Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1896-06-10
CHAPTER XIII.

CHAPTER XIII.
On receipt of a telegram, Mrs. Meason,
despite the very delicate state of her
health, started at once for Spain, and
one day arrived, quite unexpectedly, al
the Castle when the duke and duchess
were to dinner.
At the sight of her grandmother Con.
stance was quite overcome. She cried
bitterly, and passionately kissed the old
lady's face and hands, greatly to the an
noyance of the duke.
"My dear Constance" said Mrs. Mea-
son, show pale you look! Why has the
sun of Spain brought no roses to your
cheeks?"
'Your grandchild, madam, infinitely pre-
fers the fogs of England" said the duke,
grimly.
"Well, is it not natural? 1t In her
home; she is an English woman" The
duke shrugged his shoulders.
1t was q great consolation to Constance
to have her grandmother with her, and
during the days which followed the old
lady's arrival she seemed more contented
than she had been since her marriage.
The duke soon noticed this, and did not
seem well pleased. He was Of that NOR
bidly jealous disposition which grudges
enjoyment even while not coveting it.
Besides all this, the duke had an irri-
tating conviction that when the two wom-
en- were alone they were always extolling
the virtues Of the young officer who had
died. The dukes displeasure at all this
was very soon made manifest. One day
Mrs. Meason informed Constance Of that
fact that she was about to return home
Constance was amazed.
Return home, grandma?" she said.
nv cbn do
homo is your home"
"You are right, my child-it should be
so; but your husband does not wish 1t"
Constance started angrily.
MY husband! she said, "the duke, has
he dared to send you away?"
"Hush, my child; remember that he 10
your husband"
"Do not ask me to visit you again, Con-
stance" she said, in leaving. Your hus-
band has said things to me which will
prevent my ever again living beneath his
roof"
Burning with indignation, Constance
went instantly in search Of her husband.
She found him in his library.
81 wish to speak to you.' she said,
quickly.
"Let your communication be brief, for
am busy" he said. What is it7"
"My communication is of as much Inn
portance as your business to-day" she
replied, haughtily. You have insulted
my grandmother. 1 wish to know the
reason"
81 have insulted her, you say7 Pray.
who is your informant"
"My grandmother Is my informant.
Is it your wish, monsieur, to exile me
from the one person in the world who
cares for meT
"By this you mean your grandmother,
1 presume? Well, if she cares for you
she has had a most peculiar way of show
ing it-that is all!'
sWhat do you mean?" asked Con
stance quickly.
The duke shrugged his shoulders.
eff I explain" he said, pray bear il
mind that I was not the first to broact
the subject. While in this house Mrs
Meason took upon herself the task o,
questioning my conduct toward my wife
Now, I dislike unpleasant scenes
therefore intimated to Mrs. Meason tha
"A the Duchess d'Azzeglio occupies to-
exalted q position to be permitted to Pre-
sent the world with food for scandal b,
diving of a broken heart away from he
husbands roof must request her not t
commence in my house the process whicl
she had found so efficacious in the hous
Of your father. When / first wooed you,
continued he, 81 knew 1 had the goot
wishes of your guardian. l thought n
the time that she was influenced by som
friendly feeling toward me; yet l discov
cred afterward that her sole object wa
TO marry her.grandchild in order that, a
the Duchess d'Azzeglio. she might pas
by with pride the man whom, above a
l..l.r vz1l l.,
ruse has not succeeded; the man is dea
and SO far as Mrs. Meason is concerned
your marriage has accomplished nothing.
He paused. but Constance said nothing
A vague feeling of dread was upon hel
for something in her husbands tone ratf
ar than in his words struck terror to he
heart.
.sIf your grandmother had been NOR
onen with me at first, instead of allowin
me to discover all her secrets for mysel
II might have been better for me; 1t ce
ta,nly would have been better for her,
continued the duke. "After had offere
TO marry you she determined at all ha
ards to break off your engagement to yor
cousin. Now, as Mrs. Meason Is lad
vho generally acconiplishes what st
has set herself to do, she succeeded
accomplishing this-by falsehood!'
"A falsehood?"
"Precisely. The reason she gave 70
for breaking off your engagement WI
the death of your mother under the pc
secution of Captain Howarth's family
and particularly Of his father-is 1t n
soT'
eyes" murmured Constance; Il cou
not marry him; my mothers spirit stot
between u.s."
.sMy dear Constance, allow me to
form YOU that the little story which se
arated you from your lover was fab
cation; it was an outrage. as 1 took ca
10 discover. The Earl Of Harrington
Captain Howarth's father-was the We
soul of honor; but he had one great far
-he disliked Mrs. Meason. They Qua
relied. and no one was to blame butt
1ady. Her tyranny finally separated ~
hand and wife, and hastened the death
the latter"
"Do you mean to say" said Constans
hoarseiy, "that this which You have to
me ia true; that the whole story OF
moor mothers sorrow was fabricanon
"Not ut all; tho story Of the poor Lao!
serrowful death was trus@'t NAs al!et