The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-04-05
THE HApPIESF OF HER SEX.

Marian Hastings was the only daugh-
ter of wealthy countryman, and at the
age of eighteen she married, agreeably to
the wishes Of her father. Captain Gabriel
Mercer.
1t was not a love match, on Marian's
part, at least, for all her heart belonged
to Lieutenant George st. John.
st. John was poor, but his family was
one of the best in the county.
His duties called him, with his regi-
ment, to India.
But before he went he met Marian in
the gardens Of her fathers estate, and by
the light.of wane June morn their part
ing took place.
And it was such parting as only
lovers mad with agony and despair can
know.
Marian was an obedient daughter
she had been brought up in that stern
old way which teaches that to the will
of parent a child must. sacrifice every
thing-and though young st. John
would fain have taught her rebellion,
and made her his bride before he left
her, she revolted in horror from the idea
of disobeying her father
So they parted. -
A little afterward she read his name
amcng the killed in one of the skirm-
ishes with the rebel Sepoys; and, never
doubling chat the bulletin was correct,
she lost, as it were, her hold on life, and
became inert and sad, and hopeless.
At this time it was that Gabriel .Mer-
Ger urged his suit.
Her father commanded her to marry
him. ,.. .....
After his own dark and terrible fash
ion, Gabriel loved the young girl, but if
she felt for him any sentiment at all it
was one of quiet disgust. ..,
Still she married him, and from that
time forth she was his slave.
He had only to command her and she
obeyed.
But shortly after their marriage he
sold his commission and his wife learned
with horror that he had lost all his
estate by gambling.
However he. managed to get govern
ment position.
1t was not very important situation,
but it yielded him decent income, and
it placed in his hands at times large
sums of the public money.
One night late in the winter he
brought home five thousand pounds, and
deposited the packet in the iron chest.
As he turned the key in the ponder
GUS lock, he remarked to his wife: ..
"There are five thousand pounds of
the country's money. Ihave to go away
tomorrow, and l shall ride as far as G.
tonight. l must leave the money here
till | come back. 1t will he safe for no.
body knows anything about it,"
"Ohw cried his wife, edo not go till
you have deposited it where it belongs"
"Nonsensel' exclaimed her husband,
impatiently. "It'l be all right, and /
shall be back in three days"
His patient, faded wife said no more,
and at about nine o'clock in, the evening
he rode off in the direction of G..
Marian was too nervous TO go to bed.
And she and her one servant sat up in
the kitchen.
Nettie was soon fast asleep in her
chair, but Marian's eyes were bright and
feverish, and her cheeks burned with a
vivid crimson, which brought back some
of the old beauty to her face.
Her eyes seem fascinated to rest on
the brass key which hung over the fire.
place-the key which fitted the iron
chest.
She was a strictly conscientious
woman, and she felt it her duty to guard
this money ENTRUSTED to her keeping as
she would have guarded her life.
1t was past one o'clock, when the lis
tening woman heard the tramp of horses
on the gravel road before the door, and
peeping through the curtains she saw
three mounted men.
They raped loudly at the door, ask
ing for admittance, but Marian denied
their request.
They beat the door from its hinges.
They were three stalwart fellows with
masks over their faces.
Marian was brave but she had nothing
with which to defend herself.
The leader of the band demanded the
money her husband had left in the
house.
She kept an indignant silence.
They told her they would shoot both
,, herself and her servant, and burn the
house over their dead bodies if she per-
sisted in her obstinacy.
The cold muzzle of a pistol pressed
against her temple did not daunt her
for she Indignantly refused to show them
where the money they sought was hid
:, den.
1t was only moment before they
pounced upon the key above the FIRE
:, place, and directly the iron chest wa
unlocked and the money slowed. abou
the persons of the robbers.
Then they ordered her to prepar'
them some supper.
She went about it with a desperate
scheme rushing in her brain.
A day or two before her husband hat
brought home large quantity ofstrych