The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-05-20
A WICKED WOMAN.
! CHAPTER Xl. :.
A Wicked Woman


faced her own dreary future. Mrs
Greyson could offer no consolation, ant
her motherly heart ached for the lone
ly girl whose life was desolated and ru
ined.
As soon as the sad news was mad,
public, Maude Bradburn drove over t
Chadwicke Hall.
you must come home with me
Lesley" she cried, winding her arms
about her friend. Come at once, paps
and mamma will be delighted; they
sent me over to bring you, thinking
might succeed, where, perhaps, they
would fail. But know you will come
darling. You will have peace and qui.
ct at the Cedars, and there you can
watch the maneuvers of that wretched
Mrs. Chadwicke. One thing is certain
no lady is going to visit her. She IL
socially ostracised here and might as
we'll be dead. Don't refuse to come
Lesley" Maude added. with a loving
kiss, "and Mrs. Greyson shall come
too"
So 1t was finally decided that Lesley
should 60 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 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 lies, sorrow, and dis
appointment; and lie down somewhere
out of sight. away from the pitiless
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 fittedup
for herself all in blue and silver, Lurline
lounged idly in satin chair, attired
In a 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 fem
der, for it was autumn now, and the
evenings were beginning to get chilly.
Her head rested upon one rosy palm,
and 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 I
was turned from the door, to starve or
beg, as best suited my convenience.
What change from my life-a few
weeks since, when I 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 I cry, 'Checkmate!' In
he great game of 1ife," she went on,
"a woman. clever, de-
igning woman-above all else, beau
iful woman-always wins. There Is
10 question of failure; and men with q.
III their Wanted wisdom and strength, 81
he 'sterner SEX ha! ha! are as blind
IS bats or moles. Only when they fail
n the game, they are sure to lay the
,lame upon some woman, if possible.
Heaven help the woman who may be
esponsible in such case; and if not
esponsible, Heaven help her just the
anne, for she is sure to get the oppro-
'ium. However. there is no failure
or me. All, what a glorious thing is
money!"
She did not hear the faint tap which
ounded upon the door of her boudoir.
me light alone burned in the center
f the room; she arose to brighten it.
IS she did so the door swung slowly
pen; she turned to confront the in
ruder. A man stood on the threshold;
man with pallid, indignant face,
nd eyes fairly blazing with desperate,
ngry light. 1t was Morris Dudley.
For an instant they stood there, fac
1g each other. Pallid and wild eyed,
be looked like some wild creature sud-
emily brought to bay. He sprang for
ard and caught her white wrist, gilt
ering with bracelets of diamonds set
! jet, by which she compromised her
lordinate love Of jewels and an out
ard semblance of mourning; he
utched her wrist firmly and turned
is burning eyes upon her own. |
Answer me-" he Kissed, in wrathful,
engeful tones. "Lurline St. Cyr,
here is my wife? What have you
one with Viva Dudley?"
She laughed a low, sneering laugh;
ut underneath it all you could see
DIV she trembled. Woman, where is
y wife," repeated Morris Dudley,
ernly. II have suspected your iden-
ty from the first; but know you
wv, Mrs. Barton Chadwicke, formerly
urine st. Cyr, the cafe singer, the
apeze performer, outcast from pure
I'd refined society. Oh, inscrutable
'ovidence! through what vile necro-
ancy came you to this elevated posi-
IN? You, who in years gone by
red that unsuspecting, innocent girl
her own ruin! You, who tempted
# with glitterng promises until she
rned, her back upon her humble
me, which at least was pure, and
ent to join you in your foolish antics
the stage. My poor, simple-hearted
va, who saw not the poison in your
neyed words, and the falsehood Of
e bright pictures which you painted
her future, and the wealth and fame