The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1888-04-27
EBENSBURG. A.. FRIDAY. April. 81. NUM-

time; but one day, when he was weak
and i'll, he cried out:
"Jasper, you must marry. My son,
let me see your children round my
knees before / die"
The words touched him greatly; and
that same day his mother came to him
with a pleased, expectant look on her
face.
Jasper" she said, "the daughter of
my dearest friend is coming to Queens
Chacc-AIarie Valdoraine- should
die happy if could see her your wife
Lady Marie came-a handsome ami
mated blonde, with the worship OF
mammon in her heart. She was most
lively and fascinating. She won the
heart OF Sir Francis She made Lady
Brandon love her; even Jasper, with
the shadow of dead love darkening his
life, was pleased with her. Lady Marie
Naldoraine was of the world worldly;
she knew the just value of everything
She saw that there was no position in
England more enviable than that OF
Lady Brandon OF Queens Chace, AMI
she determined that it should be hers.
She devoted herself so entirely to Jas
per that in a certain way he relied upon
her; her keen worldly knowledge and
her Just appreciation of persons and
things were useful to him.
III You are really going to devote
your life to politics said a friend 70
him one day, "you should marry Lady
Marie. She could manage everything
for YOU" -
And the end of it was, that to give
pleasure TO his parents, he married
Lady Marie. But he was quite honest
with her. He did not tell her the story
of his marriage-he could not have
borne her questions, her wonder, her
remarks, and have lived-his dead love
was far too sacred for that but ne told
her that he had no love to give her, but
honor and esteem only.
Lady Marie smiled in the most
charming manner. She mentally con-
graduated hcrself-if she could have all
the good things that belonged to Queens
Chace without being teasel about love,
SO much the better
The marriage took place, and every
one thought well OF it: people said it
was the most suitable match they had
ever lnown-universal approval fol-
lowed it. Sir Francis declared he had
nothing left TO live for. Lady Brandon
was quite content As time passed on,
II became more and more evident that
the marriage WAS a most suitable one.
Lady Marie Brandon flung herself heart
and soul into her husbands Interest,"
he owned himself that she was his right
hand When his reasoning, his clear,
pitis-ss logic, failed, then her powers of
fas, ination succeeded. Lady Marie Bran
don became a power in her way, her
season in town was always one long
brill ant success, her drawing-rooms
were always crowded, people attended
her balls and soirees as though they
had received royal bidings.
Jasper had his reward. When old
Sir Francis lay dying, he called his son
to his bedside and laid his trembling
hands in blessing on him.
"You have been a good son TO me,
Jasper" he said. "You have never
given me one moments sorrow or pain.
So in dying bless you and thank you"
They were pleasant words; they re-
paid him for having sacrificed his in
clnation and married Lady Marie Val
dora:ne. Old Sir Francis dicI with a
smile on his face, and Jasper succeeded
him. Some months afterwarl little
daughter was born to him, who by his
mothers wish Was called Katherine,
and when Katherine was j child OF
seven Lady Brandon died. Then Sir
Jasper and his wife took up their abode
at Queens Chace. The time came when
his name was tower OF strength in the
land, when men rejoiced 10 see him at
the head of the mightiest party, when
he became the very hope OF the nation
from his clear, calm judgment, his earn
est truth, his marvellous talents. No
one ever asked if he were happy in
the midst OF it all. He was courte1,
popular, famous, but his face WAS not
the face OF 4 happy man, and once-his
wife never forgot it-he ha fallen
asleep after perhaps the most brilliant
reception ever accorded TO n public
man, and when Lady Brandon went to
rouse him, the pillow on which his head
had lain was wet with tears
CHAPTER ii.
Seventeen years had passed since the
birth OF katherine Branlou md no
other enid had been given TO Queens
Chace. The long-wished-ior heir had
never appeared, and the hopes OF both
parents were centred in the beautiful
young heiress. She was just seventeen,
and a more perfectly lovely ideal OF an
English girl could not have been found.
To look AT her was pleasure. The tail
slender figure with its perfect lines and
curves, the face with its glow OF youth
full health, the subtle grace OF move
ment, the free easy carriage, the quick
graceful step, were all as pleasant as
they were rare. Like her mother, she
was blonde beauty, but she had more
color, greater vigor. Her hair was of
golden brown-pure gold in the sun
light, brown in the shade.
Her eyes were OF a lovely violet hue;
they looked like pansies steeped in dew.
Her face had a most exquisite color,
lilies and roses so perfectly blended
that it was impossible to tell where one
began and the other ended. 1t was an
English face-no other land could have
produced such one. The mouth was
beautiful, the lips were sweet AMI arch,
revealing little white teeth that shone
like pearls; a lovely dimple chin, a
white rounded throat, and beautiful
hands, completed the list of charms
There was an air OF vitality and health
about her that was irresistible.