Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-03-21

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rallied against marriage, should come
and steal her away from his brother.
A few women there were who dis
liked Mrs. vernsy. My wife was one
Of them, and we'll enough we oil knew
the reason. For when, with maternal
pride, she one day showed Of tho
children to the pretty widow, Mrs.
vernay turned from them with q cold
lock Of disgust, saying, 81 detsst
children san insult no mother could
forgive. "That unnatural woman"
NV wife from henceforth called her.
How lovely she looked at the
Christmas ball when, radiant with de-
light, she crossed the room to say to
me, /" Look at the progress Of my con-
version. Here is Hermit Kenneth in
this frivolous scene."
II wish I was at the chapel" Ken
meth himself remarked and certainly
no man looked so unsuited to . ball
room. He had grown pale and thin
during his solitary life, and wore a
thoughtful air I never before had noticed
IN him.
"Why on earth don't you so back?"
said /. Nothing has surprised me
more than your appearance here"
81 knew it would be so," ne an
swered. 81 had to come"
Then in that incongruous place ne
began telling me his experiences in that
wild solitude.
81 began to think my life there USE
less, mere indulgence Of my own
tastes. / read and thought, but the
mysteries Of life seemed as unfathom-
able as ever. One evening | felt my
self no longer alone. / saw nothing,
/ heard nothing; yet absorbed this
command into my being: Go into the
world, for there is a life you must save,
demon you must vanquish, and the
life you have led has given you power
to fight and conquer. The world will
mock and your friends misunderstood
you, but heed them not. BY this token
know both destroyer and destroyed
Then across the floor Of my room glided
glittering snake, unlike anything we
see upon English moors. And ], obey
ing the command, came here to find the
destroyer"
At that moment he trembled, touched
my arm, and babe me look across the
room. There stood Frank and Mrs.
Vernay-she with the jewelled snake
twisted in her hair, he with another, a
bracelet of hers, clssped around his
wrists; some joke had passed between
them, and she had slippedi it on.
"My dear Kenneth, these are fam
cies, nothing but fancies," | said; for
his manner alarmed me. " You can't
think that anything more dangerous
than a boyish love affair can result
from Franks friendship for Mrs. YER
nay?"
"Lilith !" was all he said.
"Tell me, how did you guess her
name?"
at came to me as that command
came when | saw her whte," he re-
piled. Then, crossing the room. he
asked the beauty to dance, taking her
away from Frank.
I believe bets passed between the
men at the Torremouth clubs as to
which of the brothers would marry
beautiful Mrs. yernay. | confess |
wondered myself whether Kenneth
would relinquish his noble schemes and
marry like any other ordinary mortal.
rarely saw him without Mrs. .Vernay.
He rode with her, drove with her, spent
long hours in her pretty drawing-room,
and walked with her on the esplanade.
l asked him what was coming from all
this, and had for reply, elf l don't
marry her Frank will an answer
which at the time struck me as strange.
And one day Frank came to my wife
to pour into her sympathetic ears wild,
fierce rawlings against his brother.
Why had Kenneth talked all that nom
sense about celibacy and seclusion when
he came and took away the only woman
Frank ever would, ever could love?
And thus we heard of Kenneth's en-
gagement to the beautiful Mrs. Vernay.
All the men in the place envied him,
but never in my life have | seen so
grave and gloomy lover. Yet, like
all the other men who met her, ne
seemed to adore ker. l never heard
any one question his devotion. Per-
haps their eyes were blinded. / know
we all pitied Frank. And the time
passed merrlly by to the wedding day,
Mrs. vernay growing daily more beau
tiful.
Once she passed me as l walked with
a friend on the esplanade.
"Good heavens !" he exclaimed.
"What q likeness ["
ITO whom?" asked.
"To a peasant girl in the Black
Forest, who few years ago created a
great stir in her village. All the
young fellows were in love with her.
She married one Of them, and few
days later he was found dead in his
bed, the bride having vanished, no one
knew whittier"
IAN unpleasant story" l said, little
pleased to notice Kenneth near me, who
must have heard every word.
"Of course it is only chance like
ness" said my friend.
"Lilith !" murmured Kenneth as he
passed me.
A week or two later and there was
fashionable wedding in Torremouth.
Dismal as are all such festivities, Ken
meth had begged his might be quiet, but
Mrs. Vernay laughed in his face.
"You ridiculous boy" she said,
"people will think you are ashamed Of
me-"
The only member Of the family not
present was Frank. He had rejoined
his regiment.
1t was over-breakfast, speeches, and
all-and I was refreshing myself by q
walk near the sea.
A total stranger came up and ad.
dressed me, inquiring about that morn.
ipg's wedding. He appeared to have
been spectator in the church. Among
other things, he asked the BRIDES name.
"She was Mrs. Vernay," replied.
"Ah," be said, 81 thought knew
her again."