The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1893-10-27


som, and magnolias beautifed the hedges
with their pure white flowers She followed
the phantom through grove of palm trees
and into garden of lemon scented gera-
NUNS, every one six feet high, and then
down an avenue Of myrtles, and everywhere
the balmy air was perfumed with the sweet
scent of flowers.
They halted in front Of a large white
building, into which many persons, both
men and women, streamed, and on all their
faces Lady Blanche observed the same
eager, anxious and cruel expression.
Lady Blanche glanced inquiringly-at the
phantom.
"Yes," it said in answer to the lady's
thought, this is Monte Carlo, and that is
the Casino"
They now entered "a large room, where
many persons were seated round the tables.
~ perceive" said the phantom, that you
recognize some of the gamesters."
How changed he isp' remarked Lady
Blanche as she glanced into the face Of
Gerard Ransford.
"Changedw cried the phantom mocking-
ly. "Blighted hopes and gambling losses
would change an angel, if one were so fool
ish as to full in love with a tickle woman
and wreck ones life over card table"
Lady Blanche shuddered as she noted the
bloodshot eyes and flushed face of Gerard
Ransford
There's hot alteration between two
men in fierce passion" whispered the
phantom as it drew Lady Blanche to one
side of the room.
Two men had arisen from their seats and
were now gesticulating violently, and they
were soon Joined by fashionably dressed
lady.
II think you know these persons" re-
marked the phantom to Lady Blanche.
"Alas, yesl" she replied. THE tall man
is Gerard Ransford and the other Count
de Lornais, and the LADY, But here Lady
Blanche hesitated.
us Phryne Marland," said the phantom,
completing Lady Blanche's unfinished SEN
tence
THE quarrel" remarked the phantom,
will not end here. There will be a duel
at some quiet spot early in the morning"
"Oh, heaven! Not duel, prayP' cried
Lady Blanche, clasping her hands together.
YES" said the phantom, nothing less
will satisfy the count. Ransford, as you
are aware, is an officer of the English
army, and he has struck the count ter
rible blow. Look at the cash laying bare
the counts cheekbone. For both their
honors' sake they are bound to fight"
1t was early morning on the sands by the
murmuring sea, and the white crested
waves followed one another increasingly,
and old Monaco's castle looked down from
the rock above. In this quiet and secluded
spot group of men were standing to-
gether.
ut is the duel" whispered the phantom
to Lady Blanche, (which foretold would
happen. You know the principals well
enough"
"Alasl yes" she replied, sadly. Count
de Lornais and Gerard Ransfordm
watch them" said the phantom. "a
duel to the death is n pretty sight and a
game in which Frenchmen excel"
Lady Blanche trembled from head to foot
and held her cambria handkerchief before
her eyes.
She was startled by the loud report of
pistols, and taking the handkerchief from
her eyes she glanced toward the spot where
only moment ago she had seen the two
duelists facing each other One was now
PROSTATE on the ground, with his head rest
ing on lady's breast. Lady Blanche made
an effort to rush forward, but was prevent
ed by the ever watchful phantom.
She looked again and saw that the wound
ed man was Gerard Ransford, and the lady
kneeling down, supporting him in her arms
was Phryne MARYLAND.
The scene suddenly changed to draw
ing room in a London mansion, wherein
was an old gray haired man and a weeping
woman by his side.
"How terribly grief stricken they are"
remarked Lady Blanche, land much
changed since last saw themr'
Naturally So" replied the phantom.
persons such rs they are certain to grievc
over the death of an only son, whom you
remember to have seen after he had re-
ceived his death wound on the sands by the
sea, near the castle of old Monaco"
"Alas yes" replied Lady Blanche, sigh
! ing sadly.
Lady Blanche sobbed convusively.
For her the world was cold and dreary
with no bright promise of joys and pleas
ures to come, and when her mind reverted
to the past what was there for her fondest
memory to dwell upon? Naught but the
remembrance of loving kiss-the kiss
which Gerard Ransford had imprinted on
her lips.
When she looked back through the dim
vista of years passed away, the one oasis
there was that solitary kiss. Take that
from her, and her life was blank indeed,
and without one Joy worth memory's
| cherishing.
She felt as one to whom human love was
denied, as if the power to love, which once
was hers, now lay buried in the clay cold
grave with Gerard Ransford.
Her dream was over, and she awoke with
tremulous cry upon her lips and glanced
around expecting to find the phantom by
her couch, but only the pale moonbeams
streamed through the chamber window
and lay upon the floor, and by their soft
rays Lady Blanche saw that she was alone.
She arose and knelt upon the floor and in
heartfelt prayer thanked the Father of all
merces that the dreadful scene she had
witnessed on the sands by the sea near the
castle of old Monaco was but the shadow
of dream, and she rejoiced that she was
taught to know herself at last.
From that night Lady Blanche was an
altered human being, and her friends mar
veled at the change and wondered by what
magic spell the good was wrought.
The sequel may best be told by para
graph from The Morning Posts
"a marriage has been arranged between
Lady Blanche Marley, only daughter of the
Earl and Countess of Rivenham and Lieu
tenant Gerard Ransford of the Tenth hus-
sars, and will take place early in the spring
of the coming year. "-Exchange.