The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-11-15
CHAPTER ].
Now FIRST PUBLISHED

gentleman IarmeTs ne uFcu ~ SO4AAASA e0S4O
and picturesque brick house standing in
lovely valley in a fertile midland county;
be had health, high spirits, plenty Of money,
and two of the most charming and beauti-
full girls Imaginable for his daughters.
Kate and Adela Hetherington we're both
very fond of their father, but as in trio
there must always be two and third, 80 it
was in this case. Kate was her fathers
special friend. the delight of his life, his
right hand In all things.
Adela was a very different type from her
delicate, highly bred elder sister. She. too,
bore all the marks Of high-breeding, but In
another way. Her beauty was of a more
splendid. sensual order, her nature less de-
voted and less devout She was eager and
self-willed and intensely fond of pleasure.
1t was In her to forget her most sacred duty
if pleasure called to her. She had the superb
upper lip of the triumphal beauty whose
heart has nothing to say, but who Graves
enjoyment. Adsla was a great dancer and
a daring horse woman everyone was fond of
her, for despite the proud mouth which told
much of her character to any observer of
human nature, she had the most charming
manner-the true Hetherington manner,
which endeared the family to all who knew
them.
These girls being well dowried besides be-
ing so charming, there had naturally been
plenty Of would-be lovers. But both re-
manned heart-whole and fancy free, though
Adela had INDUCED in many a pronounced
Irritation, until two young men came to
stay for the hunting, one eventful winter,
at the court. This was the big house OF the
county, and the Trevellfans, who lived there
during the hunting season and for a few
weeks in the early autumn, considered
themselves infinitely superior to any other
human creatures reared on the same soil
There was father and mother, one son and
one daughter. The son was never at home;
the daughter, Fanny. was q magnificent
beauty who easily collapsed Adela Hether-
ington when dressed for ball or riding her
favorite hunter. But she bore on her beauty
the fatal mark Of some unsuccessful London
seasons. She should have married sooner,
and none could tell why she had NOT done
80.
There was a great house party at Trevel-
liam court for that particular hunting season
when the two Hetherington girls met their
respective fates. All in a moment, as il
were, Frank Hetherington saw the two
swept away on tides of real emotion-saw
that the fateful hour had come which might
leave him quite alone. IL was at ball the
night before the first meet of the season
when this double love affair commenced In
such serious earnest. As a matter of fact it
was love at first sight in both cases: and it
seemed to Frank Hetherington cruel fate
which should give his daughters the fatal
dart at the same hour.
However. so it was. Much stranger things
happen than fiction can ever describe, and
the strangeness of this evenings events was
an instance of it. Frank-a fine, handsome
fellow, in the prime OF life, who might
have married well dozen times since his
wife's death, stood at the supper table talk
ing to bis hostess. and watching the vivid
flush that came and went in Adela's face
the long, dropped lashes that lay on Kate's
pale cheeks. He knew the world well, and
knew the fatal hour had come.
Sir Reginald Monckton was quite young
and extraordinarily handsome; he had the
dark coloring, and the passionate ewes
which might have fitted troubadour-poet.
He was immensely popular with women.
and it was said that many true heart had
broken for his sake. And this was not his
Idulb 6ltu6I. I16 WIS no lAQy-kltier. There
was some mystery in the Monckton family
which, when known, made fathers take
their daughters out of reach OF this fa;-
cirator, and close their doors on him. So,
at least, Mrs. Trevellian whispered In Frank
Hetherington's ear, as they noted Sir Reg
maids evident devotion TO Kate.
Reginald Monokton had with him his al
most inseparable friend, man who had
been his shadow, his constant companion
hod a.. nrk
two went into the smoking-roo together in
the small hours of the morning, and de-
cided not to go to bed at ALL as they had to
be in pink and at breakfast at 5 O'Clock.
They were both young, magnificent in
physique, impervious to fatigue. The other
men gradually went away yawning, and
then Reginald opened one Of the windows
and let in rush of keen air.
''You were hard hit tonight, Maurice
he said, but / wish to heaven you would
not iirt so. Don't get me into a scrape
down here.n
well, you needn't talk" said Maurice
Harcourt, with a sneer. "You are as in
eligible as am, when it comes to the
point
Sir Reginald flushed painfully. a flush
that died away quickly aud left bis face per-
fectly white. He made no answer. and
lighting fresh cigar sat down by the win-
dow with an air as IL he did not expect to
speak again.
Presently Maurice Harcourt broke the
silence.
sits no good getting mad with me, Rex
he said, in a conciliatory manner. You
provoked me to say it."
There's difference, you know" said
Sir Reginald. "A woman who really loved
me and chose to throw in her lot with mine
would know just what she was doing, and
would do it because she wished to-"
Your romantic views of life are beyond
my mean intelligence said Harcourt, in
differently. II don't know what you
mean by love. know when l admire a
woman
sand you like her to recripocate the adj
miration," said Sir Reginald, with laugh
that showed his good humor had returned.
Indeed, he was one of the sweetest men in
the world. and it was very hard to really
annoy him. Harcourt's sheer had touched
the one weak place in his armor, but even 50.
1t was soon forgiven.
"Thats the worst of you," he went on,
'you have no conscience about a woman
you can't live unless you are fulfilling your
vocation OF lady-killer But what struck
me tonight was that you seemed very much
In love yourself"
II wonder you had time to notice it." was
the retort. However, I'll own to the fact
that think Adela Hetheriugton a splendid
girl, and Pm uncommonly glad to have met
her down here. She hunts, tool like a
riding woman. She told me she would ap-
pear at breakfast. / wonder how she will
1ooks It's tremendous test for woman's
beauty 10 ia MA oil ri0bf uVa ahotu -, 4,