, 1888-09-30
BARREN

low, cultivated voices. My mother was
a proud and c~ourageou woman. So
scarce was money with us that we early
learned to rise from q daintily served din
ner cruelty hungry. and darn and redarn
spotlessly clean though simple
dresses. Poor mother, hers was q stern
rule, but | think of the long hours during
which she played the part of ho~usekeeper,
governess and seamstress, and marvel at
her strength of mind and body.
When | was II | was invited to spend
q few months with our fathers cousin. a
Mrs. Beaumont, who lived in great style
in London. She was that most selfish of
beings. a h~ypochondriac. That | might
do her some credit, Mrs. Beaumont or
dered a suitable outfit for me. and fine
clothes and good food soon transformed
me from n pale, STOPPING, dark eyed strip
of a girl into a tall, upright, handsome
young woman. She vas too hopelessly
sunk in self to observe the change, and it
not until her ~favorite nephew came
on his annual visit that the admiration
which his young face too plainly showed
opened her eyes to the fact that | was a
penniless beauty, the most dangerous
thing in England, where men and women
are seldom given in marriage, but often
bought and sold.
A scene was troublesome, therefore my
hostess contented herself with declaring
herself worse, and ordering her doctor to
prescribe sea air. Jack Beaumont was
requested to accompany her to the Isle of
Wight, and l was packed off home. |
shall never forget mothers start of sur
prise when she saw the change in my ap-
pearance. All that evening she remained
very thoughtful, and l began to fear that
my unexpected return was hardly vel
1000 ,,-4,1 +-,. dow, lota,- ,-I-,, ,r.t1 -
sweetest smile she informed me that l
was to put on one of my most becoming
dresses and behave my prettiest, as she
expected an old friend to luncheon. My
OUNCE sisters were ordered off to partake
of a cold dinner in the s~choolroom, and
my mother and | awaited LORD Silurian in
the drawing room. knew him to be one
of the oldest, as to title, of E~ngland's
peers, and | heard n whisper that mamma
might have been his countess had her
youthful beauty been made more attract
i've by the hundred thousands of pounds
sterling which the lady that he eventually
married had brought him.
He came-a grim faced, stiff old gentle
man, who put on n double eyeglass and
scanned me closely. A glance of mutual
intelligence passed between mamma and
his lordship, which did not tend to put
me at my ease. However. | smiled and
talked as well as | could, with u beating
heart. After luncheon | was ordered off
for a walk with the others. and that even
ing my mother kissed me. saying: Lord
Silurian will bring his son, Lord Trenton,
to call on Wednesday" There was ome
thing in her look and tone that sent me
to my bed with a sudden sinking of
heart.
What need to dwell on the wretched
lnt,s1- 80 H. .-% 60 ~. --l
Trenton came, saw and, as it eventually
proved. conquered. / thought him a most
vacant youth, but my mother explained
that he was very much struck with me,
and such a dear, simple, shy boy, not
withstanding his great wealth and high
position"
The wedding day came, and l had seen
bridegroom but twice. On these oc.
casions his father had been in the ROOM.
Lady Silurian | had not seen at all; hnr
husband brought me u magnificent tiara,
necklace, earrings and bracelets of dia-
monds-the Silurian diamonds were famed
and regretted that his wife was too
great an invalid to present them in per-
son.
l have small recollection of the cere-
mony; but | remember that my fathcr-in-
law bent over and guided his sons hand
when he signed the registry. laughing
Il calling him a nervous fellow. / wrote
my maiden name, Olive Chase, for the last
time, and Immediately after l. accom-
panied by my father-in-law and husband,
drove to Limestone Towers, the home of
the Silurian family.
There | made a hasty dinner alone in
one of the magnificent rooms which had
been set apart for me, and slipping on q
gorgeous wrapper | tried to forget my
f,n IL, fln arn ~ rAr,n 90 -,v F,r-1r,4o
books. Ere long my tired head fell back
or the sofa cushion and l slept.
awoke with a cry and a sense of terror.
A number of wax lights shed a soft radi-
ance over the handsome room. the per
fume of rare flowers filed the air, and
bending over the couch on which | lay.
his hot breath tanning my cheek. was the
man | had married, with an expression on
his face and in his evil. shifty eyes, which
God grant | may never see on any human
face again. For a moment ] was para
lyzed with a feeling of sickening terror;
then | rose from the sofa and moved to-
ward the table.
Where are you going2" he cried. Not
so fast. Don't you know you are mino
now2"
In an instant he had me in his arms.
and was holding me so tightly clasped in
his embrace that l painted for breath;
while he went on: Yes. you're mine,
safe enough now. I've got away from
that old devil who's been standing be-
tween us. He thinks I'm safe with
Black He's a deep one. Yes. yours
mine, and l can tear your great, sad. black
eyes out. or pinch your white flesh. or
bite you until the blood comes and streaks
your beautiful limbs"
"oh," l gasped. IF you are mortal. and
not a fend, take me to Lady Silurian
take me to four mother"
My words called forth the loudes1
laughter.
Lady Silurian, " he cried. you'll never
see her; she's mad, as mad as a halter:
curse her, that's where | get it from.
We're all mad but that old devil of /.
father of mine. and he'd be mad too If he
were not the devil. FOUR mother wanted
the money, you see. and she's got it: she's
got it; she's got ESQ. 600. and I've got
you"
The look which he cast on me froze my