The Ordway new era., 1908-07-24
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CHAPTER l.
In Which It is Shown That Marriage
Does Not End All!

OOcS Not Emo Sll.
The romance OF life-in novels
is usually pre-marltal. No matter ii
what wild fury of passion and TEN
pest. outward and inward. the youns
people may have been plunged. their
author seems TO think that he has
quieted the raging seas OF adventure
with the oil of his pen-or OF his
typewriter,-when he has led them
TO the altar. In the minds OF the
creators OF the children OF fancy prac'
tically nothing ever happens after the
forging of the hymeneal bond. In
the world II is usually different
The circumstances preceding the
marriage of Ellen Slocum and Bernard
Darlington the protagonists OF this
veracious chronicle OF disturbance,
were sufficiently unusual in them
selves TO have given rise to a mum
ber of interesting and highly exciting
episodes, upon which with great reluc-
tance refrain from dilatinE. for Ellen
Slocum belonged to an old and very
respectable family domiciled in Phila-
delphia since the days OF William
Penn. while Bernard Darlington was
an English baron of ancient and hon
orable lineage whose seat was dilapi-
dated castle in Dorset.
Ellen was an orphan. her mother
having died in giving birth to her.
Her father. deceased shortly before
her marriage. had been a prosperous
merchant and shipowner. Beraard's
father. also eliminated from the story.
had been a gambler and a spendthrift
who had broken his wife's heart and
dissipated his own fortune. Conse'
quenily. Ellen was blessed with a
superHuity OF this worlds goods which
more than matched Lord CarrinEton's
lack OF the same. Ellen was staunch
patriot. 4 rebel and 4 reyolutionist
therefore L.rd Darlington was
promising lieutenant in the English
navy. In some qualities happily he
resembled his mother rather than his
father.
Without entering into the details of
their previous acquaintance. suffice It
to say that they had met while Lord
Darlington was a prisoner of war at
Philadelphia, and married. The Amer.
lean Revolution was over at the be.
ginning of this romance and the scene
is set at Darlington castle in England
Ellen's money. or a considerable por.
ton of 1t, had been cheerfully used
by her to rehabilitate the ancient seat
of the family OF which she was now
become the chatelaine.
She had the disabilities of her quail
ities. too. She had never touched
card: she had never ridden horse.
she did not even know the steps OF
the minuet or any other dance, and un.
til her marriage she cared little about
that prime feminine pursuit called
Following the fashion, The two had
been SO busy in their first comrade.
ship, there had been so much yoy-
aging between England and America,
necessitated by their plans. that there
had been no time for these things as
yet
The two lovers had lived for each
other and much alone during the per.
iod preceding the opening of this
story. but with his castle now com.
pletely repaired and his fortunes thor.
oughly rehabilitated. Lord Darlington
must needs exploit his good luck by
showing his beautiful wife with whom
he was very much in love and of
whom he was inordinately proud, and
exc his castle, to some particular and
intimate friends Of both sexes-men
and women of fashion of earlier and
less innocent days. The introduction
nj ri nf
number Of distinct species Of Eve in
this hitherto serpentless Eden caused
the trouble to begin. The marriage
had stood the test of isolation, the
greatest test that could be imposed
Was 1t to break down before the lesse:
trial of association? We shall see.
It was an excited and angry Ellen
who confronted her lord and master
in her boudoir late one autumn night
or to be quite accurate, early anoth
er autumn morning. And my lord OF
Darlington wis by no means cool him
self. although he was more remarkable
for natural imperturbability Of manner
than his hasty and beautiful wife.
As she spoke with him. however
she let down her hair and carefully
removed those extraneous arrange
ments which had enabled her to raise
It towerlike above her brows, doifed
her silks, unclasped her stays and as
sumed q more convenient negligee
IN which sht; WAS not less charming
as preparation for the imminent fray,
II was to be tire culminatton ~ the
minor cuImfnation that ID, the greater
would come later-of . series Of IN.
Nnyfng inctdsnts sincs the opening of