Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1891-04-16
THE CARLYON TRAGEDY.

Just the two men composed the family
at Carlyon Han, and gay, wild life
they led. Not that they were much to-
gether, or that good will inclined them
to the same course. Truth to tell, there
was little sympathetic feeling lost be-
tween the two Carlyons.
The elder man gave his select dinners
and champagne suppers to his clique,
while Ralph, his son, secured the coun-
try for q score of miles about with choice
spirits of his own.
The Hall itself was patched up pile
of ruinous masonry. The Carlyons for
three generations back had proved q
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 a 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
a half dozen servants at her back, and
pretty Bertha Mondeville, her very re-
luctant companion.
Bertha was the lady's 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 sighing 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 un-
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 was 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-
treme 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 Carlyons we're distant relatives of
the family, and Mrs. Mondeville fixed
upon the hall as a secure and retired
asylum for her wayward child. So
hither they had come, fast upon the
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-
ished there.
Mrs. Mondeville endured a week in
the dreary, solitary place, and then went
away, leaving Bertha and lynx eyed
maid to the hospitable charge of the
Carlyons.
1t was not pleasant duty for the lat
ter to 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 to boom
comrades and nightly orgies. They
clung to their customary habits, but un-
used to the trouble Of concealment,
chafed against the bondage which COM
mon courtesy imposed upon them.
This state of things did not continue
long, however. Bertha's CHEEKY young
presence brought flood of sunshine into
the dreary old house, such as it had not
known for years. The grim, dark rooms
held attractions for their inmates which
they had not hitherto possessed.
Certainly, in removing her daughter
from the influence of one lover, Mrs.
Mondeville had not meant to subject
her to the opportunities of two. Carl
yon, drawn perhaps by visions of the
ample dowry destined for, and Ralph
blase as he was-actually touched with
an approximation to noble sentiment,
were both soon numbered among her dev-
otees.
Bertha's position was becoming ex-
tremely unpleasant. A note smuggled
out despite the watchfulness of the maid
brought no response from Henry Ber-
nard. Her mother remained unmoved
by her urgent entreaties for a speedy
return, and meantime the two Carlyons
urged their individual suits with per-
sistent ardor.
Ralp, impulsive and passionate, could
wait to take no polite moves in prose-
cutting his wooing. His very earnestness