The times., 1893-10-13

gratitude for the Kindness that had
shielded Robbie and Jennie from temp
tation was very touching, but Mauds
perilous situation weighed keenly upon
her mind. Feeling that her own reck-
less and unprincipled conduct from ear
hest childhood had led her sister into by
and forbidden paths, which had now so
blasted her life if not ruined her soul,
she begged Eustace to seek out Maud
and beseech her by her dying sisters ex-
ample to seek the better life.
The Newtons, after leaving the city,
had very little opportunity to hear of
Maud's life. From the first she had
steadfastly refused to see her little broth
or and sister and was even unwilling to
receive any message from them, prefer
ring, she said, that all memory of their
fathers family should die out Of their
young minds.
They now felt it important to see Maud,
if possible, while Eustace was with them.
and therefore, acting at once in accord
ance with their views Of duty, Mr.. and
Mrs Newton. accompanied by Eustace
and Lillian. went next day to the city.
They learned from friend that after
two years of strife and bitterness, death
had at last separated this miserable pair.
Mr.. Varney had been dead but a short
time At his marriage he settled lib
eral sum upon his young wife and then
made a will leaving her sole possessor Of
all his wealth at his death. Had she
treated the foolish old man with even
common kindness he was so infatuated
with her beauty he would have made no
change. But though she had sold her.
self and bartered all her hopes of happi-
ness for riches she could not sufficiently
control her loathing and contempt to Sc
cure that for which she had risked so
much. o.
With his violent temper it took. but a
few short weeks to open her husbands s
eyes to his folly and to destroy all affec-
tion for and pride in her, and so his
maudlin love turned to the Underestimate
In his dotage he had become like some
fierce animal in his anger, and her life
was wretched past description. His
cruelty she met by biting taunts and the
most exasperating language till at
length she so outraged him that for her
own safety she left the house and went
to reside at some fashionable resort.
Mr.. Varney had long been failing, and
when the excitement of her presence was
over he sank rapidly. One Of his last
acts was to destroy the old will and make
a new one. by which he deprived her Of
everything but what she could legally
claim. So when summonedtto to his dying
bed it was to find that the palatial home
with its royal furnishings. the spacious
grounds and splendid equipages had
passed into strangers hands and was be-
yond her reach. Her bridal settlement,
in itself a fortune, and rich jewelry were
all she could call her own.
This will she determined to contest on
the ground that Mr.. Varney at the time
or making 1t was in no condition To make
q valid instrument for thedisposal of his;
property, and that the will that he made
at her marriage was still binding. AS
soon Us her husband was buried she
sought legal advice, but there was suffi-
cient evidence to prove that he was COM
petent to dispose Of his property accord,
ing to his own wishes, even if the first
will had not been destroyed by his own
hand before his death. Her conduct had
been too widely known for any to sym
pathize when she was compelled to de-
scend to humber but very comfortable
home.
Here her old friends sought her. The
reader can easily imagine from their in
sight into Mrs. Varney's character that
Mr.. and Mrs. Newton were coldly if not
rudely received. 1t was maddening to
her proud spirit. that these whose coun-
l-.uasaans.,s.