The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1898-03-04
CHAPTER Xt.
A Wicked Woman.

Poor as poverty once more, Lesley
faced her own dreary future. Mrs.
Greyson could offer no consolation, and
her motherly heart ached for the lone
~ girl whose life was desolated and ru-
ined.
AS soon as the sad news was made
public, Maude Bradburn drove over to
Chadwicke Hall.
you must come home with me,
Lesley" she cried, winding her arms
about her friend. Come at once papa
and mamma will be delighted; they
sent me over to bring you, thinking I
might succeed, where, perhaps, they
would fail. But know you will come.
darling. You will have peace and quiz
ct at the Cedars, and there you can
watch the maneuvers of that wretched
Mrs. Chadwick. One thing is certain,
no lady is going to visit her. She is
socially ostracised here and might as
well be dead, Don't refuse to come,
Lesley Maude added, with a loving
kiss, "and Mrs. Greyson shall come,
too"
So it was finally decided that Lesley
should go to the Cedars until some
thing definite could be decided for her
future, and Mrs. Greyson accompanied
her, while Lawyer Greyson and the
doctor took up their quarters for a few
days, at the village hotel.
At the Cedars, Lesley found quiet,
and all that her kind friends could do
to alleviate her sorrow was done, deli.
cately and tenderly. But Lesley's
heart was wrung with bitter anguish,
which no trouble could assuage.
Where was John Ardsley in all her
trouble? Where was he in her hour Of
darkness, who should have been at her
side to comfort and cherish? Her
heart sank in shame and suffering, and
bitter humiliation, and from the bot
tom of her heart the poor girl longed
most earnestly to die. To be done for
| ever with this life's sorrow, and dis
| appointment and lie down somewhere
out of sight, away from the ptiless
eyes of cold, unsympathetic world,
and pass away to the life beyond. But
she was young and strong, and with
the young life is tenacious.
| One evening, in her boudoir at Chad
wicke Hall, which she had had fitted up
for herself all in blue and silver, Lurline
lounged idly in satin chair, attired
/ in delicate lavender silk, with black
lace trimmings; for already she was
tightening her mourning and wearing
colors which served to enhance her
delicate beauty. Her long golden hair
was all over her shoulders, in shin
ing cloud; one slippered foot, dainty as
a fairy's, was resting on the silver fen
der, for it was autumn now, and the
evenings were beginning to get chilly.
Her head rested upon one rosy palm.
and a smile strayed over her rosy lips.
Evidently she was quite satisfied with
her surroundings.
"Ah!' she exclaimed, glancing
around the luxurious apartment, this
is happiness once more. To be able to
control all this wealth and grandeur
now, when, only few months ago
was turned from the door, to starve or
beg, as best suited my convenience.
What a change from my life few
weeks since, when | lived in those
stuffy rooms at that execrable hotel,
and dined on tough beef and venerable
fowls every day All, what grand
inspiration was that little move of
NINE by which l cry, 'Checkmate!' In
the great game of life" she went on,
meditatively, "a woman, a clever, de-
signing woman-above all else, beau
tiful woman-always wins. There is
no question of failure; and men with
all their Wanted wisdom and strength,
the 'sterner SEX ha! ha! are as blind
as bats or moles. Only when they fail
in the game, they are sure to lay the
blame upon some woman, if possible.
Heaven help the woman who may be
responsible in such case; and if not
responsible, Heaven help her just the
same, for she is sure to get the oppro-
Dluul 11OWtNtI, lHele 10 HU ldilule
for me- All what a glorious thing Is
money!"
She did not hear the faint tap which
sounded upon the door of her boudoir.
One light alone burned in the center
of the room; she arose to brighten it.
AS she did so the door swung slowly
open; she turned to confront the in