Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1896-11-12
CHAPTER XVI.


comfort, and deliverance
CHAPTER XVI.
If Allworth Abbey was the most an
cient and gloomy, and if the Anchor
age was the most commanding and
cheerful, assuredly Edenlawn was the
most beautiful and delightful estate in
the neighborhood of Abbeytown.
The three estates formed a right an
gle, of which Allworth Abbey was the
eastern. Edenlawn the southern. and
the Anchorage the western points.
Edenlawn was cqui-distaut, about
three miles from the two.
The mansion was an elegent modern
edifice of white stone, in the Grecian
order of architecture, browning the
summit of green and wooded hill
of the lovely little lake Eden. A wide
vista had been opened between the
trees from the white front of the man
sion down to the clear waters of the
lake. This vista was laid out in ter
races, with stone steps leading down
the center, from level to level, from the
house to the lake. 1t was adorned
with parterres of beautiful flowers,
groves of rare shrubs, and groups Of
fine statues.
On each side of these ornamented
grounds, and behind the house, stood
the ancient woods. where the fine old
forest trees were kept we'll trimmed
and free from underground by :he zeal
of old Davy Denny, the head gardener.
whose care of his place was Il labor Of
earnest love.
And this was well, for all the interest
taken in it by the proprie:ress, the
Hon. Mrs. Elverton, this paradise
might have fallen into desolation, or
been transformed to Gehenna.
For this beautiful Edenlawn, though
n comparatively new place, was a
house with very dark history.
1t was some years before the time of
which we now write that the Honor
able Hollis Elverton, only son of Baron
Elverton of 1,org Castle, in Yorkshire,
while staying in Paris, married the
beautiful and naughty Athenic dc Ii
sCompte, daughter of that celebrated
General de la Compile, who held so high
a place in the esteem of the ex-King
Louis Philippe, and in the councils OF
the nation.
Atnenie de la Compile was a tall and
dark brunette, with raven black hair
and flashing black eyes, and with an
imperious temper and commanding
presence.
Immediately after their marriage the
young couple set out for 4 heightened
tour on the continent, and came to
England only at the end Of twelve
months.
After short season spent in London,
where the imperial beauty of Mrs Ell
verton created an immense sensation,
at the close of the summer the young
husband brought his youthful wife
home to his beautiful villa of Eden
lawn, which had been built, furnished
and adorned by Lord Elvcrton express
~ for the residence of his son and
daughter-in-law.
A few days after their settlement at
home they were joined by select par
ty, of invited guests, who came down
from town on visit of a few weeks.
Mrs. Elverton then issued cards for a
large evening party, to all the neigh
boring nobility and gentry. The party
was a great success, and formed the
festivities.
1t was in the midst of all this
gaiety that the thunderbolt fell that
olItlSh TIC plOuu iAtuCulC " tuC uuSt
and spread desert round her.
On a certain evening MI. and Mrs.
Elverton, and the friends who were
staying with them. had returned late
from a dinner party given at the An
chorage. The visitors had withdrawn
to their several apartments for the
night; but Mr.. and Mrs. Elverton, as
was their daily custom, remained fol
a few minutes behind them in the
drawing room to discuss the events OF
the day before retiring to rest
Wlrile, with the Duoyancy of youth
fove and Joy, they were sitting talking
and laughing together. a footman en-
tered the room and announced q
stranger who imperatively demanded
to see Mr.. Elverton, and would take
no denial. although Charles had ex
hained that it was too late for his
master to he disturbed.
& Mr.. Elverton, though the most cour
teOus Of gentlemen, could not be sac
to have yielded 80 much to courtesy
rs to curiosity to know who this i'm
fortunate stranger might be, when III
ordered Charles to show the unsea
sonable visitor into the library, width
er he himself Immediately proceeded
The stranger was woman OF ma
iestic presence. whose all-cOmmandlni
figure was wrapped In a long blacl
cloak; and whose unknown features
were concealed beneath thick blacl