The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1921-05-14

tOOh d uOWeT lTOu tHc Iitllc AiieSns
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 thfs-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. Wines. in their house
at Walcotte, Beatrix, the 16-year-old
maid Of honor, with 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. "Yes," she said,
II solemnly VOW I want good hus-
band. My face is my fortune. Who'll
come? Buyi Buy!" While marquises
and lords were coming, eager for her,
Esmond bore the torrents OF a 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. Es-
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-
cepted it with cry Of delight her
bridegroom-elect, 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 nlaliciOusly told
Harry's story, answered for her:
sHarry 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 secret, whispered to
him, ''Why did moi I know you be-
fore!"
On the eve Of marriage the duke
died in a duel. Beatrix mourned him
honestly, but Esmond dared hope for
himself, and planned 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
kviscount, 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 thattshe 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
Ind 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 t.
ayenge their dishonor. Taking from
their old hiding-place the papers prov
ing his birth and title, Esmond burnt
them before the prince. with thu
words: II draw my sword and break
4 It. and renounce you. Had you com
pleted the wrong you designed us,
would have driven 1t through you
heart" Frank, breaking his owl
sword. echoed him: Il go with M!
cousin. I'm for the Elector Of Han
over. It's your Majesty's fault. 70,
might have been king If you hadn'
come dangling after Trixr'
4 The talk was scarce over when Bea
trix entered the room. She turnee
pale at the sight Of her kinsmen. ant
looked at Esmond as II she could hav'
killed him on the spot.
i AS they rode back into London, tn
HERALD was proclaiming: George, b.
q the grace OF God, king" Queen Ann
/ had died that night.
The chevalier escaped secretly T
!, France, where Behtrix Joined him
Frank had married foreign countess
. and Esmond's mistress was left alone
At last, as beautiful in her, autumn
! AZ maidens in their spring. she listene
to him, and consented to become hi
j, lwife. In their Virginia plantatio
they built new Castlewood, an
: found there an Indian summer Of y
, rene happiness.
: Copyright, 1919. by the Post Pubiishin
: Co. (The Boston POST. Copyright in tn
United Kingdom, the Dominicns. its Co
onies and dependencies. under the copy
RIGHT act. by the Post Publ hing Co
Boston, Mass. q. 8. A. All rights =
!, i served.