The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-11-11
LUcIA DAvENANT's
PHANTOM OVER.


main, and by her aunt and sole remaining
relative. Lady Selverton. that Lucia was
put up for auction TO the highest bidder,
and that no paupers need apply.
II beauty Is of paramount Importance
in a wife, the girl was certainly worth
her weight IN gold. for she had inherited
not ONLY the debonair cOmeliness that had
earned for her scapegrace father the nick
name of Happy Satan" but all her moth
er's southern Witchery of eyes and smile.
OF this same mother, little Spanish dane
or, who had captured Henry Davenant's
rowing fancy in the voiuptuous and demon
alizing mazes of a 'cachuca,' Lucia was
not permitted to speak.
Thank goodness" Lady Selverton was
wont TO add, you are Enthusiastically a
This Lucia certainly was not only in
I looks but in certain dreamy, mesmeriC
KIND OF temperament that her aunt assert
ed was distinctive Of the feminine Dave
nant nature, and which Overlay other and
| less offensive traits belonging to the male
| members OF that ancient race.
She had a way OF looking abstractedly,
| and with dilated pupils into space. sug-
gesttVe Of mysterious presenccs discOn-
certngly invisible to the ordinary ObserV-
I er; and she was inclined to make vague
illusions TO influences and conditions that
were not Of this world, thereby creating
. wierd and creepy sensation that was
I hardly pleasant.
No doubt the circumstances Of her bring
| ing up had Conduced TO this uncomforta-
BILE attitude Of hers; for Col March
/ theirs unansWerable cheek IN bequeathing
4 her as a legacy TO him, without the small
/ est proVocatiOn, had Immediately handed
I her over to the more natural protection
/ OF Lady SelVertOn. And every one knows
| that this estlmable lady has ever since
\ her WidOWhOOd, become a deNOut believer
/ in spiritualism, and that she passes at
I least half her time in converse with the
spirits of her husband and other deceas-
/ ed relatives These amiable phantoms
I nave apparently no better occupation in
| their state of bliss than the unselhsh one
\ OF lying in wait under tables and behind
! screens ready to evolve themselves at
/ desire and bestow the privilege of their
/ counsel and encoura cement en- the fallible
\ mortals they have left behind
| Lady Selverton has been especially fav-
ored by them, and has found her commun-
lon with them most satisfactory, mas
| much as their opinion always comedies
/ with her own wishes and worldly inter
ests, and lends 10 her decisions on all
unanswerable.
During the first month of her debut.
when her wonderful beauty made her
/ the cynosure Of all eyes, Lucia met the
I inevitable penniless, but attractive sub
altern In a marching regiment, and the
/ inevitable love affair ensued.
! Col Marchmain stormed and Lady Sell
Nerton coaXed and scolded alternately,
/ but Lucia persisted in encouraging this
/ very detrimental young man in dangling
/ after her.
1T really is not my fault. Aunt Sc
! lina, she said It's a case of mutual
magnetism, exactly like Uncle James and
/ you before you were married. Whenever
| FRANK Henniker is near j feel conscious
] OF his proximity long before l can see
/ him; and the mere sound of his voice
! or touch of his hand influenced me TO
! such an extent that l lose all my own
/ VIII power. 1t is just the same feeling
James"
In spite of precautions, there were fare
| well letters, with VOWS and protestations
and a bangle, which Lucia called her
amulet, suddenly appeared on the
| wrist of her left hand.
! II was just at this time that Mr.. John
| Mills, OF Australian wealth and celeb
rlty, made his appearance in London,
and, SO rumor said, with the distinct
and laudable object of adding a wife
to his numerous other possessions. Re-
port credited him with a fabulous in
come and fabulous generosity: ana in
this case report conceded, strange to
say, with fact. rs
As soon as he heard that Miss Lucia
Davenant, reigning beauty was intend
ed to be a wealthy mans bride, and that
her hand had been refused to several as
pirants on account of their lack of this
worlds goods he decided that he should
like to make a bid for this expensive
luxury and sought an immediate intro
duction to her
At last, wearied apparently by his inn
portunity, and yielding to the pressure
put upon her by Lady Selverton and Col.
Marchmain. Lucia consented under pro-
test to become Mrs. John Mills; accepting
the offerings which the millionaire laid
at her feet with composed ingratitude
shat delighted him. Verify he considered
himself fortunate in having the right %
shower diamonds on this disdainful and
impassiVe goddess. 1t was pleasing
change to find some one outwardiy indif-
ferent to his wealth.
Lady SelVerton decided to mark her an
probation of the nuptials by giving a ball
two days before the date fixed for the
marriage. As this would be the last an
! pearance of the engaged couple, as such
IN public, MIR. Mills expressed a wish that
Lucia should wear his wedding present
Ell q IN .f -.
OF diamonds surprising in magnificenCe
all of his former gifts. Further he de-
sired that these should be her only orna-
ments. He had more than once asked
her why she wore a particular bangle on
her left wrist, and seemed dissatisfied
with her reply that it was the gift of an
OLD friend, and she also refused to take
It off, even to please him. When there
fore, he called on the afternoon of the
ball to ask her whether she had decided
10 aecede to his request about the jewels
ne was not unprepared for her refusal
He had made UP his mind to get his own
way, and Lady Selverton had strength
ened his resolutions by conhding to him
that Lucia had some sentimental fancy
about this bracelet which he would dc
well to eradicate.
ana was Of rather stormy nature
FlnaIiy, as the door opened, she heard
LUCAS voice, say. You will be sorry
for this" and then Mr.. Mills came our
hastily, with flushed face, suggestive
OIL anything but triumph.
zen, asked Lacy Selverton, toe
anxlously to choose her words, who has
got the best of ft?''
For answer he held up the subject. OF
contention. i have got the bangle, he
said, with a short laugh but as 10 who
mas the best Of it remains to be proved
Lucia is very angry with me- Perhaps
you can smooth her down.
And he went his way in a far from
happy frame Of mind.
1t was. therefore, an agreeable surprise
TO him to find on his arrival al the BAH
that Lucia had evidently got over her in
dignaton, and forgotten her threat ia
appear without any jewels at all. She was
not only ablaze with diamonds, spark.
ling m her hair, round her neck and
arms, covering the bodice of her dress
and even flashing on her little So tin
shoes, but she was also locking hand.
somer than he had ever seen her. On al
sides he heard comments on her beauty
and the unwonted brilliancy of her whole
( appearance and manner, and congratula.
tons poured in on him and filled hin
with elation A minor royalty who wa.
! present asked that Mr.. Mills should bt
introduced tc him. and made a ETH,
I speech, complimenting the millionaire OF
the charms of his bridc-elect.
I 1t was at this moment of success ina
Lucia, the center Of ali observers, wa,
seen TO start and change cclcr, and a
Lady Selyerton lad her hand on III,