Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1893-08-31
CHAPTER ~


lighted her eyes.
Married. She reelected. vaguely
and with bewildered expression
married to Lionel-can it be true. Ev-
elyn? What have 1 done to be so cru.
ely punished?'
The unhappy girl rose and tried to
clasp her mothers hands. Lady Tren-
ham re"oiled from her
DO not touch me. Evelyn" she said
coldly. Tell me if it is true that you,
My daughter. have deceived me so
grossly"
1T is true, but the fault is all mine,
mammal loved Lionel"
You did not WOO Mr.. CarteriS. or
ask him to run away. l presume" said
the countess. Il do not understand it.
Evelyn. in my country love and mar
riage are sacred things: but we con-
slider love and reverence to our parents
even more sacred. am startled.
shocked and grieved. Good sense and
coed taste revolt from such conduct
Mamma. pleaded the young girl,
''fnrgve me. l see my sin. l see the
wrong I have done: intercrdc for me
with papa. | am afraid of him.
You are unworthy of him. said
the lady Your father would suffer a
those who trust him..
The gentle. stately lady could not
understand it. Her youth had been
passed without incident. Her calm,
pasSionleSs rest had never been dis
turhed. save by her love for the young
English earl. She could not UNDER
stand the imp"tlouS nature that
prompted such Wild rebellion as her
daughter had been guilty Of. 1t was q
new phase of life to the fair German
lady.
Mamma, sobbcd the pentcnt girl
SAY you forgive me; and do not blame
Lionel"
ME. Carteris has forfeited all claim
to esteem" said Lady 1renhnm: and
you. Evelyn. have blighted not only
your own life but ours. What will
your brother say when he hears that
his sister. whom we considered fitting
wife for the brightest and nobleSt in
the land. has clandrSiinrly married
her fathers secretary: Take all the
silly romance from it. and SHY if you.
Evelyn Trenhan. are not ashamed of
such 4 deed"
At that moment the oarl's voice was
heard ut the room door
"Hi}da. he cried Il have been look
MS loi YOU. L Walll IANtlNu.
Lady Trenham opened the room door
and her husband gazed in bewildered
surprise at the scene. Evelyn crouched
rather than knelt at her mothers feet:
Lady Trcnham'S face was pale and
asitatel rs he had never seen it be-
fore: Katherine RainS1orth was weep
ing bitterly.
What is tn" matlrr:" cried the
the earl. What has happrned:"
None of the three who gaZ"d in
sperchlcS> terror at his wondering face
seemed able to reply. At last Lady
Tr"nham lr2ving her daughter Went
went np 10 him and laid her hand low
ingly Oh his arm.
Philip she said. your life has had
many cares and troubles-the heaviest
blow has yet to fall Let me help you
to bear it
What is it," demanded the earl
stcrnly. DO not keep me in sus-
pensr.'
BE pitiful," said Lady Trrnham,
her mothers heart rrlenting at the
sight OF her childs face-"be pitiful.
Philip-shr is very young. Evelyn has
been married TO Lionel Carteris for
three months"
Even she. his wife. q'1ailed before the
look Of vivid rage thar overspread his
stern face. He turned to the kneeling
girl and rudcly grasped her arm.
as it true he Kissed from between
his white lips. Have you dared to
trick nc: Is it true? Look at me
answer for your deed. Are you the
wife of the penniless migrate whom 1
have fed and Shcllered.'
Il am" said Evelyn. family She
had ceased weeping. and still knelt.
with Il dread beyond words upon her
face.
With q voice Of thunder the earl
uttered words so cruel that his wife
shrank from him. while his daughter
clasped her hands and cried for mercy.
Not one word" he said Mover let
me hear the sound Of your voice again.
Katherine, 90 and tell Carteris | wish
to see him here
Not one word was exchanged be-
tween parents and child Lady Tren-
ham tried TO plead. but her husband
impntlentlv babe her to cease. In less
than five minutes Lionel Carteris stood
before him. The anger of the earl was
terrible to behold as his eyes fell upon
the young secretary.
DO not waste words. sir" he said;
tell me if it is true that you have
dared to persuade my daughter TO con-
tract Il private marriage with you
that you have had the audacity to steal
my child from me-that you whom
trusted have violated that trust as no
gentleman wOuld?'
Il loved your daughter replied the
young man. II did wrong to speak of
my love. did a greater wrong to
persuade her to marry mc--a wrong
! repented Of as soon as done Let
the punishment fall upon me- I am
strong; she is young and fragile
Therefore you might have spared
her." interrupted Lord Trenham. IA
vor me with the particulars of this
most dishonoable affair; let me know
if my daughter is really married or
not.
Briefly enough the young man gave
him the particulars he desired. Then
for some minutes there was profound
silence.
Evelyn" said her father, II do not
curse you'll would rather have seen
you dead than rs you are nOw-but
from this moment you cease to be a
child of mine-you win be to me as