Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1892-07-22
CORA, THE 0CTOROON.
BY MISS N. L. BRADDON.
CHAPTER I.

The last notes OF q 1aVOT1Ie waltz re-
sounded through the splendid saloons
of Mrs. Montresor S mansion in eros
yenor Sallare: sparkling eyes and gilt
tering jewels flashed III the lamplight;
the rival queens Of rank and beauty
shone side by side upon the ariStocratic
crowd; the rich perfumes of exotic
blossoms fiOated on the air: brave men
and lovely women were met together
to assist at the farewell ball given by
the wealthy American, Mrs. MCntres0r,
on her departure for New Orleans with
her lovely niece, Adelaide Horton.
whose charming face and sprightly
manners had been the admiration Of
all London during the season Of 1860.
The naughty English beauties were
by no means pleased to see the sensa-
ton made by the charms Of the viva
cIous young American, whose brilliant
and joyous nature cOntrasted strongly
with the proud and Ianguid daughters
Of fashion who intrenched themselves
behind barrier Of icy reserve, which
often repelled their admirers.
Adelaide Horton was gay and light
hearted being. Born upon the planta-
ton of a wealthy father, the cries Of
beaten slaves had never disturbed her
infant slumbers; for the costly man
sion in which the baby heires3 was
IbdIIu Nd5 Ill HUN CllC luLo vi GItc
helpless creatures who worked some
times sixteen hours day to swell the
planters wealth. No groans Of ago
nized parents torn from their uncOn-
sciOuS babes; no cries Of outraged huS-
bands, severed from their neWly-Wed-
ded wives, had ever broken AdeIaide's
rest. She knew nothing Of Slaye-trade;
as 1T a very early age the planters
daughter had been sent to England for
education. Her father had died dur
ing her absence from America, and
she was thus left to the guardianship
Of an only brother, the present posses
sor Of Horton Vile, as the extensive
plantation and magnificent country
scat WAS called.
On Adelaide attaining her eighteenth
year her aunt, Mrs Montrcsor, an in
habltant Of New York, and the widow
Of Il rich merchant, had crossed the At
lantic at Augustus Horizons request,
for the purpose Of giving her niece a
season in London, and aftcrWard eS-
c0@ting her back to Louisiana.
she found Adelaide all That her most
anxious relatives could have wished
elegant, accomplished, fashionable, we'll
bred; u little frivolous, perhaps, but
what Of that, since her lot in life was
To be smooth and easy one. Mrs.
Montrcsor was delighted, and ex-
pressed her qualification very warmly
to the Misses Beaumont, Of West
BrOmptOn, in whose expensive but
fashionable seminary Adelaide had
been educated.
In antc-chamber leading ont of the
crowded ball-roOm-an ante-chamber
where the atmosphere was cool, and
where the close neighborhood of u
fountain FLASHING into It's marble basin
III all adjoining conservatory refreshed
the Wcared ear, two young men loung-
cd laZlly upon a Satin-cOVCrcd couch,
watching the dancers through the open
ballroom door.
The first of these young men was a
South American, Mortimer Percy, the
partner of Augustus Horton, and the
first cousin OF the planter and his pref
t. sister Adelaide
Mortimer Percy was a handsome
young man. His fair curling hair CluSt-
cred round Il broad and noble forehead;
his large clear blue eyes sparkled with
the light OF intellect, his delicate aqui-
line nose and chiseled noStriIS bespoke
Of the refinement of one who WAS by
nature II gentleman; but a Satrical eX-
preston spollt III otherwise beautiful
mouth, and All air OF languUr and wear
mess pcryadGd his appearance. lie
seemed one Of those who have grown
Indifferent to life, careless alike Of its
joys and SorroWS.
Ills companion cOntrasted strongly
with him in both appearance and man
ner. With Il complexion bronZed by
exposure to Southern suns, with flash
ing black eyes, Il firm but flexible
mouth shaded with silky raven mus
tache, aud thick black hair brushed
carelessly back from his superb fore
head, Gilbert Margraye, artist. engi-
neer philanthropist, poet, seemed the
very type Of manly energy.
The atmosphere Of q crowded ball
room appeared unnatural to him. The
daring spirit was out of place amidst
the narrow conyentionalitieS of fash
ionable life; the soaring nature needed
wide sayannas and lofty mountain
tops, distant rivers and sounding wa
terfalls, the artist and poet mind sighed
for the beautiful-not the beautiful as
we see it i'll 4 h0t-hOuSe flower, i'm
prisoned in a China vase, but as it
turks in the gigantic cup of the Victoria
7egiu on the broad bosom of the mighty
Amazon.
But Gilbert Margrave was one of the
lions of 1850. An invention in machin-
cry, which had enriched both the in
ventor and the cottonspinners of Man
chester. had made the young engineer
celebrated, and when it was discovered
that he belonged to a good Somerset
shire family, that he was handsome
and accomplished, an artist and poet,
invitations locked in upon him from all
the fashionable quarters OF the West
end.
He had been silent for some time,
his gaze riveted upon one OF the bril-
liant groups III the ballroom, when
ATtI pnrav Tanned l1ThtlV
the shoulder with his gloved hand.
why. man, what are you dreaming
OFF" he said, laughing; "what entranc-
ing vision has unclaimed your artist
glance? what fairy form has bewitched
your poet soul? One would think you
We're amid solitudeS of some forest on
the banks of the Danube instead of Il
ballroom III GroSvenor Square. Con-
Tess, my Gilbert. confess to your old
friend, and reveal the nymph whose
spells have transformed you into a
statue"
Gilbert smiled at his friends sally.
The two young men had met upon the
Continent. and had travelled together
through Germany and Switzerland.
The nsmph is no other than yonder
lovely gil, talking to your cousin, Miss
Horton" said Gilbert; look at her,
Mortimer, watch the graceful head, the
Silken raven hair. as she bends down
TO whisper to her companion. Is she
not lovely?"
Few who looked upon the young girl
of whom Gilbert Margrave spoke, could
well have answered otherwise than IN
the affirmative. She was indeed lovely
in the first blush of youth. with the in
nocence of an angel beaming in every
smile; with the tenderness of woman
living Swallowed in the profound depths