle, the orphan,
dependent on my bachelor uncle, whose es--
tates will all go to you. Besides, Hove him. y
added the bold beauty, without a moments
hesitation.
"Humph! A man with such reproach
for himself alone, then?''
mo! for myself alone! might be capa-
BILE OF killing him to prevent another woman
having himr'
"Bravo, Asp! But oh! the fates forbid
that ever your sting should strike mep'
"Go now, and execute your mission to
Cloudland. 1t is time, unless you would pre-
fer dramatic torbidding of the bans at the
very altar Tomorrow" said Aspirita, not a
whit discomposed by the questionable COM
4 pliments of her brother.
"Can't 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 elated by the prospect of pre-
| venting the marriage.
"They acre to have been married, you
mean! But they certainly are not to be
nog," 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, a few minutes later, departed
| on his detestable errand.
Aspirita Coyle looked after him, a great
light of triumph diating her dark eyes until
they seemed the mouths of caverns leading
down to the abyss of her darker soul, as she
| muttered to herself:
"Noc, Vladimir Desparde, you shall be
mine! 1t may take trouble and time, but
can work and aoaitP' The above we pub
lish as specimen chapter; but the continue
ton of this story will be found only in the
N. Y. Ledger. Ask for the number dated
August II, which can now be had at any
news Office or book store. If you are not
within reach of a news office, you can have
the Ledger mailed to you for one year by
| sending three dollars to Robert Bonner, pub
Usher, 100 William street, New York.