Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1881-10-29
THE DOOM OF RENDON.

L
old characters over the mantlepiece
of the dining hall of Rendon Grange,
and greatly excited my curiosity,
while staying there on a shooting
visit. / asked our host one night in
the smoking room, what was the
origin or meaning of the couplet.and
Mr.. Rendon demurred at telling me,
on the plea, that family history
might only bore his guests. A IN
animous shout from every one, how
ever, proved the contrary; SO we set
tied ourselves to the deliberate en-
joyment of our cigars, while the mas
ter of the house began:
at is necessary to remind you,my
friends, that my grandfather was
only a far off collateral relation.
when, by lack of heirs, he came into
possession of the property, and the
cause which put him into that pos
session was as follows"
"The couplet you see cut there is
some centuries old, and when, and
by whom inscribed it is impossible
to say. But the family from one
generation to another were very
much impressed by it, and carefully
avoided any chance of fulfilling it.
So they fourished in the usual way
until, in the year 1865, Godfrey
Rendon was the owner of the place,
and blessed with two handsome and
gallant sons, in every way worthy OF
a parents affection. But Godfrey
Rendon had an enemy, whose hat
red was the growth of twenty years.
The fair Catharine Melderly, who
was the beauty of the time, had sin
cled out from her numerous adorers,
two whom she regarded with more
favor than any others. They were
Godfrey Rendon and Edmund Van
ley, of Vanley Court. These two
seemed to run a neck and neck race,
and it was doubtful which would
win the lady's hand. But at length
her preference showed itself for Rem
don, and Vanley bore his defeat with
an outward smile but an inward vow
of revenge. Time went on; Mr.. and
Mrs. Rendon passed some years In
mutual happiness, but to her hus-
bands inexpressible grief, his wife
died shortly after the birth OF her
second son. Thenceforth all Rem
don's love was lavished upon Rich
ard and Godfrey. Both were like
their sweet mother, and were skill
ed and accomplished in learning and
requirements, and fondly attached
to each other. Nothing clouded
their hearts except the dread of the
grim couplet in the hall being real
lied in their persons; and to do away
with this, they made compact in
their simplicity, which had the
dreaded result they so much desired
to avoid. The agreement was that
neither was ever to mention love or
the subject of his love to the other.
Edmund Vanley's gloomy house
was enlivened by one bright inmate
his beautiful niece, Dora Vanley, a
charming girl of eighteen. And OBJ.
serving the deep admiration she
created in young Godfrey, Edmund
Vanley planned a scheme so cruel
and villainous, that | not only shud-
der to tell of it, but scarceley ex-
pect you to believe it.
Day after day the handsome Geo
frey, dressed in all the splendid cos
tune of the period, would gallOp ov-
er to Vanley Court, and pass hours
in the sweet companionship of his
lady love. Old Vanley received him
very graciously, only exacting SOL
emn promise that he would never
mention his betrothal to Dora til
he gave him permission, and would
keep his visits a profound secret. Tt
all of which Godfrey assented. One
thing more Vanley required of thu
young man which was that on all hi.
visits he was to be masked, to which
Godfrey, though rather surprised
also consented. 1al a~It
Time flew on, and one day in An
tumn, Godfrey and Dora, deep il
there own converse, were pacing
around the garden.
Sweetest said he, ''your uncl,