Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1921-04-21


the wrong his father had done her
and asked only for her kindness, hel
worldly old heart was touched. Hence.
forth he was "Son Esnond" to her,
and when her influence at court had
procured him an ensign's commission
she was proud Of him In his laced
scarlet coat.
Esmond served with some dlstinc-
ton under Marlborough abroad ana
was wounded at Blenhelm, but the
best thing his campaigning brought
him was a chance encounter in st.
Gudules church at Brussels with
Father Holt the tutor Of his boyhood,
who told him his mothers story. She
had been Of that very town, and a
most tender, faithful creature. His
father had deserted her, married her
secretly, and again deserted her, aud
she had taken her broken heart to that
convent. Esmond knelt by her grave,
took a flower from the little hillOck.
and as he listened to the choir chant
ing from the chapel, realized afresh
that love and humility were all that
counted In life.
One great happiness had come to
Esmond before this-he had seen his
dear lady, her face sweet and sad in
her widows hood, in Winchester ca
thedral and when their eyes had met,
the time of estrangement was passed.
Knowing now how her heart had fol-
lowed him, he dreamed that they
might be happy together, but she saw
more clearly. Vince, in their house
at Walcotte, Beatrix, the 16-year-old
maid of honor, with a scarlet ribbon
upon the whitest neck in the world,
came to meet him, he forgot her
mother. No other woman Of her day
was like her for beauty and wit, and
for ten years he was her slave, kneel-
ing with his heart in his hand for the
young lady to take, while she. looked
far higher than the nameless and
fortuneless colonel. Eyes," she said,
II solemnly VOW / want a good hus-
band. My face is my fortune. Who'll
come? Buy! Buy" While marquises
and lords were coming, eager for her.
Esmond bore the torments Of hope
less passion, and his dear mistress
suffered with him.
At last sutton worthy of the prize
appeared-the Duke of Hamilton
much Beatrix's senior, wealthy, and
second to none in the kingdom. Els
mond had to accept his fate. The
wedding gift he made her was the
splendid string Of diamonds his faith
er's widow had given him. AS she ac-
copied it with cry of delight, her
bridegroom with a darkening
face, told her he did not choose the
Duchess Of Hamilton should accept
presents from gentlemen who had no
right to the names they bore. Her
mother, to whom the old dowager on
her death-bed had nIaliciously told
Harry's story, answered for her:
Harry Esmond is his fathers lawful
son and true heir. We are the re-
cipients of his bounty, and he is the
head Of a house as old as your grace's
own" And Beatrix, from whom it had
all been kept a secret, whispered to
him, "Why did not l know you be-
forew
On the eve of marriage the duke
died in a duel. Beatrix mourned him
honestly, but Esmond dared hope for
himself, and planned a bold move to
win her love. All the Esmonds were
heart and soul for the Stuart cause.
Frank, the young viscount, who was
fighting abroad, closely resembled the
exiled chevalier. The two came to-
gether to Lady CastlewOOd's London
house, the prince impersonating the
viscount, and Frank, his valet, and
were received with great JOY. Stuart
partisans came to the house by stealth,
and the plot spread like leaven. The
maid of honor contrived an interview
between the prince and Queen Anne,
his sister, whose health was failing,
and all hoped that she would proclaim
him her successor. Then Beatrix's
friends began to fear for her, as the
prince, who had no respect for women,
was infatuated with her and she
listened to him. Against her will they
sent her to Castlewood. Suddenly the
Queen was reported dying, and the
prince could not be found. Beatrix
had found means to tell him her where
abouts. Henry Esmond and Frank rode
all night to Castlewood. Entering by
the secret window, they found the
prince and told him they came to
avenge their dishonor. Taking from
their old hiding-place the papers prov
Ing his birth and title, Esmond burnt
them before the prince, with the
words: II draw my sword and break
1t, and renounce you. Had you COM
pleted the wrong you designed us,
would have driven it through your
heart" Frank, breaking his own
sword, echoed him: 81 go with my
cousin. I'm for the Elector of Han
over. It's your Majesty's fault. You
might have been king If you hadn't
come dangling after TrixW
The talk was scarce over when Bea'
trlx entered the room. She turned
pale at the sight Of her klnsmen, anC
-. GHuNW