The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1898-01-29

toofN oLl diISe cdl,IICtS lltp ntr ntdI. MS
seemed to be one of the strangest. He
held the letter in his hand. a strange pre-
sentiment of evil creeping over him which
he could not account for. From the en-
velope came a sweet scent, which the
duchess always used. It was so familiar
TO him that for few minutes it brought
her wildly before him-he could have
fancied her standing near him. Then he
remembered the strange words: ITO be
read alone What could that mean?
That the letter contained something that
his young wife must not see or hear.
''Madalne. my darling" he said, sinking
on TO an ottoman, you have taken no
tea. You would like some. Leave me
here alone for half an hour. | want to
think"
She did what she had never done voIun-
tarily before. She went up to him and
clasped her arms round his neck. she bent
her blushing face over his. and the carcss
surprised as much as it delighted him
she was so shyly demonstrative.
What are you going to think about,
Norman? Will il be of me-
"Of whom else should | think on my
wedding day, if not of my wife," he ask
ed.
4 snail not De long, SAD hdudliIe.
you will find me here" he returned.
This is a favorte nook of mine. | shall
not leave it until you return
The nook was a deep bay window from
which there was a magnificent view of
the famous beechcs. Soft Turkish cush-
ions and velvet lounges filled it. and near
it hung one of Titian's most gorgeous pie
tures-a dark-eyed woman with Il ruby
rncl-1o.n Tho SUMS IN,
on the rubies made them appear like
drops of blood. 1t was grand picture,
one that had been bought by the lords of
Beechgrove. and the present Lord Arleigh
took great delight in il.
He watched the long folds of Mada!ne's
white dress. as she passed along the gal
lery, and then the hangings fell behind
her. Once more he held up the packet
"A wedding present from Philippa.
Duchess of Hazelwood, to Lord Arlcigh."
Whatever mystery it contained should
be solved at once He broke the seal: the
envelope contained a closely written epis-
tie. He looked at it in wonder What
could Phil pa have to write to him
about? The letter began as follows:
a wedding present from Philippa.
Duchess Of HaZclwood. TO Norman. Lord
Arleigh. You will ask what it is? Ny
answer is my reyengc-wcll planned, pa
ticntly awaited.
Fire fury and hatred rage now in my
heart as l write this to you. You have
scOrned mc-this is my revenge | am n
proud woman-I have lowered my pride
to you. My lips have never willfuly ut
tered Il false word; still they have lied to
YOU. | loved you once. Norman. and on
the day my love died knew that nothing
could arise from its ashes.
Years ago We had Il maid whom NV
mother liked very much. She was gentle.
well-mannered and well-brcd for her sta
ton in life. She left Us and went 10
some other part of England. She married
badly-a handsome, reckless, ne'er-do-
| well, who led her a most wretched life.
Il know not, ana care nothing for the
story OF her married life. her rights and
wrongs How She becomes of interest
TO you lies in the fact that shortly after
my marriage she called to see me and ask
my aid. She had been compelled to give
! up her home i'll the country and come to
London. where. with her husband and
child, she was living in poverty and mis-
cry. While she was talking to me the
duke came in. | think her patient face
| uteres ed him. He listened to her story
/ and promised to do something for her hus-
band. You will wonder how this story
of Margaret Dornham concerns you. Read
! on. You will know in time.
My husband, having promised to assist
| this man. sent for him to the house: and
the result of that visit was that the man,
! seeing a quantity of plate about. resolved
! upon helping himself to a portion of il.
| To make my story short, he was caught.
] packed up n large parcel of plate and
/ filled his pockets with some Of my most
! valuable jewels. There was no help for
/ it but to prosecute him. and his sentence
was, under the circumstances, none too
heavy, being ten years penal servitude.
''Afterward | went to see his wife Mar
! garet, and found her in desperate cirJum-
/ stances; yet she had one ornament in her
! house-a beautiful young girl. her daugh-
/ ter, so fair Of face that she dazzlcd me.
+ The moment | saw her | thought of your
/ description Of your ideaI-eyes like blue
/ hyacinths. and hair of gold. Forthwith
a plan entered my mind which | have
most successfully carried out.
/ Il asked for the girls name. and was
/ told that it was Madalinc-an uncommon
name for one of her class-but the moth
/ or had lived among well-to-dO people. and
/ had caught some Of their ideas. | looked
! at the girl-her face was fair, sweet, pure.
! | felt the power of its beauty. and only
wondered that she should belong to such
/ people At all; her hands were white and
shapcly ms my own, her figure was slen-
/ der and graceful. | began TO talk to her
I and found her we'll educa ted. refined, in
/ telligent-ali, i'll tact that one could wish
Little by little their story came out
/ Il was one of Il mothers pride and glory
in her only child. She worshiped her
! literally vorShipcd her. She had not filled
/ the girls mind with any nonsensical idea
about being 4 lady, but she had denied
herself everything in order that Madeline
might be well educated. Then | persuad-
! ed We're, my husband, to take me 10 Par.s
for few days. telling him | wanted TO
see the daughter Of an old friend, who
was at school there. In telling him that
l did not speak falsely Mudaiine's moth
cr had teen an old friend Of mine. Then
| told him that my whm was 10 bring
Madaline home and make companion Of
her: he allowed me To do just as | pleas
ed, asking no questions about her parents
or anything else. ] do not believe it ever
occurred to him as strange that the name
of my protegc and Of the man who had
robbed him was the sau3e-iuaeed. b"
seemed to have forgotten all about the
robbery. So brought MadaIine home II
We're Court, and then 10 London. where
| knew !ou would see her.
Il bought my husband the yacht on pur
pose that he might 20 away and leave me
70 work cut my plans. | knew that he
could not resist the temptation l offered.
| knew also that if he remained in Eng
land he would want 10 know all about
Madaline before he allowed you TO marry
her.
SO l nave taken my revenge. |, Phil
ippa. Duchess Of Hazelwood. GA this your
wedding day. reveal 10 you the first stain
an III. name Of Arleigh-uuvail tie tIs;
hot on one Of the uobiest escutcEeous lG
The land. You have married not only a.
.ow-barn girl. but the daughter Of feiou