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

:u the telling, that was NIL. The blame
of the whole thing was, for your benefit.
laid at the door of the Harrington fam
ily: whereas the sole cause of it was Mrs.
MeasOn herself; and your mother was .
gentle, loving girl, and was received by
your fathers family with open arms. All
would have gone well but for Mrs. Mea-
son, who q few weeks after the marriage
entered tho house Of the young married
couple and put an end to anything like
peace. She had always been an ambi-
tious woman, and she looked forward to
tho marriage Of her daughter a. . means
Of gaining for herself an entrance into
society. When she was forbidden to en-
ter her daughters house her plans were
shattered, and she resolved to have re-
venge. When Captain Howarth wooed
you, her time came; Il will break his
heart she said; 4 will avenge myself on
the father by means Of the son. To ac-
complish this it was necessary to invent
falsehood; she invented that falsehood,
and her plan succeeded. Your engage
ment to your cousin was broken, and you
were married to me"
Again he paused, but this time Con-
stance said nothing. She staggered from
the library to her own room. Once there
in wild fit of despairins pain, she fell
upon her knees, calling upon the name Of
I the man whom she had loved 50 ardently,
but who, alas! was dead.
Her first coherent thought was, how
she could best get to her grandmother
and demand from her tho truth or false
hood Of the terrible story she had heard.
She made her Arrangements quickly
and In a manner to excite no suspicion.
First Of all she sat down to write to tho
duke.
II am going to London" she wrote.
Until have seen my grandmother and
heard her version Of this story, cannot
| rest CONSTANCE"
She placed this letter on her dressing
table In a position where 1t would be
easily found by her husband, then she
ordered her carriage.
Weary with long travel, heart-sick with
over-much grief, she stood In the drawing
| room at Portland place, gazing upon her
| grandmother with large, wistful eyes, two
J days later.
| "Grandma," spoke the girl, with strange
earnestness, 'the duke has told me ter
rible story, and I have come to ask you II
1t is true. I could not rest until had
| seen you. He says you have been cruel
to me; that by means of q falsehood you
separated me from Frank; but I do moi
believe it; 1t Is he who has been deceivins
me. You would not do 30, you love me toe
we'll"
The old lady did not speak. Her face
was agonized. There was no need fol
words; Constance looked into her eyee
and read the truth.
Don't touch meT' she cried; ''don't
come near me: I cannot bear it! Oh, maj
heaven forgive your
"Oh, my child, I have wronged yor
bitterly; sec 1t now, but It Is too late, >
cried the old lady. "Years ago Franl
Howarth's father wounded me deeply
and I swore that his son and one Of my
blood should never come together, and
kept my word. I married you to the duke
believing that, ouce . wife, your childish
passion fer your cousin would soon fad,
away, but I was wrong. When met yo,
in Spain and looked In your eyes knew
that I had ruined your life, and l re
pented when 1t was too late"
"Yes," said the girl, "too late. My Low,
IS dead! He does not know what 1 hav,
done; he will never know, and can Low,
} him and mourn for him all my life Oh
> Frank, my darling, sleep peacefully
: henceforth will be true to you, and som
: day perhaps we may meet again."
"Constance. my child, remember 20,
are a wife!'
}, "a wifel I am no wife, for do not Low
my husband. At your intercession maj
ried the duke; I stood before the alta
t with him like one in a dream-a terribl
e dream. realize 1t now; have awakene
/ I laot