The Concordia sentinel. (Vidalia, Concordia Parish, La.) 1882-current, 1921-04-23

she drew from him the story of his re
nunciation, and when he told her that
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 enSign'S commission
she was proud of him in his laced
scarlet coat.
ESmOnd served with some distinc-
ton under Marlborough abroad and
was wounded at Blenheim, but the
best thing his campaigning brought
him was q chance encounter in St.
Gudule'S 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, and
she had taken her broken heart to that
convent. Esmond knelt by her grave,
took a flower from the little hiIIOck.
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. When, in their house
at WalcOtte, Beatrix, the 16-year-OId
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. "Yes," she said,
II sOlemnly VOW l want a good hus-
band. Ny face is my.fOrtune. Who'll
come? Buy! Buy" While marquiSes
and lords were coming, eager for her.
EsmOnd bore the tOrments of a hope
less passion, and his dear mistress
suffered with him.
At last a suitor worthy Of the prize
Duke of Hamilton
much Beatrix's senior, wealthy, and |
second to none in the kingdom. Els |
nond had to accept his fate. The |
gift he made her WAS the |
splendid string Of diamonds his faith |
RS widow had given him. As she ac- |
'epted It with a cry of delight, her
with a darkening !
ace, told her he did not choose the
Duchess Of Hamilton should accept /
PRESENTS from gentlemen who had no |
light TO the names they bore. Her
mother, to whom the old dowager on
her death-bed had HIalici0uSly told
1arry's story, answered for her:
Harry EsmOnd Is his fathers lawful
on and true heir. We are the re-
ipients of his bounty. and he is the
lead of house as old as your grace's
wn." And Beatrix. from whom it had
Il been kept a secret, whispered to
i'm, "Why did not l know you be-
ore"
On the eve of marriage the duke
led in a duel. Beatrix mOurned him
htrf Go. |
imself, and planned a bold move to
Tin her love. All the EsmOnds were
cart and soul for the Stuart cause
rank, the young viscount, who was
ghting abroad, closely resembled the
killed chevalier. The two came to-
ether to Lady Castlewood's London /!
ouse, the prince impersonating the
iscount. and Frank, his valet, and
ERE received with great joy. Stuart
came to the house by stealth.
nd the plot spread like leaven. The
laid Of honor cOntrived an interview .
etween the prince and Queen Anne,
Is sister, whose health was failing, |
nd all hoped that she would proclaim
i'm her successor. Then BeatFix's
'iends began to fear for her, as the
rince, who had no respect for women,
as infatuated with her and she
stoned to him. Against her will they
ent her TO CastlewOod. Suddenly the
ueen was reported dying, and the
rince could not be found. Beatrix
nd found means to tell him her where
bouts. Henry Esmond and Frank rode {
Il night to CastlewoOd. Entering by
he secret window, they found the
rince and told him they came to
Venge their dishonOF. Taking from
leir old hlding-plaee the papers prov I
g his birth and title, EsnOnd burnt
lem before the prince, with the {
Ords: 81 draw my sword and break {
, and renounce you. Had you COM 1
eted the wrong you designed us. s
ould have driven 1t through your [
cart" Frank, breaking his own '
word. echoed him: 81 go with my 7
,usin. I'm for the ElectOr of Han {
7er. It's your Majesty's fault. You {
light have been king If you hadn't '
me dangling after TrixI' ,
The talk was scarce over when Bea- =
TX entered the room. She turned
lie at the sight of her kinsmen, and I
oked at EsmOnd as II she could have =
lied him on the spot.
AS they rode back into London, the .
erald was prOclaimiAg: George, by 3
e grace of God king" Queen Anne .