Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1895-04-26
From Sin to COntriItIIon
Lucy WaTrilglam'S Sacrifice.
Tho Story Of a HaSty Marriage and
Its Tragic Sequel.
BY ERNST BRUNCKEN,
Author of ''Tte Bibliomanidc's Crime, "
"A Terrible Secret" etc., etc.
CHAPTER II.-(COntinued.)
THE BROTHERS.

Walter suddenly became conscious that
he had gone too far 1t was not often
that the well-bred and quiet Ralph dis
played any violent exhibition of anger,
and his brother inVOluntarily recOi,ed
step. With a gesture Of impatience he
threT away his half-cOnSumed cigarette,
and again seated himself on the sofa.
"FOr heavens sake, don't lose your
temper, Ralph" he said, anxious to
pacify him. 81 have net the slightest
wish to hurt your fec ings or those OF
the lady. l simply wish to call your at
tention to the incoDgrutics that such a
union would invovc."
Walters conciiatCry manner had the
intended effect Ralph became quictcr
and resumed his seat in the rocking chair
81 cannot sec any in( oAgruitieS. he
replied. "Miss Lyon is my equal in
everything but wealth and social pos
ton. Poth these / can give her In
fact, | sometimes doubt" the adm;rinS
lover added, "whcther | am worthy OF so
rich prize as that talented, pure, beau
tiful girl
"And do You see no difficulties at all in
your path? How about the prejudiceS OF
society?"
"Hang the pre- udices of society. lam
not man to be bound by the narrow
conceptions of old maids.
"And do you think that our mother
will give her cOnSent?"
81 hope she will. | should be very
sorry to take such an important stop
against her will. But if she should
prove to be moro Harrow-minded than |
l. 1,o iC
for it, l am resolved to marry Miss
Lyon, even if it were at the risk of dis
Inheritance
Ralph had tccomc quito enthusiastic
In his speech. He had jumped up from
his chair and uttered the last sentence
whilo in some excitement pacing to and
fro.
His last remark, with the alluson 10 a
possible disinheriting Of Mrs Warning
hams eldest son, presented the matter to
Walter in an entirely new light. He had
not thought of this contingency be-
fore. When he had first heard of
Ralph's intention to marry an act
ress, he only fe.t the blow to his
family pride. He had come to show his
anger and modification, and, if possible,
to reason his brother out of what he con-
sidered preposterOus folly. Now the
matter had a quite different aspec'.
When The father of the two young
gent'eme died, moro than fifteen years
ago, he had left his whole fortune to his
widow Consequently his sons were,
financially, entirely dependent on their
mother, unless indeed, they were to
earn their own living, course to which
Walter had a most decided aversion.
The fortune which Mr.. Warringham had
left was large, indeed, but not large
enough to afford the means of keeping
two houses in the style which Mrs War
ringham affected When it came to a
division of the assets at their mothers
death, after liberal provision had been
made for Miss Beckford, who was re-
parded as a child of the family, the two
brothers would not be very rich after all.
Rut if Ralph was disinherted and Walter
made the soc heir? Then he would be
enabled to lead just the sort of life he
fancied. Unlimited means at his COM
mand. Yachts, horses, wine, women
All this flashed through Walters mind
nc he was lying on the sofa, with his
owes following mechanically the move
uents of his brother who was still con-
timing his excited walk up and down
the room. ..,..
n,es Of taking advantage of his brothers
arror he knew how to answer them.
aenot Ralph hin self at fault if any such
disaster should overcome him? Did he