The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-07-25

At her very birth Jane Eyre was
left in the cold lap Of Charity. Her
aunt-in-law, Mrs. Reed Of Gateshead
Hall, kept the orphan ten years, dur
ing which she was subjected to such
hard, fixed hatred that she was glad
enough to be packed off to Lockwood
school. a semi-charitable institution
for girls.
Her career there was very honor
able from a pupil she became teach
er. She left it to become governess
of Adela Varens, the ward Of Mr.. Ed
ward Rochester, at Thornfield Manor.
There she thoroughly liked her situa-
ton The grand old house; the quiet
library; her little chamber; the gar
den with it's huge chestnut tree; and
the great meadow with its array of
knotty thorn-trees, strong as oaks.
If Mr.. Rochester had been a hand
some, heroic-looking young gentleman,
Jane could never have felt at ease
with him. But he was a sombre,
moody man, with broad and jetty eye
brows, decisive nose, and grim, square
mouth and jaw; and in his presence
. the plain little governess felt some
how happy. Yet his character was
beyond her penetration; she felt a
vague sense of insecurity.
He confided to her that Adela Var
ems was not his child, but the daugh-
ter of a Partisan dancer, who lad de-
ceived him, and deserted the little
girl. So much he told her, but of the
strange shadow that passed over his
happicst moments. of his apparent af-
lection for Jane Eyre along with his
Withholding from her some secret
grief, she could make nothing.
Then there came most mysterious
, happenings 10 Thornfield. One night
i Jane Eyre found the door of Mr.
Rochester's room open, and his bed
on fire. She managed with great diff
ficulty to quench the flames, and
rouse him from the stupor into which
The smoke had plunged him. He ad-
vised her to remain silent as TO the
affair.
/ Later. a Mr.. Mason, from Spanish
Town, in Jamaica, arrived at Thorn
field while Mr.. Rochester was enter
tanning large party. That night Jane
was awakened by cry for help
When she reached the hall the guests
we're aroused.
Mr.. Rochester. candle in hand was
| descending the stairs from the third
floor. "A servant has had a night
! mare, he Sdld.
Thus he persuaded the guests back
into their rooms. Eat ell that night
Jane ives obliged to attend Mr.. Mason,
who lay in a bed on the third floor,
badly wounded in the arm and Shout
DER. From scattered hints Jane gath
cred that a woman had inflicted the
wounds \ doctor was summoned,
and before morning Mr.. Rochester had
nj cd ho I'D
coach, with the doctor to watch over
him.
Then Jane was suddenly summoned
to Gateshead, to her aunt, Mrs. Reed,
| who lay dying. Mrs. Reed gave her
a letter 1t was from John Eyre. in
Madeira, asking that his niece, Jane
Eyre. communicate with him. that he
might adopt her, as he was unmarried
end childless. 1t was dated three
years back Mrs. Reed had never al
tempted to deliver it TO Jane Eyre.
because she dishked her too thorough
ly to lend a hand in lifting her to
prosperity,
When Jane returned to Thornfield
Mr. Rochester proposed TO her; and
because she loved him and believed
in him, she accepted
A month later. at the wedding,
when the clergyman's lips were un,
closed to ask, Wilt thou have this
woman for thy welded wife, in the
gray old house of God, a distinct and
near voice spoke in the silence Of the
empty church
The marriage cannot go on ! de
clare the existence of an impeachment
Asked by the clergyman for the
facts. the speaker showed a document
no NT m q r
RED Bertha Mason, fifteen years be
fore, in Spanish Town, Jamaica; anC
produced Mr.. Mason to witness thai
the woman was alive and at Thorn
field.
Edward Rochester confessed hardly
and recklessly that he had married
as the lawyer asserted; that his wiff
was still living; that he had kept hel
secretly at Thornfield for years. She
was mad; and she came of a mac
family; idiots and maniacs for three
generations. He had been inveiglet
into the marriage by his family. Will
The connivance of his father and broth
er, who had desired him to marry
fortune. He invited the clergyman
the lawyer and Mr.. Mason TO come vi
toThornfield and see what sort OF ;
being he had been cheated into es
pousing and judge whether or not h
had right TO break the compact.
At Thornfield he took them to tn
third story. In a room without win
dow, there burnt a fire guarded by
high and strong fender. and a lam
suspended from the ceiling by a chain
A trusty maidservant bent over tn
fire. apparently cooking something
In the deep shade at the further en-
] Of the room, a figure ran backward
and forward. What it was. at frs
, sight, one could not tell; 1t grovellet
seemingly, on all fours; 1t snatche
1nd OF nil