Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1893-10-17

parently softened end ready to receive
the good sccd.
One pleasant morniay, when first ab!s
to converse, she unfolded the history ol
her course after leaving her father
house. Il was . sad aud painful story,
but unfortunately 20 common that u
needs no repetition. Le Clrron's cup
posed wealth had been De Courtney
attraction. and the Same mistaken ides
Of his high position. dignities and un'
bounded riches had lured her on to that
fatal gtep. Love had had no voice In
this wicked compact. Sos until they
reached Paris and his draft on Le Bar
ron came back protested did the fortune
hunter learn the deceit that she had
practiced upon him.
The stormy scene that might have been
expected ensued. and then De Courtney
informed her that their marriage wasall
sham, and that his wealth and titles
were equally fictitious. Thus deserted
by the man with whom she had fed,
not for love. but for selfish ambitions,
and left to bear her troubles and disap.
pointments rs best she might, her fall
was rapid. The money and jewelry she
had 30 wickedly purloined from mother
and sister that terrible night she had
carefully concealed from Dc Courtney.
For short time IL enabled her to lead q
gay life. but with no protector In Paris
her associations must Of course have been
of class that opened the door to every
kind Of temptation, until ut last she sank
into abject ignominy aud dishoner. In
this condition Eustace saw and rescued
her from the lowest depths Of degrade
ton.
And now, though she rallied for few
weeks, her days were numbered. The
physician from the first gave no encour.
agement Of recovery, and after short pc
Rod Of comparative ease speedy termi.
nation Of her III spent life was certain.
When first compelled to realize her pre-
carious situation. she was overwhelmed
with terror and despair. The chaplain
visited her daily. Under his unwearied
teachings and Roses gentle ministrations
the darkness was gradually dispelled, and
the hope that she. the most guilty. might
fnd mercy through that atonement %
freely offered to all. even the chief OF
sinners, began to comfort her.
As this hope frightened her heart
yearned after friends and kindred. She
had only heard vague reports Of her
fathers death and was entirely ignorant
Of the condition Of tho other members Of
her family. Il was great trial to 30
called upon to reveal to the poor sufferer
all the sorrow and shame that had over
whelmed her former home, but after her
heart, 30 long cold and hard, was brought
into O better state she would not rest un-
til she had heard every particular. Her
gratitude for the kindness that had
shielded Robbie and Jennie from temp
tation was very touching, but Maud's
perilous situation weighed keenly upon
her mind. Feeling that her own reck.
less and unprincipled conduct from ear.
iiest childhood had led her sister into by
and forbidden paths, which had now 30
blasted her life II not ruined her soul,
she begged Eustace to seek out Maud
and beseech her by her dying sisters eI.
ample to seek the better life.
The Newtons. after leaving the city,
had very little opportunity to hear Of
Maud's life. From the frst she had
steadfastly refused to sec her little broth.
er 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 II important to see Maud.
II possible, while Eustaco 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 Q friend that after
two years Of strife and bitterness, death
had at last separated this miserable pair.
Mr.. varney had been dead but short
time. At his marriage he settled lib
eral sum upon his young wife and then
made 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 % infatuated
with her beauty no 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 se.
cure that for which she had risked 30
much.
With his violent temper II took but .
few short weeks to open her husbands
eyes to his folly and to destroy all affec.
tion for and pride In her, and 20 his
maudlin love turned to the bitterest hate
In his dotago 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 30 outraged him that for her
own safety she left the house and went
to reside ut 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 theold win and make
o new one. by which he deprived her Of
everything but what she could legally
claim. SO when summoned to his dying
bed 1t 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 o fortune. and rich jewelfy were
all she could call her own.
This will she determined to contest on
the ground that Mr.. varney at the time
,f making 1t was In no condition to make
0 valid instrument for the disposal OF his
and that the viii that he made
at her marriage was still binding. Al
soon as her husband was buried she
sought legal advice. but there was suffi.
Gent evidence to prove that he was com.
petent to dispose Of his property accord.
Ing to his own wishes, even II 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
psthize when she was compelled to do
scend to q humber but very comfortable
home.
Here her oil friends sought her. The
reader can easily imagine from their In.
sight into Mrs. varney's character that
Mr. and Hrs. Newton were coldly II not
rudsly received. II was maddening to
her proud spirit that these whose coun.
sci she had despised should now dndher
10 far beneath the position she then
mined at. When Mr.. Newton spologized
for calling nv sayinR he had some In