The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1890-04-30

the challenging words, uttered in clear,
thrilling voice, rang through the room
On the threshold stood a tall, youthful
figure. clothed in black it advanced
few steps and they beheld before them
a pale girl, with. one Of those wonderfully
expressive faces that do not need TO be
beautiful TO stamp themselves in our re-
membranes. II was Helen Westleigh.
Her dark eyes, burning in the deep, pur-
pie hollows worn by long watching and
much weeping. flashed upon them =
greeting anything but eonciIiaiory. Be
fore it the two startled women stood ST.
lent, and involuntariIy .quailing for mo
ment, as if they had been confronted by
something unearthly.
But Mrs. Lennox soon recovered her
SELF.
. You have ssrsnge way OF receiving
visitors, who come 10 you with kind in
tentions, my young lady" she said,
haughtiIy. What do you mean by
victim ~
@Imean that CeIia's death lies at your
door, Mrs. Lsnnox-"
Pleasant accusation = said Mrs. Len
nox, settling back into her chair with
stony sneer. Really, Miss westleigh, !
fear you are a young person very III reg
uIatei in mind, as most certainly you are
in manner, Are you aware that It was
only owing to my-possibly mistaken
clemency-we are all 50 liable to err p
that your sister did not pass from my
door to a prison That she lost her situa-
ton, under such unhappy circumstances,
was entirely her own fault"
Her own fault - said Helen, pale as
she had been, growing YET paler " Was
It her fault that she vas a Sinking, SEN
sitive creature, who withered like tiow-
er in the cold, uncongenial atmosphere of
your house? Was it her fault that you
Judged her on; Of your own coarse mind
and narrow instincts? DO not inter
rupt me, woman You shall listen to me
whether my words are pleasant to your
ears or not.
How did it end Worn ont by months
Of silent martyrdom, Celia came to me,
one night, saying she could bear no more.
Her heart was breaking. her life was
ebbing away. I looked into her dear
eyes, and saw that it was true. held
her to my heart, and said she should
never return under your roof again l
said, let Us starve together, first Oh, if
/ could have persuaded her to listen to
me But she must SO back, if only to
give you warning opportunity to pro-
vide another governess for spoiled, ex-
acting children. forsooth
That was the merry entertainment At
which you accused her next day Of hav-
ing been present. deckel out in inery Of
yours, You know in your heart that the
accusation was false but il suited your
purpose to dismiss her from your house
in q cloud Of igDominy, AMI Satan fur
nished you with plausible pretext. You
have done your work very successfully,
Mrs. Lennox; Celia Westleigh will new
er be your brother-in-law's wife now.
Bot how viii you answer. at the right
eous bar Of God, Tor the cruelty and cal
umny that have broken the heart Of an
innocent, motherless girl, and sent her to
an untimely grave ~
4 Mrs. Thurlow was weeping. But Ms.
Lennox, Though she might have grown a
I tritie paler, sat uprigh, in her chair and
returned the scorching judgment of Hell
ems eyes With an icy stare, for some brief
silent moments then she rose, and
gathered up her rich robes elaborately
If | really believed you TO be a re-
sponsibie being, young woman, | should
feel ike calling you to account for your
insulting behavior and words" she
said.
" But l pity you for your deplorable
lack OF self control and Judgment and
should really be glad if could believe
that your poor sister was, as you say, in
nocent, and all that All, dear me
Come, Mrs Thurlow there IL nothing Il
deiain as. | think We need only apollo
gize to Miss Westleigh for our intrusion
and assure her that there is not the
slightest danger Of It's ever being re.
peated"
Yet We shall meet aglin, said Helen
She came a step nearer. aud lifted hel
thin, right hand to heaven.
There is justice" she said, solemnly
d Yon have robbed me OF all that had
left in this world TO love you have
Knocked me in my desoiation do moi
think I am one to forget or forgive
When the hour comes that feel in my
soul is written in heaven will come, and
you stand before me as helpless as my
poor darling stood before you, such lit
tie while ago, then be sure you shall re
ceive the same mercy which you have
shown TO me and mine"
As the last words fell, with bitter EN-
phasis, from her lips, Helen left the room
III.
Few homes were more attractive and
imposing than the handsome mansion ol
Senator R., which stood on one oftht
broad streets OF Washington city. 1t wa:
i the centre, also, of hospitality both gen.
erous and refined The beautiful woman
whom the Senator had lately married
/ abroad, had made marked sensation IL
that society where, by virtue of his bril-
/ liant political success, he had long beer
one of the most prominent figures. The
Senator's wife not only shared, but ever
I in some measure increased, her husband
popularity it was said that her influence
was used to soften his somewhat hare
ana dominant nature, and that, mors
than once, her intereession had sufiicee
to turn the scale OF his powerful infiuenc,
in favor of some suppiiant, who would
have been otherwise coldly dismissed.
Il was & rGmor of this that bad drawr
10 the door Of the Senator's mansion on,
cold, midwiater morning, a thinIy-elaC
/ woman in widows weeds The warmth
of the luxurious library, into which sh,
was shown to await the coming of Mrs
R, was greatful TO her poor, chilled
hands and scantily protected frame. sh'
had left her children shivering at home
aronri an insufficient fire. in a room