The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1895-01-25
CHAPTER TX.
The Three Masks.

Mrs. ChestertOn was at this particll-
lar time residing in a very elegantly
furnished mansion In the vicinity Of
Westbourne Park.
Everything about the house was most
perfect and completed and not her own
property.
Merely hired the luxurious carriage
In which she rode, and the horses
which were harneSsed to 1t.
The house and furniture had been
advertised to be sold by gentleman
who was breaking up his town estab.
Nshment, intending, with his family,
to reside for some few years entirely
ON the Continent
This gentleman had agreed to let
Mrs Chesterton the house aud furniture
for one year, on trial, the Indy 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, so
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 coflding gentleman how he
would wish to receive his money, he
very politely answered:
"Pray don't mention 1t! 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 1t came to pass that, on certain
evening Of which we are now about
to speak, Mrs. Chesterton's hired house
was crowded with, and the elegance
Of its hired appointments were nd.
mired by, q 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 elias
whose presence answered to her IL
vitation were DIR. Forester and Il
present Visc0unt Dareleigh's son.
OF the last-named young gentlem
we have not before had occasion
speak, but 1t has now become necessa
that we should say few words e.
corning him.
Disappointed of the inheritance i,
which he made SO certain. and desar
ed by Eugenia Reckless, yet had Il.
good fortune entirely fOrsaken Nura
SOwerbv; for about six months III,
that fearful act which had been ca:
mitted in One Tree Square, he fOu
means to obtain an introduction To Ill
family of a young lady who was IT.
reputed possessOr, In her own rigl
Of considerable fortune.
Az the next in succession tn t
Dareleigh title and estates, Norton 81
peared an eligible match.
He was handsome, rs We have Il
ready said, and very plausible and I
sinuating; and, having won the love
Bertha Hastings, made her soon Ii
| wife-and found then that lie h.
acted too precipitately-tllat the (
tune Of his wife was not In pOssess!
but I'm expectancy only:
Once again he had made too cer.a!
Of his hoped-for prize.
Now, however, he had to reproac
himself with folly only. and not, a
before, with an atrOcious crime.
But he was to be very guilty to
wards his poor wife, for, disappointa
In his hopes Of fortune With her. III
strove by every means to break lie.
heart that SO he might be rid of her.
She had borne him child. n boy
which was about six weeks old when
in paroxysm of rage, Norton Sowcrb.
one day declared to his wife thai
neither himself nor her child should
she again from that moment behold.
And even rs he spoke. he snatcller
the boy from his cot, and quilted thu
house with him.