Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1895-05-03
From Sin to COntritiOD
Lucy Varringhan's Sacrifice.
The Story Of a Hasty Marriage and
Its Tragic Sequel.
BY ERNST BRUNCKEN,
Aufhor of "Ihe BibliomGntoc's Crime"
"a Terrible Secret '" etc., etc.
CHAPTER Nv.
MIS- LUCY LYON.


Mr. Walter Warringham was lOunginS
on one of the easy chairs in the parors
of his club. Three or four other gcnt'o-
men were engaged in the same pleasant
occupation.
He was not in the best of humor, for
his acQuaintanceS took pleasure In an
moving him by all sorts OF illusions 10
the latest bit Of scandalous gossip, his
brothers intended marriage, OF course.
: His ANNOYANCE was tho greater Dc
cause he was we'll aware that some Oh
these impertinent scOffers were rather
intimately acquainted with his future
sister-in-law. He would have told his
brother this fact, well knowing that such
would be the best means OF producing
rupture between the actress and her un-
suspecting lover. But he remembered
that he had an interest in encouraging
Ralph's foolish course Therefore ne
kept his silence, but his annoyance was
not the less great
Jack Spotford invited him for a ride
down the avenue, which led by the thea
ter, and Walter consented.
The two gentlemen accordingl ly walked
over to Jacks residence, which was but
a short way distant, and Mr. SpoHord
ordered two horses saddled. A quarter
of an hour later both were seen riding
down the boulevard that serves gentle
men as place to show their horses ana
ladies to show themselves
Both knew almost everybody that ire.
quented tho avenue at this hour, and
everybody knew them. So there was no
end of salutations and brief convcrsa-
tions.
"Therc is your brother and Miss Lyon,
Jack remarked, pointing at them with
his riding whip "Who is that other gen.
tleman that is with thcm?"
Walter bit his lips. Was he to hear OF
nothing but Miss Lyon today?
al do not know who he is" he an
swered. "Let US fnd out"
The trio soon met the two young men,
who saw that the unknown was man
of rather distinguished but foreign ap-
pearance.
"Ah, Mr. Warringham, Mr.. Spofford,
how fortunate we are to meet you!" the
lady exclaimed, in her lively manner, as
the two young men approached. They
checked their horses and doffed their
hats.
"Are you going to be at the theater
to-night?" the actress ratified on. "Ihe
Doctor is going to give Us the loveliest
little supper at the Mazarin, and want
you both to be there The gentlemen
are not acquainted, l see? Count Won
Hohenfels, of the German legation in
Washington-Mr SpOffOrd, Mr.. Walter
Warringham."
The gentlemen so introduced by cleo
tricity, as it were, 6owed.
"The wishes of beauty and loveliness
are commands" said SpofTord, gallantly
replying to Miss Lyons invitation ave
shall be delighted to be of the party"
The Doctor frowned In the new
ardor of his love he could not brook any
one to pay compliments to his lady.
Walter consented with somewhat
constrained manner. He did not care to
meet Miss Lyon oftener than was absO'
lutely necessary. But Just at present he
saw no way to excuse himself.
81 like you, Mr.. SpoffOrd," Miss
Lyon said, with the charming sincerity
of the stage ingcnue. "You know how
to pay such nice ompliments-much
better than the Doctor here"
She touched her lover lightly with the
silver handle of her riding whip. lie
replied only with a smile. If it had not
DccH lOI lllc UlOSCuON VI Wiz OOhOAS hO
would have told her:
"That is because Jack docs not love
you as do True love does not flatter
"Let us all ride home together" the
actress continued. alt Is getting late
and my maid is waiting to arrange my
toilet for the performance.
The little cavacade rapidly rode away
in the direction of the city, Miss Lyon
leading, with the Doctor at her right
and Jack SpOfford at her left sidc
Water followed with the foreign noble
man.
An hour later the four gentlemen sat
in bOx at the thl ater and Miss Lyon
was on the stage.
Ralph was not as attentive to the play
of his intended bride as he used to be-
In fact he was too much occupied with
his thoughts to observe what was going
on around him. He did not notice the
curious g'ances of the audience that
wandered from the actress to him, and
were accompanied by smiles and whls-
pers.
Walter, however, noticed these mani
festatiC-.s of curiosity, and his irritation
grew.
Ralph was pondcring over his situa-
tion since a breach with his mother be-
came inevitable. In the morning he
had had converse tion with Miss Lyon
that troubled him.
He had told her what had occurred
between him and his mother, and sho
had made light of it. He had not con-
sidered it necessary to tell her about his
apprehensions in reference to a dsn-
heritance, but had vague feeling that
such disclosure would have consider
able influence on the feelings of Miss
Lyon.
This vague feeling was what troubled
him. 1t seemed like faithlessness on
his part to have even the slightest fear
about his fancee's sincerity.
There were other things that troubled
his mind They had agreed that Miss
LYON should leave the stage after her
present engagement was over, and that
they then should be married In quiet
manner Till that tine the fact of tho
coming wedding should not be officially
announced. But he was still at q loss
what they should do then. 1t all de-
pended upon the question whether ho
should be obliged TO rely on his pro-
fcss.on for subsi -tcnce.
He would have liked to see bis tancee
,oc+rict tho freo intorcOurSp with gentle