Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1894-01-01


The stormy scene that might have been
expected ensued, and then De Courtney
informed her that their marriage was all
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 as best she might, her fall
was rapid. The money and jewelry she
had SO wickedly purloined from mother
and sister that terrible night she had
carefully concealed from De Courtney.
For short time it enabled her to lead
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 at last she sank
into abject ignominy and dishoner. In
this condition Eustace saw and rescued
her from the lowest depths of degrada-
ton.
And now, though she rallied for few
weeks, her days were numbered. The
physician from the first gave no encCur-
agement Of recovery, and after short Pc
riod Of comparative case o speedy terml-
nation of her i'll 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
find mercy through that atOnement so
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 the other members of
her family. It was a great trial to be
called upon to reveal to the poor sufferer
all the sorrow and shame that had over
whelmed her former home. but after her
heart, SO long cold and hard, was brought
into better state she would not rest I'M
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
lest childhood had led her sister into by
and forbidden paths, which had now so
blasted her life if not ruined her soul,
she begged Eustace to seek out Maud
and beseech her by her dying sisters ex-
ample to seek the better life.
The Newtons, after leaving the city,
had very little opportunity to hear of
Mauds life. From the first she had
steadfastly refused to SEQ 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 it important to see Maud,
if possible, while Eustace 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 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 a lib
eral sum upon his young wife and then
made a 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 so infatuated
w
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 Sc
cure that for which she had risl1ed so
much.
With his violent temper it took but
few short weeks to open her husbands
eyes to his folly and to destroy all affec-
ton for and pride in her. and SO his
maudlin love turned to the bitterest hate.
In his dotage 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 so outraged him that for her
own safety she left the house and went
to reside at 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 the old will and make
a new one. by which he deprived her Of
everything but what she could legally
claim. So when summoned to his dying
bed it was to find that the palatial home
with it's royal furnishings, the spacious
grounds and splendid equipages had
passed into strangers hands and was be.
yond her reach. Her bridal settlement,
in itself fortune, and rich jewelry Were
all she could call her own.
This will she determined to contest On
the ground that Mr.. Varney at the time
of making it was in no condition to make
q valid instrument for the disposal Of his
property, and that the will that he made
at her marriage was still binding. AS
soon as her husband was buried she
sought legal advice, but there was suffi-
cient evidence to prove that he was COM
petent to dispose of his property accord
L L.: ie 10 E1.cf