Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1921-04-23

his fathers son would not aggravate
the wrong his father had done her,
and asked only for her kindness. her
worldly old heart was touched. Hence
forth he was "SOn Esmond' to her,
and when her influence at court had
procured him an ensigns commission.
she was proud of him in his laced
scarlet coat.
Esmond served with some distinc-
ton under Marlborough abroad and
was wounded at Bleuheim, bur 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
most tender, faithful creature. His
father had deserted her, married her
secretly. and again deserted her, and
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.
thedrai 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. When, in their house
at Walcotte. Beatrix, the 1G-year-old
maid of hcnor. 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. Yes" she said,
81 sOlemnly vow | want a good huS-
band My face is my fortune. Who'll
come? Buy! Buy" While marquiscs
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 a 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 d 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 maliciously told
| liarry'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 house as old as your graCes
own" AMI Beatrix. from whom it had
! all been kept n secret, whispered to
him, why did not l know you be-
| fore!'
On the eve of marriage the duke
died in 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
I fighting abroad, closely reSembled the
exiled chevalier The two came to
gether to Lady CastlewOod's London
I house. the prince impersonatng 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 BeGtriX's
/ friends began 10 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
ahouts. 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: 81 draw my sword and break
| It, and renounce you. Had you com
pieted the wrong you designed US,
would have driven ii through your
heart Frank, breaking his own
sword, echoed him: 81 20 with my
cousin. Pm for the Elector of Han
over. It's your Majesty's fault You
might have been king If You hadn't
come dangling after Trlx"
The talk was scarce over when Bea-
1 trlx entered the room. She turned
pale at the sigh. of her kinsmen and
looked AT Esmond If She could have
9 II IL 4