Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-04-24
WITH LILLIAN'S BOOKS.
4 sEoRErxARRIAGE STORY.

n SECRE1-MAhhlA d V"<
How Mis-. msdtssn Read The Giided SIM
n Preseus from Ccusin Tommis. and Made
Comments Thereon.
In January last, when Miss Fannie
Lillian Madison returned from this city
to her pleasant home in Bath county,
she had with her two books, given her,
she said, by her Cousin Tommie Clu-
yerius. One was " The Opening Of a
Chestnut Bur-" the other monthly
No. of 4" 0gilvie's Popular Readings
containing number Of love-stories.
In the latter the first story is "a
Gilded Sin.'' This Lillian read, and
made some marginal notes on the
book. Sir Jasper Brandon, the heir
of a great name apd fortune, "of a
Norman race, courtly, passionate, and
SILENT" on trip to Venice falls in love
with Giulia di Cynthia, who "liyed
alone in dull, gloomy, half-ruined old
palace with her elder sister. Assunta.
They were the last descendants OF a
noble but ruined race" He married
Giulia secretly she died when her first
child was born. "Assunta [who had a
mortal hatred Of the Englishl promised
to adopt the child if Jasper would re-
nounce all claim to her--if he would
allow her to bring her up after her own
fashion, in perfect ignorance of him and
all belonging to him, believing that her
parents were dead moreover, he must
promise never to claim her."
To this he agreed.
Then came long illness then he
returned home. " He was not ashamed
of his marriage, but he shut up the
sweet, sad loye-story in his heart,
guarding it as miser guards his gold
not to have saved his life could he have
spoken Giulia's name." He became a
power in the State f" he spent his days
in work, his nights in study"
To please his parents Jasper married
Lady Marie Valdoraine. He did not
tell her the story of his marriage, "but
he told her that he had no love to give
her, but honor and esteem only" She
made an excellent wife. His father
died blessing him. A little daughter
was born to them, and was called
Katherine it was their only child.
Katherine was seventeen years old
when Jasper received from Assunta a
letter stating that she was on her death
bed; that he must send for Veronica ;
that Veronica had grown up in the be-
lief that her parents were dead.
Veronica was brought from Venice
to Jasper's home (Queen's Chace) and
introduced TO his wife and made part
of their household as Jasper's ward !;
the daughter of a dear, dead friend,
who had left her and her fortune in
Jasper's hands. Gas he gazed upon
her Sir Jasper Brandon owned to him
self that it was the most beautiful and
the saddest face that he had ever SEEM"
Veronica and Kate learned to love each
other.
The book says:
What am ] to say 10 you, Wynleigh ?
My daughter has many suitors. ! should
like her TO marry the one she loves best
THAT is myself Sir Jasper he replied,
SIR Jasper smiled.
lyon think so? Well, there is one re-
mark | must make. so far as regards
worldly goods you are certainly not the
Never mind that. s,r Jasper. said Lord
Wynleigh. "Iknow II. and am going 10
remedy 10. DO not imagine that am say
ing 10 you: Give me your daughter now Al
once-my hands are empty, but she will MI
them. Ii is not that. say give me the
hope Of one day calling Katherine my wife,
and will set 10 work at once. i Will make
such a name that shall not be ashamed 10
ask her TO share IT. VIII you say Yes, Sir
Jasper?"
["How NOBLE" wrote Lillian
"You speak bravely. You are sure my
daughter loves you?"
Kate says So" the young man replied,
"and she never speaks falsely"
"Then give my consent, said Slr Jasper.
but Katherine Is too young 10 marry yet.
She must wait a year or two. The child is
but Just seventeen. Come back In two years
time to claim her, II In the mean time you
have made position for yourself, do not
care that you should make money, but do
care for the other"
al wfIl do IL, Sir Jasper" he replied. "and
you will help me. shall study uader you
help me with your influence. There is .
borough vacant now. Help me TO place my
foot on the first round OF the ladder, and
will never cease until reach the top"
Long after Lord Wynleigh had len him
Sir Jasper sat silent and motionless. listen
ing TO the sound OF the JOY bells listening 70
the music and laughter which filled the old
Chsce. What was he to do? When the
sang uine young lover left him dark and bit
ter thoughts came 10 him. He was an Eng
lishman, with hatred OF fraud and deceit.
What could he do? He could never allow
Lord Wynleigh TO marry Kate under the
impression that she ives heiress to the grand
domain OF Queens Chace and Hurstwood.
She was not so in reality. All his broad
lands belonged by right TO his elder child,
the beautiful, dark.eyed Veronica. Before
know the truth. Sir Jasper rose from his
seat.
Liam brave man and strong man.
he said; "but ] would rather face death
than tell my story now"
Further down at the words What
was he to do?" Lillian had marked on
the margin cross.
Sir Jasper fell i'll. He sent for his
wife and Veronica. In the passage fol-
lowing Lillian has marked numerous
sentences which are here given under
scored. She also wrote the words in
brackets
The night-lamp was partly shaded; It's
feeble rays fell on the gray face, on the
dark, wistful eyes on the thin white hands
fell on the two kneeling figures, on Veroni-
cas- beautiful face and Lady Brandon's
troubled features. The wind. when IL
stirred. sent great spray OF clements beat
ing against the glass; outside the beautt-
ful, solemn summer night lay brooding over
the fair. sleeping earth.
Sir Jasper told his story calmly. plainly
distinctly, describing his motives blaming
his own fastidious. sensitive reserve; blam-
Ing his own shrinking from pain, blaming
his own weakness and folly which had led
him SO far wrong-led him into what he
truly called "a giided SIM" Lady Marie lis
tened with silent. bitter tears
80 you were married before, Jasper, and
never told me-" she sobbed; "and always
thought that was the only one you loved.
How could you deceive me?"
l"Alas mistake" wrote Lillian.
IL am sorry, Marie, for the past. I can
hardly expect You 10 underestimate can
hardly understand myself: IL is 30 difficult
looking back. loved her so well, and lost
her so soon. ! could never, speak OF her
my dear dead Giulia. l could not utter her
name-it tore my heart. 1 could not look
men aud women In the face while / talked
OF her, my dead love-
Then said Lady Brandon. "you hae.
ai,coys loped her best. Jasper-iiying OF
"You have been good. true. tender.
faithful wife 20 me. Marie" he returned