The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-12-01
THE DAILY STAR
THE TWISTED RING,

only from description, than the fearful
reality because the imagination reveled
in horrors
To solve this mystery, which had bat-
fed AL research, was to me an expiation,
for sadness amounting to horror hung
over the memory of the lost,
We had plrted in the bittere.t anger.
The parent who h d bten AL indulgence,
all fond atf ction to my boyhood and
youth, had been rouspd to vindictive
fury by marriage contracted without
his consent; he had driven me forth from
the old manor-house, and we never met
again. .... .......
In the background of that picture,
stood my cousin Marian, in her naughty,
stately beauty.
Well knew she never would forgive
my sighting her charms, and my fathers
express commands, to crafty a fancy for
Alice, the curnte's daughter. In the hey
day of youthful passion | cared little for
the broad possessions my father threat
ened to settle on her. They were of more
value to me now, as the rightful Inherit
ance of my son.
Alice, the fair flower l had gathered to
my bosom, had gone to the shadowy
land and was free at las on the invalid
list, returned to England.
hastenel to the north Of Englan
left the carriage at the grounds and
walked up the long avenue, closed to the
world since that dark funeral procession.
Inquired for the old house-keeptr, but
was informed that she was dead.
"Her mother mourned greatly not liv-
ing to see her young MASTER" sal her
daughter, and the day before she died
had box sealed up, and intrus ed it to
her, to aive it with his own hands TO her
masters SON.
A CLEAN of hope shot through my mind.
What could it I've? Would light come from
her grave to show the wayf
A fire was lighted in the old library,
and after hastily partakng of some re-
freshment, | sat down by shaded lamp
to inveslig te the housekeeper's box.
1t contained square rul I'd book--a
diary kept by the old servant for my
pleasure when I should return; little
paper lay beneath it, holding an ant que
ring of twisted gold, curiosity enameled,
and fastened by diamond star. | had
purchased itin Venice for my cousin Mar
ian, and when last ! saw it shone on her
fair white hand.
Why was it here! WAS there some dark
mystery that the old woman dare not in
YES gale?
Iopened the hook, and the old hand
writing, SO faded and yellow, affected me
strangl ly.
She began with my banishment and
detailed the sorrow and CONSERVATION of
the old servants, my fathers titful, moody
temper, my cousin Marian's triumphs as
beauty and belle, with all the little
incidents of the daily life at the old
place. 1t was tod so quantity that tears
illed my eyes. 1t went to the birth of
my son. 1t described the gay and JOY
GUS manner of my fat erwheniie received
my letter of his summoning In all the
servan to drink the healtI, of the young
heir, of the paleness of Miss Marian when
called upon to rise and join in the toast,
and her reluctance to do 20. She then
narrated all the events of the eve
ming which preceded his death--viz., of
the excitement of Sir James VIII n she tnos
his tea to the library, of his telling Miss
Marian that he should alter his will the
next day, that to Edwards son should
pass the est ties forfeited by his father,
never noticing the cold displeasure of her
Mariner. She described the girls Won
derful beauty as she sat in the cleaning
light of the open wood fire in her ruby
satin dress, and the rich falls of lace
shading her rounded arms, white and
perfect as statuary. She noticed that her
hand trembed rs she took her tea, and
tie paeness of her cheek; bHt seeming to
dismiss heras a disagreeable subject, be-
came even garrulous on old masters Joy
Underneath was written-"Tnat night
Sir James WIS murdered"
Here was lapse of week, and then
minutely she described the awful scene.
From the time when Miss Marian rang
the bell, and ordered in her imperious
way, the footman to see instantly why
his master WAS not down, and ten min
utes past the usual time; of his screams
of terror, that brought all the house to
l1ll odHlco looul, VI Tue luScuSlUle DOug,
with it, ghastly fractured skull, the dis
ordered room, the broken window. Then
the coroner's inquest and verdict; the
questions of the detectives concerning
any money lrJames was known to have;
of his taking an old memorandum book
in which were registered notes paid by Il
farmer, a day before, and missing; then
his name and address left with her to
communicate il necessary. Then she
passed to the reading of the will, and the
regret of the whole country that young
Sir Edward was disinherited; that Elies-
mere Priory and Avondale Castle were
left to Miss Marian; of her hasty depart
ure for London; the payment of leaacies
and the dismissal Of servants; then the
closing of the old manor, and an. un-
broken monotonous life for months. As I
idly turned the pages I WAS once more
spelbound, for l came to a mysterious
dream and its results. a,
She seemed walking alone through a
vast forest; the ground was covered with
~dead leives, which RUSHED beneath her