Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1890-06-05

tiAuA beAtAA ~ct Nbu41 DC my vie az last
IF you go on in this way, Mr. Davies, r
said Elizabeth sharply, her heart filed with
jealous anger, '.you viii soon be off your
head Are you not ashamed Of yourself for
making such fuss about girls pretty facet
II you want to got married, marry somebody
else"
MARRY somebody else he said dreamily
Il don't know anybody else whom | could
marry, except you, and you are not Bea-
tricer
"No.n answered Elizabeth angrily; Il
should hope that | have more sense. and if
you wanted to marry me you would have to
set about it in different way from this.
am not Beatrice, thank heaven, but am her
sister, and ] warn you that | know more
about her than you do. l warn you as a
friend TO be careful. Surprising that Bea-
trice were not worthy of you, YOU would not
wish to marry her, would your
mo, no, Of course not he said. "Of
course | would not marry her if she was not
fit to be my wife--but must know that first,
before | talk of marrying anybody else.
Good afternoon, Miss Elizabeth Ii will soon
be settled now; it cannot 90 on much longer
now. Ny prayers will be answered. know
they will"
"You are right there, Owen Davies
J thought Elizabeth, as she looked after him
with ineffable bitterness, not to say contempt
Your prayers shall he answered in a way
that will astonish you. You shall not marry
Beatrice, and you shall marry me. The fish
has been on the line long enough; now must
begin to pull in. y
Curiously enough it never really occurred
TO Elizabeth that Beatrice herself might prove
10 be the true obstacle TO the marriage she
LII 4 -
was fond Of Godfrey Bingham but that,
when it came to the point, she would abso-
lutely allow her affection 10 interfere with
so glorious a success in life she never for a
moment believed. OF csurse she thought il
was possible that ii Beatrice could get pos.
session Of Godfrey she might prefer to do 50,
but failing him, judging from her own low
end vulgar standard, Elizabeth was CON
WINGED that she woula take Owen. 1t did
not seem possible that what was so precious
in her own eyes might be yalueess and even
hateful in those Of her sister As for that lit.
tie midnight incident-wel. it was one thing
and marriage was another. People forgetsuch
events when they marry; sometimes they
even marry in order 10 forget them.
Yes, she must strike, but howl Elizabeth
had feelings like other people She did not
mind running her sister and rival, but she |
would much prefer that IL should not be |
known that hers was the hand to cut her 1
down. OF course, il the worst came TO the l
worst she must do IT, Meanwhile, might not /
a substitute be found-somebody in whom |
the act would seem not one Of vengeance, but |
Of virtuef All. she had IL; Lady Honeriai /
Who could be better for such purpose than 1
the cruelty injured wifel But then how
should she communicate the facts to her lady
ship without involving herselfi Again she hit
upon device much favored by such people
''un vieux rue mais toujours bonf-the pris-
tine one OF an anonymous letter, which has
the startling merit of not committing any
body TO anything, An anonymous letter, TO
all appearance written by a servant: it was
tile very thingl Most likely it would result
In searching inquiry by Lady Honoria, In
which event Elizabeth would Of course.
against her will, be forced to say what she
knew; almost certainly it would result in
quarrel between husband and wife, which
might induce the former to show his hand, or
even to take some open steps as regards Bea-
trice She was sorry for Godfrey, against
whom she had no i'll feeling, but it could not
be helped; he must be sacrificed.
That very evening she wrote her letter and
sent it TO be posted BY an old servant living
in London. Il was masterpiece in its way,
especially Theoretically. This precious epistle
which wasmost exceedingly i'll writ in large
coarse hand ran thus
my LADI: My consence druvs me to il.
much again my viii. I've tried hard. nv
adi, not to speek, first acorse Of Miss B, as
heve knowed good and peur aud also for
the sakes Of your evil usband that wulf in
sleeps cloathin. But wien think on YOU
ny ladi lorful legel wife, gud and virtus
md peur and OF the things as / hev seen
which Is enough to bring blush to the face
If slater, knows it is my holy dooty to
lite your ladishipp as folders Your ladishipp
orgif me but on the night OF whittsunday
asst Miss B. Granger wiut after midnite inter
he room of your bad usband-as was to mi
ham ther to Sc Afterward more nor an
Iour, she cum out agin bein carried in his
armes. Aud IL your ladishipp don't believ
ne, let your ladishipp rite to Miss elizbeth.
S had this same misfortune to see as your I
ru friend, THE RIrER.u '
In due course this charming anonymous {
stter reached Lady Honoria, bearing Lon r
on postmark. She read and reread it, and /
BON mastered its meaning. Then, after a h
lights thought, she took the .'Riter'sn advice h
nd wrote to Elizabeth, sending her copy Ii
the letter lher own, vehemently repudiat- :,
lg all belief in it, and asking for reply that
lould dissipate this foul Islander from her a
lind forever !,
The answer came by return mail. IL was :.
tort and artful. =
Dear Lady Honoria Bingham" it ran. !,
you must forgive me If decline to answer II
lie questions in your letter You will easily
that between desire to preserve !,
sisters reputation and an incapacity TO be I,
opreciated by every Christian to speak !,
her than the truth-it is possible for per- !,
n to be placed in the most cruel Of positions =,
a position which l am sure will command =
en your sympathy, though under such cir p.
instances have little right to expect any y,
ON a wife believing herself to have been -
nelly wronged. Let me add that nothing
Ort Of the compulsion of a court of law will =,
flee to unseal my lips as TO tine details Of =
e circumstances (Which are, trust, misun- e
rstooD alluded to in the malicious anony- =.
1us letter of which you inclose copy ~
That very evening, as the fates would have - -
lady Hnuorfa aud har husband VI