Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1884-12-05
LYDY MARY MINX's REPENTANCE.

minded, and bad-tempered, and she
imagined she held her good -natured,
vain old mother, the countess dow
ager of Sicily, in complete subordIna-
ton. When, therefore, one morning
at breakfast the latter informed her
that she had on the previous evening
become engaged to the able young
actor, Mr.. st. George Conlngsby, her
ladyship was both surprised and in
dipnant, and expressed her opinion OF
the countess and the countess be
throthed with great vigor and little
eouiyocation. As long as the remarks
were applied only TO herself, the coun,
tess bore them IN her usual meek ana
submissive manner; but when Lady
Mary proceeded to denounce Mr.. Con,
ingsby in all the terms OF her varied
and powerful vocabulary, she sudden
ly became so exceedingly wroth, and
used such strong language. that her
daughter found herself, to her amaze
ment, completely eclips?d. She then
felt she had gone too far, and that 1t
would be wise TO withdraw her obser-
yations and express her regret for
them. This, she accordingly did, as
soon as her mothers eloguence allow
ed her an opportunity. But the effect
of her remarks was not effaced.
Henceforth the countess bore
herself toward her daughter
with a GOODNESS and hauteur to
which that young lady was not ac-
customed, and which she did not
like.
Lady Mary knew well the hand
some Young actor to whom the coun-
tess had been engaged and, before
that event took place, she had admir-,
ed him very much, and even liked
him. But since his engagement she
absolutely detested him. His presence
was TO her almost Intolerable; and
when he came, as he now frequently
did. TO lunch at the dowager's house.
she usually found some excuse for
being from home. Occasionally she
had to meet him, and then she watch
ed his behavior very closely. AS far
rs mere bearing was concerned, she
lad to admit to herself that he was
perfect gentleman. lie was easy and
polished in his manners, and there
was about him certain statellness of
mien which, though to an unfrlendly
critic like herself might SAVIOR OF the
stage, sat we'll on one OF his noble and
distinguished appearance. But though
in these respects he was all that oHe
could desire, every time Lady Mary
saw him she disliked him more and
more. To her keen eye it was clear
that he was inaincere in his protested
affection for the fond dowager. Again
and again she saw in the smile he cast
upon his betrothed something that
seemed to her very like sheer. She
noticed-as everybody but the coan-
tess did-that ia company his atten-
ton was directed, not to the young
and more attractive ladies. but to the
wealthy. To another widow of very
homely looks, but of great fortune,
Mrs. Blunt, he was almost as affection
ate in his manner as toward his be-
trothed. Before she had watched him
long, therefore, Lady Mary became
convinced Of she had ever doubted it,
that he was MOTH more or less than
an unprincipled .ortune hunter.
Under these circumstances, since
she wisheI To believe it, she had lat
tie difficulty in persuadlng herself
that it was not merely her interests,
but her duty, TO break oil the engage
ment and she was resolved it should
be. AS to the means, she felt no
scruples. If she could find any, be
they fair or foul, she would willingly
use them.
For some time all her observation
and all her ingenuity were unsuccess-
full. The course of the engaged
couples love was, on the whole, run
ming very smooth. The dowager was
as warm and constant in her affection
for Mr.. Coningsby as ever, and if he
seemed scarcely So attentive as at
first, he could hardly be considered
negligent. Formerly he came almost
every day to lunch, and not infre
queutly after he had left the theatre
he would sup with them; while now
he thought two or three visits i'll the
course of the week quite sufficient.
This inattention (Which Lady Mary
attributed simply to his feeling secure
in his betrothed' s atfectlons) evidently
annoyed and alarmed the countess.
She seemed to suspect that someone
else was making advances to him,
and she was therefore naturally anx
ious to have the marriage hurried on.
SO it was clear that if Lady Mary
wanted to prevent it, she must take
some decisive step without delay.
Though not so regular i'll visiting as
formerly, Mr.. Coningsby was still
very attentive in writing to his be-
trothed. Every morning, as sure as
the sun. came little note TO her from
him. Lady Mary sometimes, in her
mothers absence, made voyages of
discovery into her apartments, in or
der to study these productions. 1t
was while engaged on one OF these
that a device occurred To her which,
though mea. and desplcable as she
knew it to be, might, she considered,
if carried out well, enable her to put
an end to the match she So hated. 1t
was to be worked by means of
forged note. She would write letter
purporting to be from Mr. Coming shy
10 some lady of the ballet, and direct
il to the dowager. In the morning it
would, i posted after the last mail of
the previous night, arrive by the
same post as his letter She, through
whose hands all the letters by the
early post passed before reaching the
countess, could retain the real letter
and allow the forged one to go to her
mother instead The latter, if the
note was ingeniously written, would
at once conclude that Mr.. Coningsby,
when he was writing 10 her, had also
written TO an humber love, and, by
mistake, had Enclosed the wrong note
in the envelope addressed TO her. If
she could but do this without dis
covery, Lady Mary was certain the
match would be NJ an end She knew
how jealous her mother was, how
easily her vanity was hurt. The rage
and indignation she would feel at his
supposed duplicity and contempt for
her would soon put an end to her love.
The only objection was that it was an
extremely dangerous undertaking. Ii
it were discovered there would be an
uncurable breach between her mother
and herself. AT tho same time, if the
letter were addressed to "Tottie," or
some such common name, it would be
difficult for Mr.. Coningsby to show
that it was forgery by anything but
his own assertion, which Lady Sicily
was scarcely likely to believe At any
rate, it was the only chance, and. let,
the danger be what it would, Lady
Maru 1afarp,i pn1 10 r. -