Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1907-09-06
CHATTER VIII.

CHAPTER VIII
The story that Audrey heard from her
mothers lips was a short and pitiful one
"A story full of a woman's misery, a
mans treachery, and husbands broken |
heart.
Years before, when Constance Gas
coigne was a girl of nineteen, and had
just made her debut in the world she
went to stay with a half-sister of her
mothers, down in a small country viii
lage. The aunt with whom Constance
stayed-Lady Anstruther-hid two sons,
one following no occupation, the other
a young officer in a crack d-agoon regi-
ment, and with this cousin the beautiful
young girl fell most violently in love.
He on his side returned the love with
more than usual fervor. Constance was,
in his eyes, the most beautiful, the sweet
est, the dearest woman in all the world.
For a month the lovers lived in para
disc; when suddenly an abrupt ending
came to the all too brief halcyon time.
Franks regiment was ordered to Bur-
NAH; they were to leave in a fortnight.
/ What was to be done? Lady Ans
truther, already an invalid, was dis
traught at the thought of losing her
| youngest and best-beloVed son. Her
hearts best love was given to Frank,
although by no outward sign did she ever
allow the world to guess that he was
dcarer to her than her eldest, Roderick.
She was in no condition to be worried,
and that there would be no end of worry
connected with their engagement the
lovers knew full we'll. Sir Edwin Gas
coigne would never consent to his daugh-
ter's marriage with man who had moth
ing to depend upon except his pay, and
who was, moreover, the son Of man
whom Sir Edward had always hated. 1t
was not a moment for delay, and Frank,
full of eager desire to bind his darling to
him, determined to make her his wife
before the day of his departure came.
When once we are married, my dear
est" he had urged, mot ell the objec-
lions in the world can part US for long.
You do not mind roughing 1t with me,
know, and if Sir Edwin is very, very
angry, you can stay with mother till l
have made all my arrangements for you
to follow me out to Burmah."
His entreaties his passionate plead
ings won the day, and Constance con-
scented to become his wife. They would
have taken Roderick into their confidence
had he given them the opportunity; but
Franks brother had gone away almost
Immediately on Constance's arrival
had, indeed, Stunned meeting the girl
in such a marked manner that Con-
stance had felt vaguely hura
II am afraid Roderick does not like
me-" she had said to her lover; but Frank
laughed the idea to scorn.
Frederick is a queer, odd sort Of
chap" he had answered 'but I'll stake
my existence that his feelings for you
are not anything approaching dislike"
"You are so much alike in face, and
yet you are so different in nature" Con
stance often said, gazing with admiring
eyes at her lover.
The two men were, indeed, strangely
alike. Both had coal-black hair, RnC
clear skins, and eyes Of the deepest, rar
est blue. There was barely a year be
tween them, and in height, figure anC
general bearing they were the fac-simile
of each other.
They were married quietly one morn
' ing, the only witness to the ceremony
being Marshall and the village clerk, anC
then, after a week of mingled ecstasy
and unutterable pain at the thought o.
F.; their forthcoming separation, the youni
couple parted, Constance to return hom,
to her fathers house, her wedding RIM
suspended round her neck till the momen
. was opportune for speaking out her story
: and Frank to make his final arrange
0 ments.
s They had one farewell meeting II
2 which Frank sought to cheer and consol
9 his young wife by every means in hi
n power. He told her he had written full
r particulars of their marriage to Roder
g lex, and begged her to confde in hi
brother, who had promised to do all il
Q his power to assist them.
Bear up, my darling" he had entreat
ed "in six months from to-day, pleas
/ heaven, you will be with me, and neve
/ leave my side again as long as life lasts
|, II your father is obgdurate-well, W
= must do without his forgiveness. Kis
v me once more, my wife, my hearts be
l loved, and remember dearest, whateve
It comes, trust in Roderick."
y Ito be continued.)