Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-01-06

the unseemliness OF q widower whose
tears should scarcely have dried upon his
checks, marrying again in less than
three months yet eyon they-thougn
grudgingly aud with sigh and shake
OF their heads as token of respect on
their part, at any rate. to the departed
allowed that Lady Isabella was vastly
handsome. with most elegant shape,
aud the manners OF q princess OF tho
royal blood but
Somehow there was always "but
when her own sex spoke OF the second
Lady Halliwell. Female prejudice, OF
course-what else could it be, seeing that
there was not one of their number ID the
whole county who could hold candle 10
her in respect of personal appearance or
elegance OF manner?
But on that same September day when
Lady Hallweli saw he- future home Tor
tho first time, bathed in sunshine ana
standing proudly on its wooded emit
nence. the expression which crossed her
face after her her first exclamation OF
pleasure was but gloomy one, sugges-
tive OF envy and discomfort with her lot
for there was already an heir to this lair
domain. The first wife, who had died,
had left behind her son, and conse-
duently no child OF hers might hope 70
inherit tho estate and reign ct Madden
in the time to come.
She was only the second wife, and,
with all her pride and beauty, OF less
consequence than sickly baby. " ana
those sicklv babies so seldom die she
reflected bitterly. go,
For the young heir was weakly cblld,
though, thanks to the care Of his faith
full nurse and the pure country MIR, he
grew to he stout enough youth. IL
was scarcely to be wondered at that this
trusty nurse, Deborah Brand, who
had been his fathers nurse before his,
should nourish uniayorable and
hostile thoughts toward the "new
Madame" after the manner OF most ola
retainers, who consider 1t their duty to
look upon stcpmother, whatever her
character orconduct, as q supplanter and
intruder-particularly one with such
black broWs and naughty airs, who was
known to be Papisher."
She watched over her young charge
with a vigilance which was practically
unseeping, and which she never relaxed
until he was OF sufficient age to be deemed
capable of taking heed TO his own ways.
Never, unless it was impossible to avoid
so dong, would she leave the young helr
alone with bis stepmother, and never
after the time when, as mere baby, no
narrowly escaped being drowned in the
old fshpond, through, as Deborah de-
clared and maintained, that lady's negll-
0ence-would she let him out OF her
sight.
The sweetmeata. too, which Lady Isa-
bella. no doubt DESTROYS OF winning his
childish confidence and infantlle alec
tons. gave him from her own "bOnbon-
Mere, were, ii possible, ruthleasiy con
fiscated, Notwithstanding the prolonged
and anguished hoWls Of the despolied
one. she declared the "nasty foreign
muck" made the child i'll and, indeed, on
one occasion the child was very sick after
having partaken of his stepmoiher's
bounty.
In vain the latter carried complaints
Of the nurses insolence and OyerbearD8
conduct to Sir Hugh, and demanded
that she should be dismissed, and one OF
her ladyship's own choosing installed IN
her stead In this matter, and III tins
only, sir Hugh was adamant and equal
w lmpervious to smiles or tears, caresses
or vituperation. He had promised the
childs dead mother that the faithful De
borah. to whose arms she had committed
him as her own grew too feeble, should
never be sent away or deprived OF her
post so long as the boy required her
services.
This he had sworn, and would abide
by his oath come what would, though IN
every other matter his lady might and
should have her undisputed way.
So Deborah remained, and the young
Reginald grew apace and thrOve amaz-
ingly under her fostering care. In
courses of time baby brother was born
TO him, who soon became the one OBJ
ject of his mothers existence, and the
centre and sole possessor Of her aiiec-
tons though, with his birth, the grow
ing expression of envious discomfort,
which sullied her handsome features,
increased and eliminated.
by this time tho "young master, as
the old servants of the household de-
lighted to call him, was sturdy young
urchin Of some three OF four years 1t
was this last expression which, when she
heard it, made his stepmother's eyes
flash fire and caused her to bite her full
red hDs until they bled. "He J" she
would muttcr fiercely to herself; "that
little interloper which was hard on
Reginald, and, to say the least, unrea-
sonable, seeing that he was the first
born-"who is not to DO named with
my son, my Anthony. But he shall
never lord it over me and mine when his
father dies. Poor, weak fool but for
him and his pitiful vow / could have
sent away that hateful woman, with her
prving eyes and insolent speeches. and
then who knows but that things might
even then have come right !"
He was handsome child, the second
son of Sir Hugh, but rs dark as gypsy,
and his father was proud enough OF HIM,
though his affection was as nothing when
compared with the strength and fierce
ness of the passion which his mother
bore for him. Even jealous old Debo-
rah admitted that he WAS "hkely
enough child, but as dark as Niger,
aud, Heaven knows, no more to be com
pared to my young master, with his
bonny blue eyes and good English face,
than / am with her leddyship ! still, it's
bonny boy, too. if he wasna 20 black
and ms mother knows better than to ruin
his stomach with the nasty, foreign con-
fections and messes she used to carry
about with her in her silver box, and
which always made my young master SO
qualmish when he eat them
The little heir was very fond OF his
small brother, and the latter, though he
inherited the hot southern blood and
fiery, uncontrolled temper of his mother,
returned his affection in full and, IN
spite of occasional, inevitable Iealousles
and disputes which ensued from time to
time, the two were much attached to
each other and almost insepara0le.
When both boys were considered old
enough to learn to ride, each received
from his father the gilt of a pony.
Charming little animals they were,
r Al cd