The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-02-04
CHAPTER I'LL
AFTER TWENTY YEARS

A week or two previous to the time
indicated in the last chapter, Sir Sydney
Carsland, his wife and their daughter,
had returned to Carsland hall, after a
few months sojourn on the continent,
with the intention OF remaining there
until the following spring.
The day after their arrival the Cars
lands had been joined by a young gentle
man who was to take up his residence
there, and who was considered to be q
member Of the family circle, although
he was not in any way related to either
the baronet or Lady Carsland.
This gentleman was Paul Meredith, a
handsome, open handed and kindly
hearted lad, who would, on attaining
his twenty-ffth year, come into con-
siderable fortune. His father and Sid
ney GarslMrd had been intimate friends
in their youthful days, their intimacy
had been renewed after Sidney sue
ceeded to the baronetcy and fortune
and when the elder Meredith died after
a long and painful illness he appointed
his friend sole executor and Paul's guar
dian.
At that time Paul was just entering
his teens aud beginning his education
at ono OF the famous public schools.
His fathers decease made him an
orphan-his mother having died some
years befefe-and henceforth he had
lived at Carsland Hall when he was not
AT school or college, 0akholme Manor,
in Yorkshire, the house in which his
parents resided having been let until
he attained his twenty-tifth year.
Hitherto there had been nothing OF n
remarkable character in Paul Mere
dith's shoAt history. He had gone to
Cambridge and despite the fact that
he was no. great lover Of books and
study, had contrived TO take a respect
able degree. The young mans allow.
ance was generous one, and this had
enabled him to crafty many whims and
desires Of pleasure giving kind.
Being handsome, fairly rich and OF a
genial nature, he had gone the pace
with the other harum scatum fellows OF
his college, but, although he got into
numerous petty scrapes, after the FASH
ion OF his kind, he contrived to keep
himself out OF disgrace.
He had thken his degree while the
y Carslands were abroad, hence he had
still to receive their congratulations
when they all met again ut Carsland
Hall. These gratulations were given
him without stint by both Sir Sidney
and Lady Carsland, for Paul was great
favorite with them; but what had
pleased the newly-hedged B. A. most OF
all was the prettily worded and softly
spoken compliment fair Cordelia Cars
land had paid him.
Hero may BIO set down a few words
respecting the Carslands, man and wife,
and their doings during the past twenty
years.
Their married life had been comforta.
lOiand happy in o quiet sort OF q way.
Neither Of them had been passionately
enamoHred OF the other, although at
the time OF tho wedding Sydney had
believed himself deeply in love with the
fair Adelaide; and after their brief
honeymoon terms Of endearment and
those little endearing acts and gestures
of affection common to people in love
rarely passed between them.
Lady Carsland had clear head, hot
temper, and o decided will OF her own,
as Sir Sydney soon discovered; and he
found out also that the easiest way OF
managing his handsome and strong.
minded spouse was to give her good
deal OF hor own way.
Her ladyshlp possessed considerable
ambition. She had no intention Of
passing her life and spending her for.
tune in that dull corner Of Lancashire
--she meant 10 see good deal OF tho
world to cut q figure In aoclety-ln q
phraso--to occupy the position Bhe
thought herself entitled to- on account
al her beauty, wealth and title.
Hence, year after the birth Of Cor.
della Carsland, Sir Sydney and his wife
took up their abode In tho metropolis,
ehO had urged the baronot 10 secure q
feoidence In town. to cntet into public
liio 10 politician--to do all things that
would give them prominent position
IN tho wotld which has ita centre In
London, n
no accoded readily enough TO these
proposals. for REASONS OF his own. A
pAldtial mansion in Park Lane was OBJ.
tanned Sir sydney became an active
aud prominent member Of the Carlton
Club, was lavish with his money when
funds wera required for other q general
OF d local election campaign, made him.
aoli Invaluable 10 his political friends
atA Aha tylkn nttiihra ~ tha Nhrlv In