Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1902-08-12
THE TRAGEDY
q AZ HOLLYWOOD


We were large house-party az
HOLLYWOOD that winter, numbering
FlS guests. besides thefamily, and the
two An,uuther giris-Mdry and
Evelyn-wcre the life and soul Of Us,
We had gathered round the bigwood-
fire in the old-fashioned ball. and set
tied down in the deepest armchairs
and most comfortable cozy-corner
scat, we could find, tolisten to Capt
Wilbraham's story
"Hername." he began. was lsobel.
and ,he wa, the only daughter of Old
Sir Pierce, whose portrait hangs over
there.
Sir Pierce. so rumor says. was
every whit as fofbiddipg and as un-
pleasant an old gcntlcmtn as his pic
ture makes him. lie had lost his wife
after one Short year Of married life;
and there were stories of injustice to
q cousin a CaPt, WAbraham, who had
loved Lady Isobel, and told her SO.
had beer. turned out of the house by
his uncle, ard who was now some
where in the backwoods ofAmerica,
trying to forget his lovely cousin,
while he moped at home.
cone evening Sir Pierce called-his
daughter to him. and told her that he
was obliged to set out for London.
Before-goiR ,4sobel,' he said to
her, 4 must tell YOU that I have heard
Stories Of the return Of that Young
scoundrel Ralph'-Ralph was the
captain. 4 hear, in fact, that he in
tends returning here, and trying to
get speech with you, in spite Of my
prohibition. Remember, now. that,
if he should come in nay absence. you
are to refuse to see him. If you do
see him l shall hear Of it. and YOU are
no longer a-daughter of mine
"And. with a glance at his trem-
bling daughter from underneath
those beetEng, grey eyebrows Of his,
Sir Pierce stamped ont Of this hallin
which we are now sitting. called for
hi, horse. and went
poor Lady Isobel lad some rea-
son for her trembling for while her
father spoke to her her hand was
pressed tightly upon tiny lettrnest-
ling underneath her broad silk sash.
in which letter her cousin, Capt.
Ralph, told her Of his safe return to
England. and promised that. come
what would. he would see her that
evening.
Barely an hour after Sir Picrce's
departure Lady Isobel retired to rest
Her room was the room at the head
Of the staircase, next to. your room,
Miss EVELYN. 1
"Lady Isobel walked up and down
the room nervouslyy excitedlyypaus-
ing every now and then nearthewin-
DOVE listening. presently she heard.
the cfunch.of a'man's heel on the
gravel underneath ityand moment
later the. head iof pt.I.Ralph d app
peared, frampdain the iyysa Isobel
opened theWindoW, .he Eprang into
theroom,a and tha-married lovers were
IN aniinytant olasped in on anQtberis
arms mFOH7-and this SiryPieTce. did
nUtaknow, wclLIinfermed though he
I.had bdtn-HRalph and his. faiFe0usin
had beeni married secretly before the
young manhefhhia BatiYe shores; so
that if anything had happened to the
captain while he Was-abroad, his for
tme-a considerable one, far exceed
ingithu of1old Sir Pierce hiHself-
should become lsobel's, and make hel
independence her father.
The conversation Of The cousins
lasted far on INTO the night, and three
was striking from The Old clock OF
the turret when Capt. Wilbrahan
kissed his young bride one long, las
time, and prepared 10 leave by III,
window, as he had come I'D q"
In three days, dearest he sait
to tile weeping girl, 4 Wilt return and
claim YOU from your harsh, Immature
fathert aa M -To 2
,I.h9yeiPe courage" saida grdtihgvoicl
\ from The doorway, and Sir Pierce
/ for it was he-stiode Tito fire room
and .lashed his daughters Husband
across the face with his ridingwhip.
III another moment the two men