Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1892-03-03
CHAPTER XIV.

That was the solution of the mystery.
That was the cause of Marks Watchtulness
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
cause of the hetic color that so often took
the place of the dainty bloom. That was
why pretty bright young maid would
have been quite useless. why the elderly
woman kept watch and ward over her
mistress. OF all the horrible fates that
could have overtaken my poor Mark sure
than this! All the anger died in my heart;
there was nothing left but profound COM
passion. Now l could understand why he
| would not say anything to me about his
wife. He might we'll look SO worn and
! haggard. I forgot that he had deceived me,
blighted my life; and my heart vert out to
him, not with the old love, but with
great pity and yearnng. | 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
never see such sight again-such leering
smile, dropping heavy head, sullen eyes,
and Keeling figure
II am glad you know about 1T, Miss
Chester" said Martha. ut is heavy Sc
cret to carry all by ones self. At times
Cali hardly U0AT IL. 1 tOlu Iduy 1OTke you
would be the right one to trust"
Partly from her and partly from Lady
Yorke heard the whole sad story. am
no advocate of total abstinence although
have q horror of excessive drinking.
simply tell this sad story as it was told to
me, and record the incidents saw.
There is no need to 60 far back into Lady
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 one
knew. There was some little rumor
Off in India; but she was so young and so
not until she became Lady Seyerne that it
attracted any attention. She said alter
ward that she took no more than other
ladies-two or three glasses of wine at
luncheon-perhaps little champagne il
she felt tired or low" little more wine
payne at one party, sherry at another, and
always brandy at night. She liked it; she
was careless, and never thought about the
consequences. More than once Lord
severne, seeing her glass filled and retilled,
would say, "Be careful, Lurline, that wine
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
earlier than usual. found her-Ah. well, :!
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 hnnSphn6 q in hoy
downward course for that. He could never
| make his home in England, where hi.
| misfortune must 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,
| 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 favorite with them
They liked Lord Severne exceedingly; they
| were attracted by his melancholy which al
first they did not understand. Lady Yorke
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; DuC IL was IN lear ana tremDllnS,
Lurline had assured her husband, as she
had often done before she would keep 6
strict guard over herself; but again and
again she had-relapsed into her old habits
For during these long months when she
had plenty ofmoney at her command
Lady Severne had gone from bad to worse
Her husband was at last compelled to hayt
the assistance of Martha Clyde; but, in
spite ofall the cSTe. lavishsd upon her. in
| spite of all precautions, when these terrible
fits came upon Lady Ssvsrns, she alwsy,
managed TO get that for which her heart
ofayed. Nothing was Of any avail--pray,