The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-03-06
THE CARLYON TRAGEDY,

, they led. Not that they were much to
gether, or that good viii inclined then
to the same course. Truth TO tell, Their,
was little sympathetic feeling lost be
tween the two Canyons
The elder man gave his select dinner:
and champagne suppers to his clique
, while Ralph, his son, secured the coun
try for score of miles about with choice
spirits Of his own.
The Hall itself was patched up pill.
of ruinous masonry. The Carlyons fol
three generations back had proved .
spendthrift race, and their once ample
patrimony had dwindled down TO few
barren acres, with a village of miserable
houses, which yielded the sole income OF
the present proprietor. Still he could
boast long descent, and we all know
how far an illustrious pedigree will go
toward propping up falling house
This was the state of affairs when Mrs.
Mondeville came down from town with
half dozen servants at her back, and
pretty Bertha Mondeville. her very re-
| luctant companion.
Bertha was the ladys youngest daugh-
ter, and, besides the generous portion Of
Mondeville property destined to fall to
her share, had good prospects of an in
heritance from certain wizened. eccen-
tric old woman who had stood godmother
to her at her christening, eighteen years
before
With such expectations, and possessed
Of natural attractions which drew hosts
of signing lovers to her feet, it was GER
tainly reprehensible in her to give pref
erence to one far beneath her in the So
cial scale. At least so reasoned her lady
mother. But Bertha was wilful, and
| maternal restrictions went for naught.
She had given her heart and promised
her hand to Henry Bernard. the strug-
Cling artist, who as yet was quite I'M
known to both fame and fortune. He
was sanguine, though, and Bertha no
less SO. She reposed the utmost conf.
dence in his genius and ultimate success,
while he toiled with renewed energy for
his triumphal wreath, knowing that her
happiness vas involved in the result of
his effort.
But here Mrs. Mondeville interposed.
Her wrath fell harmlessly upon her
daughters perverse head, until angered
beyond bounds, she had recourse to ex-
IRENE measures to break off the proposed
mesalliance. Henry Bernard was for
hidden the house. and Bertha was placed
under strict espionage for the time
The Canyons were distant relatives of
the family, and Mrs. Vaudeville fixed
upon the hall as a secure and retired
asylum for her maynard child. So
hither they had come. fast upon the I
track Of the courteous little note of /
warning that announced them.
The hall had been put in hurried order
for the reception of the ladies. The rem
nants of plate were duly polished; the
frayed damask and fine linen evidences
of decaying gentility) taken from the /
drawers. Carlyon cleared his domicile /
OF bachelor guests, and met them with /
the courtly ease which distinguishes /
gentle blood, no matter how much |
weighed upon by adverse circumstances.
RALPH, who was In the habit of being
absent for DAYS together, knew nothing
of the proposed advent, and surprised
himself not little by coming home to
find such an unprecedented party estab-
hshed there.
Mrs. Mondeville endured a week in
the dreary, solitary place, and then went
away, leaving Bertha and a lynx eyed
maid 70 the hospitable charge Of the
Canyons.
1t was not a pleasant duty for the lat
ter 10 assume, and for time they re-
GREETED the necessary suspension Of their
reckless pleasures. Not that either re-
formed, even temporarily, but the hall
could no longer be thrown open % boom
comrades and nightly orgies. They
chung to their customary habits, but m
1sed to the trouble of concealment,
chafed against the bondage which com
non courtesy imposed upon them.
This state of Things did not continue
ong. however. Berthas cheery young
presence brought a food Of sunshine into
he dreary old house. such az it had not
,nown for years. The grim, dark rooms
leld attractions for their inmates which
hey had not hitherto possessed.
Certainly, in removing her daughter
rom the influence Of one lover, Mrs
Vaudeville had not meant TO subject |
Ter to the importunities Of two. Carl
'en, drawn perhaps by visions of the
nipple dowry destined for, and Ralph
,laSs as he was-zctually touched with
n approximation 20 noble sentiment, Il
sere both soon numbered among her dew {
tess. {
Bertha's position was becoming ex- q
remedy unpleasant a note smuggled i
at despite the watchf1lness CT the maid b
rought no response from Henry Ber- =
ard Her mother remained urrzoved n
v her urgent entreatles for . speedy =
et1rp. and meantime toe two Csxiyens
rged their individual suits with per- (
stent a-dor.
Raip. inpuigivs and Passionate. conE =
rat TO take no polite moves IN prose
uting his vooing. His very earnestness
-ould hare pleaded powerfully for him
I'D not the girls heart and mind been
Led with other love and other thoaghts
Ie came II upon ne- Duddenly one at
moon vnen Re knew her 70 Dc alone.
''Its the old. old story. Bertha. that
ant 10 tel ycs,' be said Il suppse
An not worthy CT you, for I've been . y
lid blade II my time. but wiz rnsks
.Tsesf BITTER when you rive me ths
~ ae.rrance am waiting for. Bertha,
ve. come 70 ne"
Eh dark fzce, handsome despite thA
ses dissipation had left upon II, grew
ader. HIS eyes looked down IN hers