Year: 1872

| A BEAUTIFUL BUT DANGEROUS HEROINE.


Miss Cranston, a very accomplished
woman, kept female school near Blan-
ton, quiet town in New Jersey. This
place had been selected by Mrs. Blake,
the mother of one of the Rival Sisters,
as her home on account of the reputation
of the school. Mrs. Blake made her
advent in Blanton in the character of a
widow who had recently lost her husband,
and she brought with her daughter ten
years of age, named Hester, who was
placed with Miss Cranston as a pupil.


Hester Blake was aremarkable child.


Miss Cranston found her curious
study.


IF she is not tempted, all may go well
with her," thought the old lady; but if
she is" and the ominous shake Of the
head expressed more than words.


Mrs. Blake had fifteen hundred dollars
year, which she stated was derived
from property in the South; but where
it was situated, and in what place she
had lived before she had made her
advent in Blanton, was a matter of con-
lecture. No amount of.pumping had
been successful in extracting such
information from either mother or
daughter.


For few years the stranger lived
almost alone, for her friendless advent
among them had not inspired her neigh
bors with much confidence in her ante
cedents; but as time went on, she won
upon the good opinion of those around
her, and at the time my story opens,
Mrs. Blake was received as a guest by
the best families in the village. tB


People did not trust her, but they
admired and pitied her; for they said
'she is goodly to look at, and she has
evidently been a sufferer in the battle of
life. Ali if they had known how, and
under what circumstances that battle
had been waged, | am inclined to think
that the reputed widow would have found
few friends or defenders in that straight
laced neighborhood.


The cottage occupied by Mrs. Blake
stood about a mile from the town, 1t
was comfortable house, with veranda
in front, over which towering vines were
trained, and the large yard that sur
rounded it was shaded by elm.trees


She was now dreamily regarding her
daughter who stood in front of a mirror
combing out a mass of black glistening
hair.


The figure of the girl was modelled
after that of her mother; there was the
same perfection of outline; the same
sinuous, elastic movement; but the faces
were not alike.


She suddenly turned, and facing her
mother, said:


The dull monotony of this place is
becoming uncomfortable to me. / wish
to see something of the world-I must
see it, mother. "


With sigh, Mrs. Blake said


Sit down on that low chair, and try
to be quiet while l speak of things had
almost determined never to reveal to
you. U III :.


Hester sat down, and prepared to lis
ten to what she had so long desired to
know. rW lnt rr M -Hf


Mrs. Blake at length spoke:


You asked me how it happened that
1 was cast off by the man | dored2-
why he was permitted to wrong me so
bitterly as to bring to his home another
wife while / yet lived and suffered2


al must 90 back to my early life, and
tell You Of myself before | became the
wife of Armand Landry. Ny father
was dissipated, reckless man, who
owned small place near lie Bocage, as
the Landry plantation was called. |
was his only child. ] was educated in a
convent school in France, till ] was
nearly eighteen years old. Then my |
aunt took me home, having already ar
ranged a marriage for me. i was not
consulted, but did not rebel against it,
for Claude Beltot was young and good |
looking, and / preferred remaining in |
France as his wife, to returning to the |
dullness of plantation life. ft /


My father gave me twenty thousand
francs as my dover, and Beltot expected |
10 get much more from him. ! think |
that prospect induced him to marry me,
for / soon found that he was as indiffer-
ent to me as ] was TO him.


Indifference soon merged into con-
tempt on my side, and something ike
aversion on his. We had evidently made |
a wretched mistake, aud We were glad
to separate by mutual consent. returned |
to Louisiana, and Beltot went to Algeria.


When came back to my early home
found my father living as recklessly as
ever.


Among the young men who came TO
bis house was Armand Landry. he was
two years younger than !, Tor be had I
not completed his twentieth year when |
FIRST met him BE soon forsoOk the /
gaming table to linger near me, aud +
well-l was mad enough 10 give him the
heart my husband had never tried 10