The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1896-07-17

l
die content Oh! don't look so
shocked" she cried, stretching pretty,
pleading hands out to him. Il do not
want to debut am afraid to wish
to live. All! dearest, you would under
stand me better if you knew what the
word life has meant to me-"
She rose from her seat, and crossing
the fur rug sank down at Dick Mey,
nell's feet and pillowed her fair head
on his knee.
81 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; l feel must. speak of 1t before
I bury it out of sight, out Of remenS
brance forever"
She took his hand in hers, and as she
spoke on, patted and smoothed and
| kissed 1T as loving women Will.
| Il was unwelcome when was born.
My father and mother openly avowed
their dislike for children, and neither
ever forgave the other for the addition
10 their family. In these days they We're
rich, but l was left to servants and gov
ernesscs who treated me as they pleased.
/ was IA, and my parents were almost
strangers to me, when the financial
crash came which dragged my. fathers
Lame, with scores of others, through the
miro 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. Ohl
| Dick, it was shameful-terrible to live
with two people who never met without
reproaches, scorn and contempt, who
never parted without tears and oaths.
Ono day-I wonder whether anything
even your love-will wipe out that hid
eous recollection-my father struck my
mother. That night she left him
Like frightened child, pale-cheeled
and trembling, Lydia clung to her lover
Darling, beeeech you not to distress
yourself by recalling the wretched
past" he cried.
But she persisted, saying it was for
the last time, for ever.
| 81 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
| tLDOuU 1OI IllC IloO W uCul III L w thS lSI Y
on my fathers hands, and for u year
knew at least measure Of peace. But
| little rs he ever saw of me, much as he
neglected me, I suppose I was him
drance in his life, or perhaps too keen
q reminder of my mother. One day-it
was my birthday, was 16-he told me
he was going to give me husband. I
scarcely remonstrated-Il was too ig-
norant for one thing-and In vague
way, too eager to grasp at possible hap
pincss for another. Twas married to Mr..
| Werner o month later"
Her voice died away, lost In the sea
of rccollections which the four years of
her married life had let loose upon her
Don't speak of him, LYDIA" cried
Dick Meyncll, Il cannot bear it."
But she neither heard nor headed her
lovers words AS in dream, with
large eyes fixed upon the blazing fire,
and lips that scarcely stirred, she ram
bled on.
"Ohl the horror Of that hideous mar
riage, The Moloch that devoured chill
dren was more merciful than the Satyr
who In human guise kills all that is best
and purest in girlhood. For two years
my life was torture she kissed
Dicks hand 20 times, as though In miti-
cation Of her words-"then one day
| courage came to me and the dim reco1-
lection Of q connection of my motherwho
might help he. 1t was to him, Sir Geof
frey Thorp, I went, How kind he was
1t was his hand that opened to me @ lit
tie way the door Of freedom, nnd which
gained for me the separation which gave
me time to regain some Of my broken
self-respect."
Her voice changed from It's low, sad
key, and she went ON brightly, each
word ringing gayer through tho worm,
violet-scented atmosphere
"Then one day. Sir Godfrey and his
dear wife came to me with the keys of
my liberty In their hands. My wretched
husband had given me the final proof of
hissin Doyou know, Dick, that atshame-
full wrong which is the death knell to
the love and happiness Of most women,
was o. yeritable Joy bell to me. Oh!
dearest, hope I am net very bad 50 to
rejoice In another's sin, but It was just
|
She blushed deliciously over her con-
fession.
"The rest you know. The divorce was
easy enough-he never even attempted
to defend himself. wonder why Sir
Godfrey always mistrusted thai lack
OF defense"
"But was not your-Mr. Vernon out of
England when the case came on?"
queried Dick, forced against his Will to
take interest In the business he hated
most in the world.
II think so" said Lydia Atany rate
he neither appeared nor was he repre-
sented. But have seen him twice since
then, and he is In London now-or was,
two days ago. The Thorps passed him
in Piccadilly."
Dick Meynen moved uneaslly in his
chair.
The presence In the same city with
himself Of the man who had made life
so hard for the woman he hoped within
o few hours to cal his wife CALLED and
disqulcted him unaccountably.
His movement reused Lydia from her
curled-up attitude at his feet She
looked up at the clock.
"Now late 1t is! / wonder what is
keeping Sir Godfrey. He said he would
come hero the minute the decree abso-
Lutte was pronounced-that 1t was only
Il matter of moment or two. Surely
the courts must hSse risen by now."
| Dialf AinUnall was too huSV with hta