Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1895-05-10
From Sin to COntritiiOn.
Lucy Warrilghan's Sacrifice.
Tho Story Of a HaSty Marriage and
Its Tragic Sequel.
BY ERNST BRUNCKEN,-
Atlthor of 'sThe Bibliontantoc's Crime, !"
81 Terrible Secret" etc., etc.
AN UNHAPPY SUMNER.

lawful pretty girl, this little Hattie,
honest lack muttered to himself, as he
was leisurely sauntering down the street
toward the club house. "Blonde halr,
blue eyes, plump fgure-just my taste.
He merrily twirled his cane around, ana
after few minutes surprised hlmSelI Dy
whisting the latest popular tune. JACK
had never before found himself OF mu'
sical turn of mind.
He went to the club, took q paper,
lighted his cigarette, and began 10 read
But ever and anon his thoughts wan
dered from tho newspaper to pretty Hat
tic BeckfOrd.
Strange whatSa change the blue eyes
of a girl can effect in man. But an
hour ago Jack had been as Oppres ed in
spirit as he could we'll Ee, and now he
felt as light-heaTted as a SchOOlbOy, with
out knowing why.
He looked up from his paper when nc
heard the voice of Walter Warringham,
who had stepped behiud Jacks chair and
laid his hand familiarly upon his Shout
der as he said:
"Hello, old man! You're looking very
well to day. How would game OF bill
iards suit yOu?"
At the sight of Ralph's brother it oc.
CURED to Jack that Wa ter probably did
not vet know what had occurred earlier
in the day. He thought it his duty t.
inform him of it, Walter replied with a
fippant est that disgu ted and puzzled
Jack. lie could not understand how
any one could treat so serious matter
so frivOlOuSy.
Walter Warringham had the rcputa'
ton of playing an excellent game OF
billiards, but this afternoon he did not
prove his title 10 such fame He made
several shots so poor that Jack looked at
him in astOnishment.
The fact was that his thoughts were
not concentrated On the little ivory balls
he was chasing over the green cloth.
He was thinking of the consequences OF
Ralph's departure. Was his mother
very much incensed, and wo Id she of
her own accord do what he so ardently
wished-make o new will to the ex
clusion of the disObedient son? Or,
would it be necessary to influence her in
that direction? Walter determined to
assure himself as soon as possible as to
his D, OSpectS.
AS soon as he could dsengage himself,
he went home and at once called on his
mother. He found her in great state
of excitement, which she did not sue
coed in cOncealing under mask OF cold
ness and dignity.
"Have you heard of the pretty esca'
pades of your brOther?" she asked him,
as soon as he had entered her bOudo!r.
ayes, mamma a.d can feel nothing
but Indignation at RalphS outrageous
conduct" he hastencd TO reply.
Mrs. Warringham was rot disposed TO
converse much on the painful subject.
She walked about rcstiesSly, looking al
O picture on the wall here and stopping
before q mirror there Her excitement
SCENE as yet to prevent clear collec-
tion of ideas A ter while Walter asked,
with sneer:
"And when will we ha the honor OF
seeing your charming daughter-in-law?"
Mrs Warringham stopped in her per
ambulation in front of her son, and said,
with sharp voice:
81 don't suppose Ralph expects to see
that wife of his treated by me as
daughter in-law."
Walter observed soon that it was un-
necessary to add fuel to the flame of his
mothers wrath against Ralph. He
thought it prudent to refrain from al
luding himself to the OBJ Get Of his de-
sires The following morning he was
gratifed to learn that Mrs. Warringham
had sent for lawyer. The will was
evidently to be changed, and the amiablI
brothers heart rejO'ccd.
Mrs. Warringham was clOScted With
the lawyer for a long time. Neither
Walter nor Miss BackfOrd was invited
to attend the conference, but the foot
man and the ladi S maid were summon
ed into the room at the samc time, pre-.
sumably in order to put their names as
witnesses to q document.
That night Mrs Warringham went to
bed at an unusually early hour.
"My health is not as it used to be,
she remarked to HATTIE as sue was about
to retire. Miss BccGford had herself
observed that her auut'S features showed
an unu;ua pallor, and she even believed
she saw in them traces of wrinkles which
had not been visible before.
The spring was nearing its close and
the season imminent when fashionable
people feel under an obligation to en-
change their cOmfOrta le city residences
against more or less uncomfortable
country seats, Or, if they CAM OF boast Of
the latter luxury, the still more un.
comfortable quarters supplied at water
ing places. Mrs. Warringham observed
that the street; We intOle ab'y dusty,
and soon it was decided that the family
should leave the city at the earliest op-
portunity. They had usually gone to
the seaside, but this ii nc the physician
thought that tie quiet OF some secluded
mountain retreat would | c cetter suited
to Mrs Warringham's state of health
than the turmoil and excitement OF
Newport or Mount Desert Accordingly,
about three weeks after Ra!phs depart
ure, Mrs. Warringham and her niece
moved to Fair Glen, one of the most
picturesque though comparatively little
known summer resort; of the country.
Walter declared that the place was too
much out of the way to suit his tastes,
but promised that he would pay frequent
visits.
A remarkable change haT come over
Mrs. Warringham since her eldest son
had left. She was not a tually sick, yet
her nervousness and an unusual languor
inspired Hatsie'S observant mind with
apprehension. She appeared Older than
formerly, and there were lines as OF
care and sorrow around her mouth. She
was more susceptible to the influences
of the changing weather and tcmpera-