The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-10-06
THE NEWS, PROVIDENCE r. l.. WEDNESDAY.
A BROKEN LIFE.


My father aud mother openly avowed their
dislike Tor children, ana neither ever for
gave the other for the addition To their
family. In those days they were rich. but
was left To servants ana governesses who
treated me as they pleased. i wasll4 and
my parents wors almost strangers To ne.
when the financial crash dragged my
fathers name with scores of others,
through the mire OF all England. Poverty
and the Darrownsss OF our new home
brought me for the first time into daily
aId hourly contact with my. .parents. Oh
DICK. 10 was shamefui-terrible to- live
with two people who never met without
approaches scoTn aud contempt who never
parted without tears and oatns. One day
Il wonder whether anything. oven your
love. will wipe out that hideous recole
tion-my father struck my mother. That
night she left him
Like a frightened child, pale checked
and trembling. Lydia clung to her lover
Darling, / beseech you not to distress
yourself by recalling the wretched past T"
be cried.
But she resisted. saying it was for the
last time. forever.
II never saw her again. but the GOSSIP p
of the house filtered 10 my ears, and the
great divorce case between Lord and Lady
Mnrdaie was too much whispered about
for me not 10 hear IL. / was left on my
least "A measure OF psace. But little as ho
ever saw'of me, much as he neglected me,
l suppose l was hindrance in his life or
pefbGps too keen reminder of my
| moutOr One day-it was my birthday
was l6-he told mo he was going to give
me hus band. l scarcely demonstrated
| WIS too ignorant for one thing-apd in
vogue way, TOO eager TO grasp at possi-
bic happ ness for another. / was married
tJ Mr. Vernon "A month later. ~
Her voice died away. lost in tho sen CT
recolIections which the four years Of her
married life let loose upon he-.
Eon't speak Of him. LYDIA" cried
Dick Mepyell. Il nnot bear it. -
But she neither heard nor heeued her
lovers words. AS in a dream. with lnf &c
eyus fixed upon the blazing fire and lips
that scarcely stirred, che Iacnbled On.
ION tho horror of that bideous mar
rnge. The Molach that deyoureu child
reE was more mcrciiul than the SatyI
who in nuinan Ruise kills all that is best
and purest in qirlhood For two years
my life was tOrtuIe'-she kissed Dick s
hands twenty times as though In mitt-
cation Of her words-"then one day cour.
age came 10 me and the dim collections
OF IA connection OF my mother who might
help me. 1t was 10 him, Sir Geoffrey
1borpe i went. How Kind he was IL
wSs his hand that opened to me little
way the door of freedom. and which
gained for me the separation which gave
me time TO regain some OF my broken
self.res pect.
her voice changed from its low, sad
key aud she went on brightly. each word
ringinRigayer through the warm. violet
scented atmosphere.
"Then one day Sir Gsotf rev and his
dear wife came To me with the keys CT
my liberty in their hands. My wretched
husband had given me the final pr of
of bis sin. DO you know, Dick. that
shameful wrong which is the death knell
t) the love and happiness OF most women,
was yeritable JOY bell To me. Oh !!
dearest. / hope l am not very bad to so
rejoice in another's g sln, but it was lust
at that time-I first met you.
She blushed celiciousy over her con
fession.
"But was not your-Mr. Vernon out of
England when the case came on?"
dueried Dick, forceu against his will to
take interest In the bu'inoss he hated
most In the world.
II think So" said Lydia. "At any
rate he neither appeared nor was he rop
resented. But have seen him twice since
then. and he il in London now-or was
two days ago. The Ihorps passed him in
Piccadilly.'
Dick MeyI ell moved uneasily in his
chair.
Tie presence in the same oity with
himself of the man who nad MADE lifo so
hatred Tor tho woman he hoped within n
few hours Ia call bis wife CALLED and dis
quieted him Ut uaccountably.
His movements reused Lydia from her
curled up attitude 1T his feet. She looked
up ut the click. III ow late IL is won
DER what is keeping Sir Godfrey He said
he would rome here the minute the de-
cree absolute was pronounced-that it was
only matter of u NONE 1t or two. Sure
ly the courts mGss have risen by now. -
Dick Meynoll was too busy with his
own thoughts TO heed Ter words.
Lydia, my darling, you know how IL
pains me To discuss tho question OF your
past marriage with You. for it always
seems an insult to even mention man
such rs Vernon In your presence but have
you ever sp ken TO him since the case g'
ION yes. - said Lydia, frankly and
rising tn her feet as she spoke.
You've soen him-alonu! - cried Mey-
nell, his voios trained and harsh with an
anxiety he strOve to hide.
Lydia wIin6lod her delicate brow in an
{ fort of memory.
Yes III ar-twicc. Our talk was ah-
solutely on business matters, and we wefo
naturally alone. Dick-why, Dick,
what is tho matter? WHAT Lave dcneY'
Her face had binnched as white as the
soft fur about her throat, ana ter voice
rang out with Iiieous fear, as with a
great GroaD Dick Meynell rose from his
My sweet cart, my poor wronged love
Il fear that you have ruined both our
lives. ~
Even rs he spoke the door shut sharply
10 behind them, nni heavy. slow tread
ad ed into tho room.
Very pretty upon my word-n sweet
picture, indeed J" rasped n voice from the
otter side OF tho table.
With cry Lydia Vernon, still in the
aims Of the man she loved, turned TO find
her husband smiling at her.
Ho was u small man, neatly groomer,
well-dresse1 and not ill-lonking nt the
first glance. but q whole world Of malice
glaGmed in his close set eyes as hc stared
at the pair before him.
"Umuh - and he shrugged his shoulders
and cr'nued a little wider. "Yo hre a
nico an to set up a. an injured wife
aren't ,uur Such Iretty tale Ms YOU
told nll the world about me. Heavens
You painted me rs black as the incarnatc
and oil the while you'd a lover dangling
ut your skirts"
The red. hot b,ool fin eli cd across lydia .