The morning news., 1897-03-14
THE VACARIES OF FATE,
BY r.. A. d. LITHGow, Md, LID,
Copyrighted, 1897, by IA. A. Douglas Lithsow.
CHAPTER I.

otber two, Stanley and Meredith, had al
-oadv passed away to join the shades OF
,s.,r ancestors. Stanley had been in the
,,r,v married. died, and had left one son,
,oned after his uncle, Ralph. Meredith,
,bs Youngest of the three brothers, had
originally no profession, but had trav-
eed much in southern lands, mainly for
tbe sake of his health, which was al
uavs delicate. About fourteen years be-
f,ra his death he was at Malaga, where
ba fell desperately in love with 1nez
Fontanilla, whom he had first seen per-
forming at the opera house there, under
an assumed name, and whom he event.
ually married, being much struck, not
only with her beauty and accomplish
ments. but, as he afterwards discovered,
by her many virtues and general refine
ment
The announcements of his marriage,
under the circumstances, gave great Of
fense to his elder brother, Ralph, and
had the effect of completely estranging
them-a sad calamity to poor Meredith,
who was dependent upon his brothers
bounty.
In his altered circumstances a little
daughter was born to him, and his wife's
resources being almost expended, he was
obliged to turn his undoubted talents as
a musician and painter to the best ad
vantage, for the sake of those so near
and dear to him. If his brother Ralph
had only read the letter which Inez had
sent to him recording her true history,
all might have been so different; but he
remained obdurate, and had returned ev-
cry letter they had addressed to him,
unopened
Although Meredith had wooed and won
lnez as an opera singer, her family was
really more ancient and aristocratic than
his own, and had numbered amongst
them many dons and grandees of sunny
Spain. Unfortunately, however, she was
left when very young to the guardian
ship of the family lawyer, wh%had died
few years afterwards, leaving all his
professional concerns to a younger part
ner. This miscreant, having first tried to
obtain hold upon her affections, and
being unsuccessful, at length skunk away,
no one knew whittier, taking with him
the whole of lnezs fortune, which was
very considerable
Poor Inez was for a time inconsolable,
but being highly accomplished, .ulti-
mately resolved to preserve her inde-
pendence by turning her artistic talents
10 account and had accepted an engage
ment at the opera house, where her
fresh young voice and striking beauty
proved a great success, and won many
hearts, including that of Meredith Yer
non.
During the fourteen years which fol-
lowed their marriage, Ralph made no
sign OF relenting, and Inez, having re-
suined her professional duties, she and
Meredlth managed to exc out a fairly
comfortable existence. In the meanwhile.
9ne little lnez was growing up. a source
her parents ~
At length poor Meredith died from the
immediate effects of a chill. his health
having been SO delicate for years past
mat ne mad no recuperative energy left
win which to Withstand the inroads OF
an acute disease. "a
ms last efforts were spent in commit
Jug the future of his darling wife and
t%lilu % TO the care of his brother but ever
ulis communication remained unanswer-
eI' although 1t was not returned.
RALPH Vernon's nephew. familiarlv
known as Master Ralph" had heen
mought up by his uncle at Folgate Tow
"nere ne was allowed to do much
a. ne Pleased. He was, however. a brave
Hsh-splrlted lad, whose natural disno-
H.on fortunately enabled him to owe. :
SoiHe the spelling process to which he
t H"u peen subjected for several wears. in
bu tac, since the death of his mother, which
years Of age.
re was brought up as his uncle's heir
onu no expense was spared on his ed
eJ .ioh' .o, a public school having succeed
private tutors as st. Johns College.
Nd4mIpridge. succeeded Eton.
iral,nlt, uhcle was very punctilious and
,o5SeDie, nn5ono, and as young Ralph, for some
ea, sIdduate indiscretlon, managed to
W. 81. ustlcated,' the walls of his uncle's
ne was dismissed from his roof ana sant
nst tle world with a paitry allowance.
necessaries A wan aetuai
as LuHs ralph was, however. as proud
a. @ MS uncle and determining to carve ont
70 way OF his own in the world. went
ton onuoh' auS Where by means Of private tut
dncoS u Nv journalistic work he got intro
Ter to ".'o ~. the family of a cabinet minis
Fate secretary 'e0ipe pr
.u'Ihg his leisure, out of the narliamen-
UteEra session, he cultivated his inherent
ty tastes, and had already published
vor,' o.,e poems and essays which had been
laVorably reviewed.
q was now becoming successful and
him bi'Snt ~ future was opening up before
ing i', oa nls success being all the more pleas
bis o, au lnerltorious, being the reward of
uo o%n unaided industry and effort
tbroo mau been working hard for abou
NOT ig,eaars-three years, which although
coni6 snout many cares and sorrows. he
~ now look back upon as. perbans
IN Ne nlpplest I'm his life, for there is no
iIe snrinue SO unaloyed as that which
IN rs from Independent. manly effort.
hannI. t cause of right and truth, and no
att"sss as so pure as that which comes
acbireI ne Iruition of noble conduct which has
achieved success. mn ii"'
Jan,ao,. leaving his chambers In 81.
ea'at one morning he found n teleara =,
as be b'ns MIN which he opened eagerly.
Ia bo,a nSd Tor some days been expecting
subr,d.u, rom a publisher to whom he had
hls,ost1'eed1 the MS. of his latest work-an
tbsr1si'cal romance. His surprise NAV
folinal.ore be conceived when he read as
unJioWe to Folgate Towers al once. Your
You uis seriously III. and wishes TO see
r"'.holt delay.-Rlake.
wera uncle III, and he has sent for met,
hls heue words which first trembled from
UbtnEP' as he recovered from the shock
had i..'ne 'ne sudden and unexpected news
wiz i,parted 20 him. His mind was busv
WI tne past now and fftro 80. -. -.