Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1896-05-10

past life, on which even at that moment
the curtain was only just falling. smiled
tenderly as he said:
Lydia, you cannot possibly wish for all
the happiness that is owed you"
She did not answer directly. but lifting
the piece of paper from her lap she scan
ned it with drawn brows and puckered
mouth. Presently she dropped it with
sigh.
Dick. If | could be happy-absoluiely.
entirely happy. just for so long as our
Journey.Hgs are to last. | think I could die
content. oh. don't look so shocked" she
cried stretching pretty. pleading hands
out TO him. 81 do not want to debut I
am afraid to wish 10 live. All. dearest.
you would understand me better if you
knew what the word life has meant TO
me-"
She rose from her seal and crossing the
fur rug sank down at Dick Meynells feet
and pillowed her head on his knee.
IL want to tell you, Dick. for the first
time, for the last time. what my past life
has been TO me. Do not stop me; feel I
must speak of 1t before l bury 1t out of
sight out of remembrance forever"
She took his hand in hers. and as she
spoke on patted and smoothed and kissed
il as loving women will
81 was unwelcome when I was born.
My father and mother openly avowdd their
dislike for children. and neither ever for
gave the other for the addition to their
family In those days they were rich. but
/ was left to servants and governesses,
who treated me as they pleased. / was
fourteen, and my parents were almost
strangers TO me. when the financial crash
came which dragged my fathers name.
with scores OF others. through the mire OF
all England. Poverty and the narrowness
of our new home brought me for the first
time into daily and hourly contact with
my parents. o, Dick. it was shameful
terrible to live with two people who never
met without reproaches, scorn and con-,
tempt; who never parted without tears and
oaths. One day. wonder whether any
thing. even our love, will wipe out that
hideous recollection-my father struck my
mother. That night she left him
Like frightened child. pale checked and
trembling, Lydia chung to her lover.
Darling. beseech you not to distress
yourself by recalling the wretched past"
he cried.
But she persisted, saying 1t was for the
last time, forever.
II never saw her again, but the gossip
of the house filtered to my ears and the
great divorce case between Lord and Lady
Mardale was too much whispered about
for me not to hear. j was left on my
fathers hands. and for a year knew at
least measure of peace. But little as ne
ever saw me, much as he neglected me. 7
suppose 7 was a hindrance in his life, or
perhaps too keen a reminder Of my mother.
One day-it was my birthday, I was SIX
teen-he told me he was going to give me
a husband. scarcely remonstrsted-I
was too ignorant for one thng-and in a
vague way, too eager TO grasp az possible
happiness for another. I was married to
Mr.. Vernon n month later"
Her voice died away. lost in the sea Of
recollec;ions which the four years OF her
married life had let loose upon her.
Don't speak CT him, LYDIA cried Dick
Meynell 81 can't bear It,"
But she neither heard nor needed the
eyes fixed upon the blazing fire and lips
that scarcely stirred she rambied on.
ooh the horror of that hideous marriage.
The Moloch that devoured children was
more merciful than the Satyr who in hui
man guise kills all that Is best and purest
in girlhood. For two years my life was a
torture"-she kissed Dicks hand twenty
times as though in mitigation of her words
then one day courage came to me and
the dim recollection Of connection OF my
mother who might help me. II was to him.
Sir Godfrey Thorp. I went. How kind he
was. 1t was his hand that opened to me
A little way the door of freedom, and which
gained for me the separation which gave
me time TO regain some of my broken self
respect.
Her voice changed from its low sad key,
and she went on brightly, each word ring
ing gayer through the warm, violet scented
atmosphere.
"Then one day Sir Godfrey and his dear
wife came TO me with the keys of my lib
erty in their hands. My wretched husband
had given me the final proof of his sin. Do
you know, Dick, that shameful wrong.
happiness of most women, was a veritable
joy bell to me. oh. dearest. l hope l am
not very bad so to rejoice in anothers sin,
but it was just at that time-I first met
you"
She blushed deliciously over her confess
sion.
'rhe rest you know. The divorce was
easy enough-he never even attempted TO
defend himself. | wonder why Sir Geoff-
rey always mistrusted that lack of de-
Tense"
But was not your-Mr. Vernon out Of
England when the case came on?" queried
Dick, forced against his will to take in
terest in the business he hated most in the
world.
II think so,' said Lydia. "At any rate,
he neither appeared nor was he represent
ed. But ] have seen him twice since then
and he Is in London now-or was two day./
ago. The Thorps passed him in Picca-
dilly."
Dick Meynell moved uneasly in his chair.
The presence in the same city with him.
self of the man who made life so hard for
the woman he hoped within few hours TO
cali MS WIRE gaileu anu uisquie'eu MIN
unaccountably.
His movement aroused Lydia from her
curled up attitude at his feet. She looked
up at the clock.
How late 1t is. I wonder what IL keep
ing Sir Godfrey. He said he would come
here the minute the decree absolute was
pronounced-that it was surely only a mat
ter of moment or two. Surely the courts
must have risen by now"
Dick Meynell was too busy with his own
thoughts TO heed her words.