Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1895-04-19
From Sin to ContritiIon
oh
Lucy WaTrilghan's Sacrifice.
The Story Of a Hasty Marriage and
Its Tragic Sequel.
BY ERNST BRUNCKEN,
Altthor of "The BibliOmanidc's Crime, "
"a Terrible Secret, ETC., etc.
CHAPTER ].
A NAUGHTY WOMAN.


o daughter-in-aw? Never!"
Mrs. Warringham was highly ndig-
nant. And had she not reason to be so
at proposition which in her eyes ap'
peared simply mOnstrous?
Here was her eldest son, Ralph, the
heir of a splendid fortune, young man
of whom it was predicted that he would
become a celebrity in his chosen profeS'
sion OF medicine a gentleman who
might, if he would, marry the most
beautiful, the richest, the most ariSto'
cratic girl in the country. And to
think that this son proposed to throw
himself away on an actress! To be sure,
Mrs Warringham had right to be in
dignant!
"But other gentlemen have married
actresses, auntie," said Hattie Beckford,
her niece, who was standing by the win
dow, trying to conceal the varied emo
tions that chased each other over her
pallid features.
"Hold your tongue, Hattie, Mrs. War
ringham said, in an cXaSperated tone OF
voice "YOu speak like the ineXpcri-
enced, silly child that you are"
The young lady was silent. Her I'm
gers nervously clutched at the heavy,
velvet curtain that half concealed her
slender, graceful form from the view OF
her aunt hn oppressive pause occurred.
The ticking of the clock on the mantel-
piece was distinctly, irritatingly audible.
Hattie stood motOnless; her eyes glanced
out of the window, but there was moth
ing to attract such intense attention on
the gleen lawn outside. Her look, were
directed into vacancy.
Minutes passed. Why was IL that
such pang had torn her heart when
she heard from the malicious lips of the
visitor who had Just let tho
house the first insinuation thai
her cousin, DR.. Ralph Warringham,
intended to marry an actress? 1t was
not offended pride. surely not.
Hattie's youthful, inexperienced mind
hardly understood why an actress
should be regarded unworthy the hand
of gentleman of family and fortune.
And yet she felt unuttcrably sac. A
thousand lovely pictures of tho past
crowded upon her mo rory. She re-
membered how Ralph had played with
her when she was little girl of six and
he a strapping lad of sixteen; how he
had swung her high up in the air and
laughed at her childish glee; how he had
brought her toys and candy. And then
came day when she would no longer
allow the young man to treat her so
familiarly, when sho blushed at his en-
trance, and blushed again for having
blushej And at last, how long ago she
did not know, but it seemed like ages,
A. 10 ell, Il cor
scious that Ralph did not treat her
as he used to do, that he was cold and
Indifferent in his demeanor toward her
She did not ask herself what the reason
of that change might be; she only suf-
fered, and was silent. Now she knew
the reason. And sud lcnly she made an
other discovery discovery which
drove the blOcd into her face until it
burned like fire. Yes, there was no de-
nial she was in love with Ralph War
rngham, and she was mad y Jealous Of
that wOman-her rival whom she had
never seen.
Yet she could not bear to think that
Ralph should b. deprived of her he had
chosen-deprivcd for some contemplate,
narrow-mindcd prejudice. Her love was
she should be made happy at the eX.
pense of him she loved. Her love was Of
the kind that sacrifices; not of that
which knows but itself.
A half-suppresSed sob startled her out
of her sad dreams Pressing her hand
upon her throbbing heart, she turned
around and saw with amazement what a
change had come over her aunt during
these few minutes of silence.
That proud lady, who had always
known how to surround herself with a
dignity worthy OF queen; who had
never shown, even to her immediate
family-her sons and niece that she
knew the softer emotions Of the heart,
that same lady now was the very pictcre
of weak, broken-hCar cd helpless won
an. Leaning back in her fauteuil, hold
ing her handkerchief before her face,
she strOve in vain to repreSS the tears
that flowed down her checks and moist
ened the dainty texture Of lace and linen.
Her Indignation, that had been exhibited
so vehemently but few moments before,
had given way to q feeling composed
of modification at the insult offered to
her pride by the gossip ng visitor who
had brought the news with ill-COICealCd
malice, of the jealousy mother feels
when she sees herself lose the first place
in her sons heart and of the more Sc.
we're wound inflicted on her pride by the
threatened humiliation to the family
When Hattie saw her aunt in sIch a
distressed state OF mind she linelt down
by her side and endeavOred to so0the her
with all those fond en- learments known
to women. She gently Grew her aunt's
hand away from her face and held it in
hers. She softly StrOked her hair and
tried to quiet her as she would a child,
and the naughty woman, who at
other times exhibited an almost mascu.
line disposition of mind, suffered her
gentle endeavOrs with the helpless D ia.
tility of babe.
"Do not weep, auntie," Hattie said,
when Mrs Warringham had succeeded
in partially recovering her cOmposure.
"Do not weep. Ralph asSuredly will not
do such thing if it is so averSe to yOul
wishes"
Mrs. Warringham made no answer
but despondingly shook her head. All
she knew but too well that her son haC
inherited her own headstrOng stubborn
ness, and that nothing, not even the en-
treaties of mother, would restrain hin
from pursuing an object whose attain
ment had become settled purpose.
"Perhaps it is not true at all, Hattie