Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1895-03-28
CHAPTER IN.
The Three MASKS.

Mrs. Chcstcrton was at this particu
Lar time residing in very elegant,
furnished mansion in the vicinity O
Westbourne Park.
Everything about the house was mos
perfect and completed and not her owl
property.
Merely hired the luxurious carriag,
In which she rode. and the horses
which were harnessed to it.
The house and furniture had beer
advertised to be sold by gentleman
who was breaking up his town estab
lishment. intending, with his family
to reside for some few years entirely
on the Continent
This gentleman had agreed to LEI
Mrs Chesterton the house and furniture
for one year, on trial. the lady said
with a view to after purchase
And very greatly fascinated was the
gentleman with Mrs Chesterton, who
very soon convinced him that she was
\ very wealthy widow, Of good family
and with an only daughter, who was
nearly eighteen years of age
And so charming was this widow, SC
extremely wealthy, so perfect her claim
to mingle with the very cream of so
ciety, that when Mrs Chesterton, hav.
ing arranged for her twelve months
occupation of his house and employ
ment of his sumptuous furniture
asked this cotiding gentleman how he
would wish to receive his money, he
very politely answered:
'"Pray don't mention it! We will
wait until you have fully made up your
mind concerning purchase of the
property"
A very liberal act, of which Mr.
Nicksey was by and by to reap the ad
vantage.
And the proprietor of Mrs. Chester
toms house and furniture went still
further in his confidence and generosity
for he introduced the lady to the cir
Gle in which himself and family Wis
tied. and when he left town had fairly
established the widow in society.
So it came to pass that. on certain
evening of which we are now about
to speak, Mr.. Chesterton's hired house
was crowded with, and the elegance
Of its hired appointments were ad-
mired by, somewhat distinguished
company.
The widow had sown her invitations
broadcast. not only to those whom she
knew and to whom she did not know
and who knew her not.
Amongst those of the latter class
whose presence answered to her in
vitation were DIR. Forester and the
present Viscount Dareleigh's son.
OF the last-named young gentlemen
we have not before had occasion to
speak, but it has now become necessary
that we should say few words con-
ccrning him.
Disappointed Of the Inheritance Of
which he made so certain, and desert
ed by Eugenia Reckless, yet had not
good fortune entirely forsaken Norton
SoWerby; for about six months after
that fearful act which had been COM
mitted in One Tree Square, he found
means to obtain an Introduction to the
family Of Il young lady who was the
reputed possessor, in her own right,
of a considerable fortune
AS the next in succession to the
Dareleigh title and estates, Norton ap-
peared an eligible match.
He was handsome, as we have al
ready said, and very plausible and in
sinuating; and, having won the love of
Bertha Hastings, made her soon his
wife-and found then that he had
acted too precipitately-that the for
tune of his wife was not in possession,
but in expectancy only.
Once again he had made too certain
of his hoped-for prize.
Now, however. he had to reproach
himself with folly only, and not, as
before. with an atrocious crime.
But he was to be very guilty to-
wards his poor wife, for, disappointed
in his hopes Of fortune with her, he
strove by every means to break her
heart that so he might be rid Of her
She had borne him child. boy,
which was about six weeks old when.
In paroxysm Of rage, Norton Sowerby
one day declared to his wife that
neither himself nor her child should
she again from that moment behold.
And even as he spoke. he snatched
the boy frony his cot, and quilted the
house with him.
Nearly two years had passed since
that day, when Sowerby learned that
Slu- wife had at last succeeded to that
fortune. her before supposed posses
sion of which ad been his only in
ducement to wed with her; and he
learned, too, that the efforts he had
made to break her heart had sue
cceded. and She was dying.
Pardon your repcntant husband
and embrace once again our little
Theodore" Norton Sowerby pleaded
kneeling beside the bed Of his dying
wife, and giving into her craving arms
81 lovely little boy of about two years
of age.
She gasped family as she strove to
draw the child to her bosom and so eX-
pred.
She had already bequeathed the
greater portion Of her fortune to hel
son, if still he should be living, be
slowing it on her relatives in case III
were no more.
For awhile Norton Sowerby flour
ished bravely with that fortune, but
long before he had come into posses
sion of the Dareleigh estates. every
guinea OF 1t nad vanlsned from nj.
grasp.
Certainly, Theodore, his son, wal
sent to college; and 1t was there thu
young raan had first become &C
quainted with Edwin FORESTER, and ;
firm friendship had arisen between
them, before Theodore's father hat
become vlscount, which had con
tinued with unnbated ardour, and IN
affected by the dignity to which one o