Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-10-06
A MODERN MEDEA,


When Alice died, her husband, James
Falkland of the Laplands, near Arm
way, lived only for the sake of their
children. Otherwise his sensitive, emo
tional nature would have sought suicide
as panacea for intolerable grief But
he realized his duty, and, secluded with.
III the broad messuage of the old manor,
be devoted himself to the education of
Grace, a girl of lG years, and Egbert, a
lad of 4.
His marriage, indeed, had proved
felicitous. Yet when it had been an
nounced gossips had shaken their heads
obviously and whispered forebodings;
mot that they expected trouble from
him, but, rather, for him. No one
throughout that countryside had evil
thought or speech of "Jim'' Falkland,
man Of simple habit, of quiet taste, of
kindly word and deed. But Alice Mon
teith was not popular. She had always
been distant, reserved, given to solitude
and meditation. People had felt, for
no other reasons than her impotuous
step and flashing black eyes, that she
disdained her environment.
Besides, the Monteiths were distrusted.
i~Bad blood bad blood |" said the Cos
sips; "graspng, secretivc, indomitabier'
There was Reuben Monteith, the mari
ner, who had returned TO the village in
1747 and re-established the family after
80 many years absence Where had he
gotten such store of Spanish doub-
loonsg There was old Squire Abe Mon
teith, who had lived to be 80 and had
robbed the widow and fathcrless up to
the very day of his DEATH bad blood!
bad blood" croaked the gossips. Jim
,ughtern known better than to set his
Neart on that bit of painted flesh. Not
put she's 'ahnsome-thets undonia5le ;
but SO be apples Of Sodomp Y
But when Alice died these same Cos.
lips, during the drive 10 the family
graveyard, could not but agree that SHE
had been a faithful, atfectonatc wife.
but why shouldn't she hey been?" per.
sisted one irreconcilables "Shc wanted
Jim and she got him. The best husband
in the world, and all tibet money can
buy to boot! But supposin' she'd hey
been disappoint, or jim had lost Ills
fortune or she'd hey fancied some other
man-then she'd hey shown her teeth.
God forgive me for speaking i'll of the
dead and gone, but what's bred in the
bone, you know"
The Laplands was an old and ample
estate The house was outspread like Il
brooding fowl. From the main hall d
broad staircase led to the library. In
its rear We're sleeping rooms occupied
by the children, and these were con.
nected by another but narrow flight OF
stairs with the drying room and kitchen
below.
Falkland was rich. Like his ances.
TORS, he kept his wealth concealed in i
vault in the library. lie had no fear 81
burglars. The locks We're secret and
stout. Besides, he relied on Rover, d
Siberian bloodhound, kept chained in
the stable during the day, but at night
ranging restlessly in the drying room.
Falkland found contentmput if mol
happiness in the society Of his children
They were both precocious and interest
ing Egbert was q lovely child, Will
long tlaxen curls and large blue eyes, 4,
clear, as steadfast as Il mountain pool
His nature was essentially feminine
dependent, trustful, alfcutionStc. iii,
gossips would say: "1hcres not d arc,
of Monteith blood in that bow, WAv
he's jim all over again" lie Ind .
blithe disposition, though timorous 10 ;
degree. Might, indeed, was a dread
and R5yer'S small red ewes and SLAYER
ing muzzle d horror to him. INT IN,
touch from his sisters hand would AMI
imaginary and actual terror. lie love,
his father; he idylized Grace. OngdHv
when he was lust able to walk, lie A;tl
escaped from lis nurse ana sf,,na N
the broad sill by an open window Of N,
second story. Grace, who hunpeued /,
be in the garden, extended lpr itrlns ~
thinkingly, and out liz sprIi4 withUu
hesitation, couiug with dulisAt I'M
not the Girl cluuss 10 him witl 4 dogprra
ton rs INTENSE rs ill Of hcr emotions