The Dickinson press., 1892-02-27
CHAPTER XIV.

That was the solution of the mystery.
That vas the cause Of Marks watchfulness
and misery, and of Lady Severne's peculia-
rites. From that originated the cold me.
tallic light in the eyes that should have
been so tender and lustrous. That was the
the place of the dainty bloom. That was
why q pretty bright young, maid would
have been quite useless.-why the elderly
mistress mistress ii ali the horrible tates that
could have overtaken my poor Mark sure
ly none could have been more horrible
than this! All the anger died in my heart;
passion. Now l could understand why he
would not say anything to me o his
wife. He might we'll look SO worn and
haggard. l forgot that he had deceived me.
blighted my life; and my heart vert out to
him, not with the old love, but with a
great pity and yearning.. 1 would have
given my life to save his wife and help
him.
l will not dwell on the terrible scene that
was enacted when Lady Severne was taken
to her new rooms. l hope that may
never see such a sight again-such aleering
smile, dropping heavy head, sullen eyes,
and Keeling figure.
81 am glad you know about IT, Miss
CTGl ~ CuTIy I'LL ny JIG " AZ SiiASo \
can hardly bear it. l told Lady, Yorke you
would be the right one to trust"
Partly from her and partly from Lady
Yorke I heard the whole sud story. l am
no advocate official abstinence, although |
have q horror of excessive drinking. l
simply tell this sad story as it was told to
me, and record the incidents l saw.
Severne's life. She was well-borp, we'll
bred, married when she was very young,
and went with her husband, Captain
Nugent to India. When this horrible
vice first took hold of her no IL
knew. There was some little rumor
of it in India; but she was so young and so
beautiful that no one believed it. 1t was
not until she became Lady Severne that it
attracted any attention. She said alter
ward that she took nc more Ii a other
ladies-two or three glasses Of wine at
neutrality-suspicious. a little champagne il
she felt tired or dow" q little more wine
at dinner; and, during the evening, cham.
payne at one party, sherry at another, and
always brandy at night. She liked it; she
was careless, and never thought about the
severne, seeing her glass filled and retilled,
would say, "Be careful, Lurline, that wine
is strong" She would answer laugh
ingly, II do not mind how strong
it IS if it sparkles." More than
once he was distressed at finding bottles OF
brandy hidden away in her room: A bad
habit grows quickly. The terrible day
came when Lord seyerne, returning home
cannot write the word! From that time all
semblance of happiness ceased between
them. They had been married only six
weeks when he made the discovery. He
decided at once what to do. They could
never live at the Severne Court; the grand
inheritance that had come to him was use.
less. He dared not make her mistress Of
the household; she was too far gone in her
downward course for that. He could never
make his home in England, where his
misfortune mus be made known at once.
He could never know when or how the
shame and disgrace might fall upon him.
He took her to Italy, hoping by travel,
novelty, and constant care to wean heI
from her weakness.
AT first there was some slight improve.
ment, and it was while that improvement
lasted that they met Lord and Lady Yorke
But Lady Severne was not cured, and there
were irregularities in her manner which
made them think strangely of her, and pre-.
vented her from being a ~favorite with them
They liked Lord Severne exceedingly; they
were attracted by his melancholy, which al
first they did not understand. Lady Yorks
exacted from Lord Severne a promise that
when they came to England they would
visit Westwood, and when business mat.
tiers compelled Mark to return he kept thai
promise; but it was in fear and trembling
1urline had assured her husband, as sha
had often done before she would keep Z
strict guard over herself; bu9 again and
again she had-relapsed into her old habits
For during these long months when sht
had plenty of money at her command
Lady severne had gone from bad to worss
Hor midland uoo at Loot cOn,rol1od 70 hava
the assistance of Martha Clyde; but, IN
spite Of all the cSre lavished upon her, il
spite of all precautions, when these terrible
fits came upon Lady Severne, she Away
managed to get that for which her heart
craved. Nothing was of any avail--pray.
ess, tears. advice, anger, all were useless.
The beautiful and admired Lady Severns
was asecret drinker, 9 woman who deliver
ed herself to the bondage OF an evil spirit,
bribed servants; she did things that In
her better days she would have recoiled
from doing. Yet so faithful was Martha
Clyde, so loyal and thoughtful was her
husband, that her terrible secret was hard
ly known. When Martha saw that a fit was
inevitable, she locked her in her room, and
gave out to the world that she was ill. At
those times Lore Severne went almost mad
= AZ AAN0OASA Ulu annoyance AllCIc
had been some terrible scenes once or twice,
when Martha had been off her guard, and
Lady Severne made her escape.
Lady Yorke, who had suspected in Italy
what was wrong, now saw it plainly, and
for the sake Of the household Lord Severne
had been compelled to tell her. She was dis
tressed and grieved, but nothing could be
done. Until Lady Severne came to her
senses again she could not beremoved. The
only thing. was to maintain the fiction OF
illness, and keep her secluded in her room.
1t was now three days since Martha Clyde,
going one evening to put away her lady's
jewels, found her insensible. and knew what
had happened.
I'VE shall have a week oft" she said to
me; II know that"
Surely not, if we keep everything from
THAT we cannot do. 1 have been sharp
and diligent as a detective; so has my
lord. You may battle the cunning offs
rogue or a thief. but never the cunning Of
a drunkard. His lordship was very un.
willing to come here" Martha continued
but Lady seyerne- promised faithfully tc
give no trouble in this way. She Is iono o
since she enjoyed herself. The third day
we were here his lordship said to me
Martha, l had better have died than hay,
brought her here!' He talked to her, oh
so kindly! She cried and made all sorts o
promises, but it was all in vain. Look a
her now"
Lady Yorke told me much the lam,
story, adding that Lord Severne's distress
when he was compelled to tell her til,
truth, was terrible.
II am sorry tor her." said Lady Yorke
but for him my pity knows no bounds
He cannot go into society. If he takes he
with him, he lives i'll constant fear; if h
leaves her at home alone, his fear is create
still. His whole career is spoiled, hi
whole life blighted; he is miserably un
happy, and I see no hope or help for him
1t Is q milestone tied around his neck"
Her words were so many blows to me
The very novel of the discovery made nj
the more miserable. I could not HELM ask
ing
"Ifyou knew of this. Lady Yorke, VIII,
did you ask her hera?"
Yet 1.-THE thought came to me that, ifthe,
had never come, l should have always be
lleved Mark to be dead.
II was not quite sure of it in Italy, and
never thought couldnever have dream
ed.-that it had reached his point. Hou
eetly, much as ! like and pity Lord Sew
: n II l had known the whole truth,
should moi have invited them, nor woul
Lork Yorke have done SO. cannot te
you how unpleasant it il. Every momer
ofthe day I am in anxious suspense an