Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1893-09-19

tAhAohASAS AucRSSsAao s<es@ Rse<~SN - 49,
guise before he would yield to the hasty
consummation of the marriage, for which
the ardent lover was % urgent. II seemi
that when the poor father had confessed
the ruin and degradation that were clos
ing upon them, and Estells had borne
her part In the first outburst Of wild
passion that assailsd him. her shrewd
mind conceived plan for her own safe.
ty, which, with consummats heartless-
ness. she at once proceeded to execute.
"Silently retiring from the wordy war
fare, she wrote o hssty note to De Court.
ney asking him to meet her at q restau.
rant near by, sent II by her French maid,
deep In all her secrets, and silently made
her exit from O side room to the rendez-
vous. She safely calculated that In the
tumult her absence would not be OBJ
served. In that unhappy family you are
aware that self Il the dominant power,
and Estella well knew that when the
herceness Of tho storm then raging had
passed II would be succeeded by tears
and hysterical lamentations that would
claim the attendance Of all the servants,
thus leaving her to consummate her self.
ish arrangements unmolested.
"Whst passed between her and De
Courtney can only be conjectured by the
results and letter left behind for the
mother. It would seem that she returned
to the house as secretly as she had left 1t,
directed her maid to collect all her val.
uables and pack her wardrobe. while she
proceeded to secure what money or jew
elry she could find In her mothers or sis
ter's rooms and departed with her spoils,
attended by her French waiting maid.
Quite early this morning, q Austin was
passing Roseville. Maud, apparently In
great excitement, called to him from the
library window. He entered, and giving
him but o brief statement Of the last
nights revelations ard proceedings she
begged him to find me and urge me to
come to her Immediately.
"Austin gave me all the particulars he
rould learn from Maud's hasty and fren.
ried recital. but when I wished TO stop
here for advice and II possible to get Mr..
Newton to accompany me on this deli.
cate mission he objected, saying she had
especially desired that nothing should be
said to the Newtons. I therefore pro-
ceeded at once to Roseville. Strange
sounds startled me when I entered the
dreary house, but Maud, who was wait
ing In the hall, evidently on the alert to
prevent the servants from seeing me,
hurried me into an Office distant from
the parlors. 1t disgusts me to think OF
her inhuman. selfish ways. But 1t may
be that she did not realize the terrible
tragedy enacting around her."
"DOn't ljngcr," cried Rose. 'This
suspense IL dreadful"
4 will bs as brief - possible. II
seems no thought had been given to E,s-
tella's absence during the night, but
Maud in the morning had ordered bss
attendant to bring some ornament or ar.
ticle from her wardrobe. which could
not bc found. On examining further her
jewelry and most Of her choice posses
sions were missing. Then her maid
hinted that Miss Le Barron had been
.goisg on strangely the day before, and
ali the servants remarked 1t, but the
madam had been 30 bad they had hadno
time to give 1t attention. But now would
Miss Maud please 90 into her sisters
room and see for herself and not b say
ing disparaging things to poor waiting
maidi Judge from the accent OF both
mistress and maid that Maud. becoming
furious at the spelling Of her goods, had
visited her wrath ON the one nearest to
her. On entering her sisters chamber 1t
was vacant, the wardrobe and bureaus
empty, and on the table lay an open note
TO her mother Of the most insolent and
heartless character.
"She said that, seeing Inevitable ruin
coming upon the family, and having no
disposition to share II with them. she had
st once sought her dear Victor. and not
wishing to reveal their misfortunss had
simply informed him that her father had
peremptorily forbidden her to hold any
further communication with him, - he
pretended he had received sdvices from
abroad to his discredit, which abe did not
believe, but this cruel fathers commands
compelled her to say farewell.
"Of course the unfeeling girl con-
tinued, 4 knew dear Victor would not
listen TO that idea for o moment. but, ~
I expected, begged for an immediate
marriage that very hour, before I re-
turned TO my parents. When ] was once
his own, I could quietly collect all my
jswelry and wardrobe. and We would
leave at once. making our bridal tour .
pleasant voyage TO his native land. He
was sure father would soon recall %
when he found rssistsnce was OF no
avail OF course she could not refuse 20
elegant o lover. They were married
within the hour, and - this haste gave
her no time for q bridal trousssau bsht-
ting O inillionairs's daughter shs va
sure hsr dear mother and dstT would
pardon her for making frss with thsir
jewelry and such ready money - shs
found In their purses and her fathsr1
escretoirs. Robin. the footboy. had
taken her trunks away, abe said, and
fearing to incur bis masters displeasurs
would not return. Her maid also would
Of course 20 with her."
The family had listened TO Eustsce's
narrative thus far without interruption,
overwhelmed With sorrow and smass'
msnt. but Mr.. Newton now sxclaimedi
"why, this u far beyond the most IN.
pcrupulous selnshness ] svsr imagined
could b found n oas - yvung.S -.