Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1886-10-21
UNDER A CLOUD.
The Beautiful Heir to the House
in the Woods.

in the Woods.
''She's a beautiful, lovable and true
girl
YES" sighed the matron, ''but
she'll never find husband"
''She certainly receives plenty of at
tention," 1 suggested, uncertain of the
speakers meaning.
''For a time. yes" was the reply.
Fortune hunters pursue her keenly
until they learn the family story. And
well they may, for if she lives year
longer
(Which is entirely probable" 1
ventured to interject, gazing upon the
healthy glow that mantied the cheeks
of the pretty girl who sat on the oppo-
site side of the parlor.
Nothing is unexpected in that house
hold" commented the matron before
she resumed the thread of her narrative.
IF she lives another year, as l re-
marked, or till legal age, she will in
herit S25O,OO0-her mothers estate.
When her father die" -
''But, my dear madame, he's hale
and jolly old topper. who loves life and
hangs on for all there's in it," felt
we'll enough acquainted to remark,
parenthetically
True enough: but if she outIives
him he'll leave her at least million.
She's the only child that is, the only
one that survives. An elder brother, a
charming fellow. cut his throat last
fall in moment of suicidal impulse.
Awful as was this misfortune in itself,
it had more sinister import to the
father and daughter. Though you
think him a jolly, reckless old man,
tell you he was not himself again for
months. The young woman was
crushed. Since that day she has lived
as in dream. She throws herself
madly into society, but there's no for
getfulness for her. She wants to marry.
naturally, but does not. A signal was
given by her poor brother. and horror
always dreaded now confronts her.
She's only waiting"
Waiting? Waiting for what??''
1.-The development of the family
taint-madness!"
With curiosity at fever-haat l then
learned the whole sad story. 1t is 4
pitiablc tale, and it seems hardly fit
that we, who have chatted and laughed
so much together since the season
began, should listen to The True
Story of the Beautiful Girl Who Can
Not Marry" An ethical interest is
added to the narrative by the insight
which IS afforded of the womanly in
stincts of the gentle matron who barred
this family skeleton. She has a daugh-
ter of her own who does not shine when
contrasted with the tail, fair. blonde
girl. Several times had she observed
me chatting with the Baltimore belle,
and that may explain why she got me
apart from the crowd in the great par
lors to relate the woes of a most UNI
fortunate family. At first the malice
of the act was thinly veneered with y
make-believe sympathy, but before she
had finished. the hideous character of
the curse that hung over the young
creature was eNpatiated on to the mi
nutest of its terrifying details. To rem
der impossible any escape from a loy-
zeal conclusion that death in mad
house or more merciful suicide awaited
this pretty woman, my chronicler
went back three generations. wish
it were possible. without causing pain,
to give the family 4 name. Ny in
formant, for the purpose of her recital.
spared nobody. But | am not woman,
and can not understand the strength of
her impulses to destroy person VINO
never knowingly crossed her path. If
were to whisper few words to am
bilious young girls they would be:
Fear most the mothers of your riv-
walls" Well. here's the story. as near
ly reproduced as memory permits:
1.-The barbaric strain descends
through the female side of the house, !"
began the matron, as she sent her
daughter away on young man 5 arm.
1.-The reason for this is that the sons,
with the single exception of her ma
ternal grandfather, never lived to a
marriageable age. In four genera
tons, according to the statements of
the family, there have been eleven sui
cides in the direct and collateral lines.
The maternal grandfather of yon pref
ty girl was an Englishman who came
to Baltimore soon after the close of the
war of 1Sl2-l5. He was possessed of
money and soon attained an enyiaole
social position, but he was careless of
both to dangerous extent. A grand
uncle of mine. who lived in Philadel-
pima, knew the man well. and has often
told me how he was constantly seeking
to divert his mind by excitement He
was a bold and reckless player. Finally
he married. and the couple lived to-
ge.her for eight or ten years. Three
children, one boy and two girls, were
a
peared, and nothing was heard of him
for several weeks At the end of that