Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1899-05-04

She was a very beautiful woman %
a weak blond type. somewhat faded
and worn in consequence OF hard
struggle with the world. Her child.
having been placed at school. did not
accompany her hither Four years
passed and Mayborry fulfilled her dut-
les admirably. NJ eldest son had
gone abroad FOR n long period Of for
aign travel. and David Spencer had
Just begun to practice his profession
in Elduu being almost rs constant 4
visitor at The Iyigs as when my boys
were ut home. Ccrald's last year at
college was almost completed. AMI.
rs he was to join Darraeott abroad
Immediately after graduation. he de
cided TO bid me goodbye at the college
commencement and not return TO
Eldon.
Just before left to attend his grad
uation exercises Nayh"rTy asked my
permission to bring heg daughter Alice
to the Ivies for a visit. Naturally
| gave my consent, little dreaming
what misery il would entail upon me.
on my return. therefore. | found the
rirl auscoucel here. aud bestowed up
1n her cordial welcome MOT Tor
her mothers sake. but Iecau~. / was
Young and beautiful Is she about the
house.
Alice Nayberry was the lovcligst
peiug | have ever beh.la. You have
seen her wreck. imagine. then. what
She must have been I'm the first h"sh
IF her dangerous beauty. she charm
ID everyone with her wonderful fair
ness ard Joyous @aiety. and seemed
.il-u Il Elttcrfly. aS graceful. as radiant,
is frivolous. | had been nome but L
few days when ! noticed that al
though both my sons were absent.
David Spgnc,rs visits here were quite
As FREQUENT as they had formerly been,
and soon | observed that if Alice, Of
whom | made great pet, was not
with me he appeared restless and dis
.outeutcd From Mrs. Spencer | learnt
that the girl was constant guest at
the cottage and finally | thought Il
wise to gently caution Mdyhcrry con-
,erning the intimacy existing between
the two young people. She affirmed
hat there was nothing in It, but ! be-
i've that. naturally ambitious for her
laughter and anxious concerning the
sirI's future. she secretly encouraged |
matters hoping to secure good home
md husband for = lice. Affairs Slaod
thus when | was one day greatly
3stouished by receiving a cable from
Darracott informing me that hc was
10 sail at once for home, having re-
.eivcd advlces relating to certain in
yestments that disturbed him. In due
time he arrived. and, as the positive
1ate Of his coming was uncertain, he
yave me Il pleasant surprise.
alice and were singing duets to-
gether one evening in my boudOir when
he door opened softly and my son
stood before Us. | saw at once what
an impression her beauty made upon
MIN: and. rs the days passed, his adj
miratiou for her became positive in
Fatuation. | use the word advisedly
parracott's passion for the girl was
simply infatuation. ! am convinced
hat never did he experience any deep
r. emotion towards Alice Maybcrry
han that She merely Captiyated his
senses and bereft him Of his juds-
ment: although the blow which her
cruelty dealt him was as severe in its
immediate effect rs though she had
been the object of q more worthy love.
David Spencer Glanced TO bc away
from home just then in attendance
upon a wealthy patient who had taken
him South in his professional capgc-
ity. When | discovered how things
were going with Darracott. ! warned
aim against yielding to Alice's charms.
telling him that | believed he would
onlv create unhappineSs for himself
py so doing. as | thought her already
secretly plighted TO David. 1t could
scarcely be expected that my influence
with him should be very strong; nor
was it of much avail. He listened to
me with his usual Difference and then
told me frankly that he should ques-
lion Alice, and if she denied any such
engagement and would accept him, he
should marry her at once.
II had always determined never to
interfere in my sons love affairs. be-
ieving it folly to do so; stn | did
lrge him to well consider his decision
before carrying il out, feeling con
vinced. though | was fond of Alice.
hat she was not the woman to satisfy
A grave, intellectual man like Darra-
colt. However, Ire was completely
under her spell, and my eXpcstulations
went for naught. Finally. he came to
me one day and informed me that hc
was to be married without delay. He
had offered himself to the girl, at the
same time questioning her closely as
to her relations with David. These
she assured him were merely of Il
friendly character, and she accepted
my son without hesitation. was
much distressed, for | felt how un-
wise Darracott's ch hOice was. and | was
also firmly persuaded that David
looked upon Alice as in some way
bound to him. l felt nervous and un-
happy about the affair and III con
sequence went to Mrs. Spencer be
fore the wedding. and asked her if
she knew whether there was any
understanding between Alice and her
son. She was much disturbed by the
suggestion, and | saw that such an
idea was most unwelcOme TO her. L he
daughter of my hOusckccper was not
the woman she would wish to see
her David marry, and she frankly told
me so, affirming at the same time her
belief that his interest in the girl had
been merely of u volatile nature.
II returned home and summoned
Mayberry To her | put a similar
query She stoutly maintained that
there was nothing between the TWO.
| was not yet convinced, however, ana
begged Darracott to write at once to
David and inform him Of his intended
marriage He was not alt''elhcr
pleased at my insistcnce, but finally
agreed to do as ! desired. | know
that the letter was written, but |
also know that 1t was never received.
Here Madam paused. and looked at
me significantly.
You think Mayberry withheld IT,
! asked
II believe so" she replied. she al
ways took charge of the mailbag, ana
] think she was not above duplicity.
Her whole heart was set Oh the mar
riage. III due time the wedding, very
private and quiet, according to Darra-
colts desire, took place, here at home,
and | was left alone while the honey
moon was fulfilled.
mo letter had come from David, and
my anxiety in his behalf was still keen
and alert At that time II did not
occur to me that Il letter might b"
Intercepted by member Of my own
household. and inferred from DaVids 8
silence either that. as he was travelling
from place to place, the letter had not
been forwarded. or else that the news
II contained was go painful and dis
trcssing TO him that Lp found IL i'm
posiblc to send his concentrations on
nm event which cntailcd so much suf-
fering upon himself.
''Onc day. however. about a week
after the marriage | was sitting aloue
in this room. when ltiI s'Nruc 7
himself suddenly appeared. ] had u"
idea that his immadia,. return was
expected. and way SO taken 10y sur
Drisr AT seeing him that ! forgot that