The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-04-12
. IN LIFE AND DEATH.
A Page of Family History.
CHAPTER III.

Ten years since Helen F0rtescue,
poor and handsome, was changed into
Helen, Countess of Daintry, rich and
powerful. Ten years since Philip Con-
way was lifted dead out of the brides
path. Nearly ten years since Gaysbor-
ough passed into the hands of strangers,
and the story of that ill7omened we'd
ding-day began to fade among the other
traditions of the old family, ~ a -,av
But in distant county Lady Dain-
try shone as star and reigned as a
queen. No one had yet begun to say
that the star was paling, the queen los
ing her inherent right or power of rul-
ing. The earl was her first subject-no
more. Over him, and over the rest of the
b world, she maintained her ascendancy by
y tive forces, distinct but allied-her
= beauty and her will. AS for her beauty,
I it had not wared by so much as shade.
\ 1t had shone out, after her brilliant mar
\ riage, in the most wonderful perfection
"a beauty not only above question, but
\ above criticism--imperial, absolute. She
4 might have been beggar maid or a
kings daughter-peop SOON ceased to
N trouble themselves with her antecedents;
y she made her beauty serve for family,
fortune, and training. Thus she gained
n her throne; having gained 1t, her will
kept it. Vs. ry.t
N And now that she had been so long a
n successful woman, one class of persons
\. alone spoke evil of her. To her maids she
Y was no divinity. There were enough of
n them; for she seldom kept one about her
y more than few months and they sall
p went away in the same mind. "She has
an awful temper" they said, "and seems
! as if she never could be quiet for min
n ute. All the money in England would
not pay one to face her, as she looks
" sometimes" l.. t- .H
|b One other strange thing was known
about her. She had consulted-no one
knew on what subject--a certain clair
u voyant, or dealer in supernatural mys-
teries, and had, moreover, been observed
d to change color when the subject was
IA named, and to shudder involuntarily
"A when disbelief in it was asserted in her
" presence. That she herself did believe
y in things not dreamed of in philosophy
was the consequent opinion other friends
: but it was a matter on which she re.
4 fused to speak.
II was the earps pleasure as well al
h hers that their house in Bankshire should
3 be a hospitable one. They spent mos
a of the year there and they were never
! alone. No matter how unpromising the
season, they had always party, and al
\ most always it was both large and gay
There were perpetual morning and even.
ing amusements, continual ebb ane
4 flow of dinner guests, and everything tt
make dinner invitation worth accept
ing. W "a "a - Z
Perhaps this was the aspect of the cas-
! which presented itself most vividly tt
! the masculine minds Of the neighbor
I hood. A fine house, a pleasant host, ,
beautiful hostess, a faultless dinner, ant
wines not to be equaled in the country
every man could appreciate these; ever.
man accordingly priced the countess in
vitations.
One Of these invitations was the sub
1ect of little discussion one evening
1t had been sent to Ralph Murchison,
young squire of the neighborhood, an'
he going to his lettercase to find some
thing else, had just pulled it out ant
tossed it 10 his friend and guest, Captain
Conway. -
at includes you" he said, "all right
was over there playing croquet yester
day, and took an opportunity OF tellin'
a the countess I expected you. Before
came away she begged me to bring yol
with me tomorrow, which l promised
So you are booked"
II don't believe there's soul know
there" Conway answered, twisting th
note round his fingers.
"More shame for you then. There
the jolliest people in England Away
there, and it's the jolliest house to NEE
] them a" " ...----,,-.--,,, '-.,--11 ...-.. .
4 s1Lady Daintry can't be- very young,
Y Conway said irreverently, after littl
a pause, and through cloud of smoke.
Ralph went off into fit Of laughter
"By Jove! it is very easy enough to Sc
that you don't know her. The bare ide
IA of talking Of woman like that not b.
ing very young"
n zEWell. upon my word I don't see tn
pjoke." o@ .Ts
"WelI, man, she is scarcely woma
hat all-she is a goddess! Do you suppos
Ilthat because We were small boys j
"a Lower Fourth at Eaton she was turnin
a the heads Of all London, therefore ST,
~ can't turn any now? Ii you do, you al
= considerably mistaken. By Jove, ther
Ills not another woman in England
VI, compare to her." 3 ~ -Ft5 .I...5r =
NJ "1'll tell you my opinion to-morro
X night" e. ls15AIE h !Zt, ~
~ 1Oh, l know it beforehand. You can
n help yourself. But, do you know, l ha
|rn kind of half idea that she and yo
|xt must be related?"
|En "Had you? So we are-distantly."
u Explain it, old fellow. | only wis
IA could make her out cousin Of mine.
II Conway knocked the ashes off hi
cigar, stretched himself back comfor
N ably in his chair, blew puffor tw