m BY MATTIE DYER BRITTS. COPYRIGHT 1886 BY GEO. CHICAGO : GEORGE W. OGILVIE, PUBLISHER, 216 LAKE STREET. .Of C The Widow's Plot, Marc/a, An American Girl, A Heartless Woman, A Weird Wedding Might, Fettered by Fate, A Frolicsome Girl, Ruled by a Woman, Who Will Save Her? The Wife's Secret, For a Woman's Sake. DETECTIVE STORIES. Manacle and Bracelet, The Severed Head, Eagle Gray, Link by Link, File No. 114. RELIGIOUS BOOKS. Twelve Steps Toward Heaven, BY WALTEB B. ADKINS. 10 CENT ILLUSTRATED BOOKS. Bound in Lithographed Paper Covers, printed in four colors with an attractive picture on the front cover. Very Funny Stories, Comic Paragraphs. These books are all bound uniform in style and price with this volume, and can be had at all book and news stores, on all trains, or will be mailed on receipt of price by GEORGE W. OGILVIE, PUBLISHER, 216 Lake St., CHICAGO, ILL. MARCIA. CHAPTER I. THE COUSINS. THE fresh loveliness of the brightest summer morning that ever shone lay around old Douglas Hall. The long windows fronting the wide verandah were open, and the rich lace curtains waved gently with every breeze. Marcia Douglas, the genial old Squire's only and idolized daughter, stood upon the verandah, beside the gilded cage in which her pet canary was swell- ing his yellow throat with his morning song. Very fair and sweet to look upon was Marcia, with her exquisitely rounded figure, scarce of medium height, her pure, fresh complexion, her wavy, red- dish-brown hair, and above all, her large, lustrous, earnest brown eyes, which showed so clearly the true, gentle soul within. She was teasing the bird with a lump of sugar, echoing his music with her own careless, happy laugh, when a manly step sounded near the win- dow, and the tall figure of her Cousin Vance ap- peared on the verandah. " Oh, here you are !" he said, "I've been search- ing the whole house for you !" " I'm sure I wasn't hard to find," was Marcia's laughing answer. " What do you want with me? " " Wouldn't you like a ride in the cool of the morning? " 2125653 6 THE COUSINS. " When did you ever know me to refuse a ride ?" " Not often, I confess. Well, get on your habit, then, and I'll order the horses." Marcia disappeared at once. Vance went to the corner of the verandah, and gave utterance to a peculiar long whistle. While he waits for its answer, let us take a glance at him. Tall, broad of shoulder and strong of limb, with a fair complexion, blue eyes and sunny golden hair, and drooping mustache, he was a splendid specimen of a noble young Kentuckian, a man to be instinctively loved and trusted, as he was, and deserved to be, wherever he went. His call was promptly answered by a small negro boy, who came tumbling around the corner of the house, ducking his woolly head with a giggle as he asked: " Want me, Marse Vance? " " Yes, Pete. Where is Sam? " " Dunno, Marse Vance. Down to de stable waterin' o' de hosses, las' I seen ob him." " Go down and tell him to saddle Miss Marcia's horse and mine, too, and have them round here in ten minutes." "Yes, sah." "Ten minutes, now, Pete! And don't let the grass grow under your feet, either! " Hi! he 'spect it gwine grow ober my head! giggled Pete, as he tumbled away to do his master's bidding. Vance turned to go into the house and met Squire Douglas coming out. "Any commissions to-day, uncle? " he asked. " I believe not," replied the old Squire. " Going to town? " " Marcia and I are going to ride. If you have errands, we will ride toward town." THE COUSINS. 7 " No, thanks; I have none to-day. Did you give the orders about the mowing? " " Yes, sir. They begin with the south meadow. " " All right, then. It's going to be a warm morn- ing. I don't think I'll venture out in the sun. I believe a chair on this cool verandah, and the Frank- fort papers, will be better for a fleshy old fellow like me, than being out. You'll get back to din- ner ?" " Oh, yes, uncle." The old Squire seated himself in his great easy chair, and Vance ran lightly up to his own room. When he came down again, Marcia was standing beside her father, drawing her long buff gauntlets over her dimpled hands, the dark-blue folds of her stylish habit thrown over her arm, the blue plume of her hat floating down to her pretty, sloping shoul- ders. " Why, what is Sam about?" said Vance, smiling as he saw her. " He ought to have had the horses here by this time." " Here he comes," said Marcia. Sam appeared at that moment, leading the horses up the broad carriageway which ran past the end of the house, and curved down the lawn to the great gates. Vance ran down the steps. Marcia paused to kiss her father good-by, and followed him. " Sleepy this morning, Sam?" asked Vance. " No, sah," answered Sam. " Oh, I thought you might be, it took you so long to bring the horses." " Dis yer blamed beas' de fault o' dat, Marse Vance," grumbled Sam. " Better watch her, sah! She's got de debbil in her dis mornin', an' ef ye don't look out, she'll toss ye ober her head, 'deed will she, Marse Vance!" 8 THE COUSINS. " Don't be scared, Sam!" answered Vance, lightly. " Red Arrow knows her master. Hold her head while I help Miss Marcia." He lifted Marcia to her seat, arranged her bridle, and vaulted lightly into his own saddle. One touch to the reins, and the willing steeds were off, Sam marching before to open the road gate, Squire Douglas following them with an affec- tionate gaze from his chair on the verandah. " Better watch dat ar beas', Marse Vance! " cau- tioned Sam, as they rode through the gate. Vance only answered with a laugh, and Sam returned to the house, still grumbling. " What a glorious morning! " said Marcia, as they let the horses go slowly down the yellow road. " Look, Vance, at yonder boat! See how the sun- light strikes the paddles and turns the drops to diamonds! Isn't it beautiful?" She drew rein and paused the better to admire the gorgeous panorama of hill and dale spread out before them, the bright river winding in the fore- ground like a silver ribbon. " It is beautiful, indeed! " said Vance. " I don't think we need rush off to foreign lands to behold grand scenery, when such magnificent views lie at our own doors." " Nor I! " cried Marcia, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. " I don't believe that there is, upon all this broad earth, a fairer land than our own! " " Nor a more loyal little maiden than my Cousin Marcia!" said Vance, gaily. "But, come! if we are to enjoy the cool of the morning, we must not linger here." " ' Whither shall our footsteps tend up the hill or down the glade ? ' " he quoted. " Suppose we ride over to Leslie's. I haven't seen the girls for a week." " All right; so be it ! I am a gallant knight at THE COUSINS. 9 my lady's command," said Vance, bowing with the air of mock-chivalry which became him so well. " Then she bids you sun yourself in Maggie Leslie's bright eyes," replied Marcia, in the same vein. " If I dared so much, Lionel Edwards would treat me to sundry glances rather black than bright. But won't that be a short ride ? " " Oh, I only meant to make a call there, and then go where we please. Up the Frankfort road, perhaps, and then around by the falls." ' So mote it be.' Come, Red Arrow!" And they broke into a light canter which soon brought them to River View, the beautiful home of the Leslie's. " Young ladies at home, Joe? " asked Marcia of the colored boy who opened the gate. " Yes'm, dey's all hyar," answered Joe, holding the gate with one hand, and pulling his old straw hat off with the other. " Ah, I'm glad of that! " said Marcia, rewarding Joe for his service with a brilliant smile which made the boy happy for the next hour. The riders were seen from the house, and Mag and Myra, fresh and blooming as the Baltimore roses which climbed up the old portico, came run- ning out to welcome them with true country hos- pitality. They greeted Marcia with warm kisses and Vance with kindly-clasping hands. " We are so glad you have come! " cried Maggie. " Florry Edwards is here. Now you shall stay all day, and we'll have a good time! Joe! Joe! put up the horses! " But Vance countermanded the order, saying they could only remain a short time, and then, amid the ardent protestations of regret from their young hostesses, they all went into the parlor. IO THE COUSINS. The Leslie girls were pretty, sprightly maidens of eighteen and twenty. Mag, the elder, was a dashing brunette, Myra a handsome blonde, golden- haired and blue-eyed, gentle and loving. There was a brother, handsome, reckless, good-hearted Dick, whose admiration for Marcia was patent to everybody. " Dick has gone to Lexington to-day. He'll be awfully vexed when he finds you were here," said Maggie. " We are sorry to miss him," said Marcia, civilly. " Ah, Florry, good-morning! " she added, as a tall, graceful girl rose from the sofa to greet them. " Maggie told us you were here. I'm so glad to see you! " " Not more than I am," was Florence's answer, as she returned Marcia's greeting, and gave her hand to Vance as calmly as if the sight of him had not set all her veins to tingling. Lionel, Maggie's sweetheart, was Florry's twin brother. They were both tall and graceful, \vith the same dark hair and clear, deep-gray eyes, and, if not strictly handsome, were very attractive, and those who knew them best, loved them best. Florence cared more for Vance Douglas than for any one else in the world. She knew that he only loved her as a friend was never likely to do more, for she knew also a secret which no one else had yet guessed, that his love was given to his cousin Marcia. Talk of love being blind! Why, nothing else is so sharp-sighted; that was the very reason Florence saw where the rest were blind. She was not the girl to pine after a lover who had never really been hers. She made her little moan all to herself, and then, with a calm smile, bravely hid her secret, and Vance's, too, so deep in her gentle heart that no one dreamed they were there. LOUIS L'DRU. n Marcia and Vance made a pleasant call at the Les- lie's, and then, resisting the entreaties of Maggie and Myra to spend the day, they again mounted their horses, and gaily rode away yes, to meet the fate which at that instant was hastening to meet them. CHAPTER II. LOUIS L'DRU. " As soon as the moment's alarm had subsided, * * * He re- gained his position, And not looking ruder, Than the inroad would warrant, surveyed the intruder. " Owen Meredith. 11 LET us ride up as far as the bend, and home by the falls," said Marcia, as they turned from the gate at River View into the high road. " Certainly, if you wish it," replied Vance. " Steady, Red Arrow! " and for a moment he was compelled to give his attention to his spirited horse. The bend was a sharp curve round a rocky ridge, which northward led to Frankfort, and southward to the falls. The approach to the bend lay thro.ugh a lovely green stretch of woodland, where the overhanging boughs almost met above the nar- row way. " Oh, how delightful! " cried Marcia, as they rode in under the leafy bower. " Isn't it?" echoed Vance. " Let us ride slowly and enjoy the shade." He allowed his rein to drop loosely upon the glossy neck of Red Arrow, who was now perfectly quiet, and reaching above his head, gathered two or three green branches and began to weave them into a wreath. 12 LOUIS L'DRU. " What is that for?" asked Marcia, after watch- ing him a moment. "A crown of victory, my dear!" answered Vance, lightly. " When I finish it, we will ride a race to the falls, and the one who gets there first wears the garland. " Light words, gaily spoken! But little did Vance know that they were the last happy, carelessly free words he would utter, the last untroubled moments he would spend for long, long months to come. The crown of leaves was fated never to be finished. The gay race was never run. As Vance spoke the last word a horseman dashed swiftly round the curve, from the south, and gal- loped toward them. Startled by the unexpected appearance, uncon- trolled by her rider's hand, Red Arrow gave a sudden mad plunge, then reared violently, almost standing upright. Marcia screamed, Vance snatched at his rein, but before he could catch it he was dashed to the ground, and Red Arrow, true to her name, flew homeward swift as the shaft sent from the bow. With a second cry of alarm Marcia reined up her horse and sprang from her saddle, to hasten to her cousin. But quick as she was, the stranger, who had been the unlucky cause of the mishap, was quicker. Before she could reach Vance he was bending over the fallen rider, saying in deep, melodious tones: " I beg ten thousand pardons! I fear my heed- less riding frightened your horse! I sincerely trust you are not seriously injured, sir. Can you rise with my help?" "Thanks, but I do not require help," answered Vance, sitting upright, very much mortified by the accident. " I am not at all hurt, and my fall was due onl^to my own carelessness," LOUIS LTDRU. 13 He attempted to rise to his feet, while the stranger turned and bowed deeply to Marcia, his dark, lus- trous eyes plainly expressing his admiration. Marcia returned his elaborate bow merely by a slight inclination of her pretty head, her attention being absorbed in Vance, who found it not so easy as he had imagined to rise. His right ankle would not support his weight, and, after one or two attempts to stand, he gave it up, and sank back with a smothered exclamation of pain. Marcia dropped on her knees beside him, almost sobbing in her distress. " Oh, Vance! Vance! Where are you hurt? What is it? What can we do? " " Nothing, Marcia, but compose yourself. I be- lieve my ankle is badly sprained, but that is all. Indeed, you must not be so frightened, dear child." " Why, how can I help it, Vance! You might have been killed! " " But I wasn't, you see! Really, there is nothing wrong, except my ankle. I can ride home, if this gentleman will kindly assist me to mount my horse. " " Your horse has taken French leave, Mr. Douglas," said the handsome stranger, stepping forward and raising his hat politely, as he added, with a dazzling smile; " Am I not right? Havn't I the pleasure of addressing Mr. Vance Douglas, of Frankfort? " " I am certainly Vance Douglas, but " with a keen look at the stranger "yes, I believe I do know you ! Shall I be wrong if I say Louis LeDru , of South Carolina? " "Entirely right!" cried the brilliant stranger. " I knew you at once, though we have not met since our college days." " I am glad to welcome you to Kentucky, Mr. LeDru," said Vance, cordially, extending his hand, 14 LOUIS L'DRU. not allowing his pain to make him forget his natural courtesy. " Allow me to present you to my cousin," Miss Douglas. Cousin Marcia, I make you acquainted with Mr. LeDru, of Charleston, an old college mate of mine." Marcia kindly acknowledged the introduction. The handsome Carolinian again bowed low with a glance which said plainly as he dared that her beauty and sweetness were not lost upon him. " I am happy and honored to meet Miss Douglas, " said the deep, musical tones. " Fate has been both kind and unkind this morning. Though I exceed- ingly regret the manner of our meeting, I could hardly fail to be glad to meet my old friend, and also (with another low inclination to Marcia) the fair daughter of my father's oldest and best friend, Squire Douglas." " Indeed?" said Marcia, kindly, " Then you must be the son of Simon LeDru!" " I am, at your service, Miss Douglas. And since his name seems familiar to you, I infer that Squire Douglas has not forgotten his old friend." " Oh, no, no!" said Marcia. " He remembers him well, and will be glad to receive his son under the roof of Douglas Hall," she added, frankly. "You do me too much honor, Miss Douglas," replied the courtly LeDru. " You will understand how I appreciate your kindness, when I tell you that I am at present on my way to visit your father." An ingenious little fiction of Louis LeDru's! Up to his chance encounter with Vance and Marcia, he had not even remembered that his father's old friend lived in the state which he was visiting merely for his own pleasure. But Marcia could not know this. So with gen- uine Kentucky hospitality, she said, warmly, LOUIS L'DRU. 15 " Nothing could give us all greater pleasure, Mr. Le Dru!" " Thank you again ! " said Mr. Louis, with another of those gallant bows. " But we must not waste a moment here. Mr. Douglas, since your horse has flown, will you accept mine and allow me to walk beside you?" " By no means! " cried Vance. " But if you will kindly ride beside my cousin to the hall, I will wait here until one of the men can come to me. " " Oh, Vance, no! " said Marcia, hastily. " The sun grows hotter every moment, and your ankle will be fearfully swollen before any one can come. I think you had better accept Mr. Le Dru's kind- ness, and" at that instant the rattle of a rapidly approaching wagon was heard, and quickly turning, Marcia added, " Oh, how lucky! Here is Sam, with the light wagon. " " Yes, Miss Marshy, it am Sam, jes' in time! " cried. that individual, rattling up, stopping the wagon and springing from it, with incredible haste (for him), and coming close to Vance. " Hi, Marse Vance! Dat fool ' funelly beas' done did what I tole yer, did she? Ax yer pardon fur cussin,' Miss Marshy, but I'se so mad at dat critter! She come a-rarin' an' a-tarin' up to de gate, an' jes' tuk gate, pos', fence an' all, at one clar' jump! I's jes' drivin' out, gwine to mill, an' I knowed her, blame her! so I jes' follered her tracks hyar, fas' as I could drive!" " Did papa see her?" asked Marcia, quickly. " Yes'm, Miss Marshy, de squire and Miss Mad'line bofe out on de piazzy, an' seed her jump de fence. Dey don got de breaf ' o' life skeert plum out'n dere bodies, too! Dat ar cussed, Tunally beas' need her back bruk fur dis yer piece o' wuk! " "Hold your tongue, Sam!" ordered Vance. " There is no harm done, worse than a sprained 16 "SATAN'S WAV TO PARADISE." ankle. But I am glad you came, for you can drive me home. Was the horse hurt?" " Nary scratch, Marse Vance! Satan done tuk keer o' his own, dat time! " " I'm very glad of it! I should mind it much more, if she had come to harm." " Hi! here's a chap dat wouldn't, den!" muttered Sam. " Now, Marcia," said Vance, " if you will ride on with Mr. LeDru, and relieve the alarm at the house, Sam and I will follow at once." "Allow us first to assist you into the wagon," said Mr. LeDru. " No, thanks. Sam can give me all the aid I require," returned Vance, rather proudly. " Then shall I have the honor of placing you in your saddle, Miss Douglas?" asked Mr. Louis, turning to Marcia, and gallantly offering his hand. She placed her small foot upon his palm, and let him lift her to her seat. Then he mounted his own horse, and rode away by her side to carry the news to Douglas Hall. CHAPTER III. "SATAN'S WAY TO PARADISE." " In the mind of that man At that moment, there shaped itself vaguely, the plan Of a purpose malignant and dark." Meredith. AFTER they were fairly on the road, Marcia took her first real look at Louis LeDru. And her judg- ment was, " He is the handsomest- man I ever sa in my life!" Indeed, he was handsome as Lucifer was said once to have been the most beautiful of the angels, as well as the wickedest! "SATAN'S WAY TO PARADISE." 17 She did not venture a second look, for Mr. LeDru instantly turned the thrilling, magnetic gaze of his dark eyes upon hers with an intensity which made them drop quickly, and brought the warm blood swiftly into her round cheeks. " Miss Douglas, " said he, " when I set out to visit your father this morning, I had no idea I was to be so favored by fortune. " In the last part of that sentence, Mr. Louis for once told the truth! But Marcia could not guess that the first part was all a lie, so she asked, kindly: " Did you come to Kentucky on purpose to see papa, Mr. LeDru? " " That was my main object, Miss Douglas. " " Then we must try to render your visit apleasant one." " Oh! it will not be necessary to 'try, ' indeed!" answered Mr. Louis, with a meaning glance.' Marcia colored again, slightly with vexation, as she did not care for compliments. " When did you reach Frankfort?" she asked. " Last night, Miss Douglas!" " But why did yofl not come out to the Hall at once?" pursued Marcia, innocently. " Oh, it was entirely to late to think of disturbing any one then," responded Louis, promptly. " A guest never disturbs papa, no matter at what hour he comes," said Marcia. " And I cannot think of anything which would afford him greater pleas- ure than to entertain at his own fireside, your father's son." Louis bent to his saddle-bow. "Thank you," uttered he, in those deep, thrilling tones, as though he feared to trust himself to say more. Marcia could not tell why his magnetic gaze should embarrass her so. To regain her compo- sure, she continued : i8 "SATAN'S WAV TO PARADISE." ' Vance will be delighted, too. Did I under- stand you to say you were classmates ? " " For three years, at old Yale, Miss Douglas . If I remember rightly, he lives near you, doesnt he ? " " With us, since his father's death. " " Indeed ? I was not aware that he had lost his father. " Yes, Uncle John died two years since, and Vance, at my father's express wish, makes his home with us, managing his own estate, which joins ours, and assisting papa besides. Papa thinks he could not get along at all without Vance." " Happy fellow ! " murmured LeDru. " I wonder if he knows how much he is to be envied ! " " In what, Mr. LeDru ? " asked Marcia, inno- cently. " In living under the same roof with his charming cousin ! " " Mr. LeDru, I greatly dislike flattery," said Marcia, very haughtily. LeDru's handsome face instantly wore an expres- sion of humble penitence. " I sincerely beg pardon, Miss Douglas," said he, " I should not have offended, but you see I am a plain, honest sort of fellow " (if Louis had possessed a conscience, wouldn't it have hurt just then), " and so apt to express my admiration when I see any- thing very beautiful, that I forgot our acquaintance was only measured by moments, as yet. When you know me better, you will not mistake frank admiration, even though bunglingly expressed, for mere empty compliment." His manner was so simple, his low tones so dan- gerously thrilling, how could Marcia doubt his truth ? She gave him an artless look and smile, and said, sweetly, " I am not offended, Mr. LeDru." "SATAN'S WAY TO PARADISE." ig Louis bowed silently, as if afraid or unwilling to trust himself to speak. Indeed, before he could have spoken, they had reached the great iron gates, which were swung open by two little negro boys who were on the watch for them. Bidding him enter with a pretty wave of her soft little hand, Marcia looked up into LeDru's face, and said, quaintly: " Welcome to Douglas Hall, Mr. LeDru! " But, ah! little guessed the innocent child that she was welcoming to her paradise the serpent who had come to blight its beauty! Louis lifted his hat with courtly grace, and bowed again, almost to the saddle bow. Then raising his fine form erect, he looked directly into Marcia's honest brown eyes, with an expression which plainly said that his tongue would fail to express the emotions of his heart. They cantered gently up the wide, smooth car- riage-way to the. house where Squire Douglas and Miss Madeline were anxiously waiting, and the negroes were gathered at the corner of the veran- dah, eager to hear what had happened. A vague impulse prompted Marcia to wish for her father to help her from her horse. But Louis instantly dismounted and stood at her side, extending his arms with a fine gallantry which poor Vance, true gentleman though he was, could not have imitated to save his life. " What has happened, daughter? " asked the old squire, hastening to meet them as they came up the steps. " We have been terribly frightened. Where is Vance? " " Coming, papa, with a sprained ankle," said Marcia. " Thank the Lord it is no worse than that ! " fer- "SATAN'S WAY TO PARADISE." vently ejaculated the old gentleman. " But you bring us a guest, Marcia. " " Yes, papa, one you will gladly welcome," said Marcia, smiling, while the younger man reverently took off his hat and stood uncovered before the elder one, in an impressive attitude. " I am always glad to welcome a guest, "said the generous old Squire. " But doubly so, papa, when he is the son of a dear friend ! This is Mr. LeDru, from Charles- ton. " " What ! Simon LeDru's son ? Do I really see Simon LeDru's son ?" cried the good old gentle- man, extending his hands and warmly clasping those of the young man. " Are you Louis LeDru, actually Simon's boy ?" " Himself, and no other !" said Louis, heartily. " Well, well ! I'm glad of it ! I'm glad of it ! Both hands, sir, both hands ! Why, this is too good to be true ! that Simon LeDru's son has really come to visit his father's old friend, away out here in Kentucky ! " " Yes, sir, he has taken that liberty," said Louis, giving as winning a smile to the silver-haired Squire as he had given to the brown-haired girl. It being Mr. Louis's rule, as it was Alexander the Great's to conquer all men, as well as all women so far as he could ! " Taken the liberty ? Done us the honor, you mean ! Well, sir, welcome to Douglas Hall ! A thousand welcomes ! Here, sister Madeline, come here, come here ! Come and take Simon LeDru's boy by the hand. By both hands, as I have Louis, my sister, Miss Madeline Douglas." Louis bent over the plump hand which Aunt Madeline held out to him saying, respectfully, " I have often heard my father speak of Miss Douglas. It is a great pleasure to me to meet her. "SATAN'S WAY TO PARADISE." 21 " None the less so to us, I am sure," said Miss Madeline. " I join in my brother's welcome to our house. " Louis was privately wondering if there was no mistress at Douglas Hall save herself, when the Squire unconsciously came to the young arch- schemer's aid. " Yes, our house," he said. " You may remem- ber to have heard, Louis, that Providence was pleased years ago to remove Marcia's mother from our midst. Since then my sister has nobly filled her place in our home. " Now Mr. Louis did not have the slightest recol- lection of ever having heard of the death of Mrs. Douglas, but he promptly answered. " Yes, sir, I remember. I am sure you have b.een fortunate in having so kind a sister. " " Indeed we have! Indeed we have!" repeated Squire Douglas, warmly. . " My brother is partial," said Miss Madeline, smiling. " Mr. LeDru, you resemble your father very much. The last time I ever saw him he stood just where you now stand, upon these very steps." " I did not know, or have failed to remember, that he was ever "here," observed Louis, adroitly, anxious to find out all he could. " Yes, he spent a summer here, and I passed a winter in Charleston with him," said Squire Douglas. " But, as both were before you were born, you could scarcely be expected to remember. You were quite a young girl yourself then, Maddy," he added, turning to his sister. " Yes, quite young," said Miss Madeline, with a smile and a sigh. Old memories stirred tenderly in the gentle heart beating under Miss Madeline's ample bosom at the sight of Simon LeDru's son. Once she had been very near marrying Simon LeDru. He was a noble man and loved her truly, 22 " SATAN'S WAY TO PARADISE." and she had hesitated long before saying no. But she could not desert her newly-widowed brother and his orphan child in their hour of need. She sent the lover away and gave her life to those who loved her at home. She had been happy, in spite of her sacrifice, and now, notwithstanding her fifty years, was still fair, sweet and comely. But she could not, even now, look with indifference upon the boy who might have called her "mother." Such a handsome young fellow, too, and so like his father. Had he only known it, Mr. Louis need not have been at half so great pains to propitiate Miss Mad- eline. " I hope you came all this way on purpose to visit us, Louis," said the good Squire. " i have been making a little pleasure trip through the west, sir. But I did take in Kentucky for the express purpose of visiting you," said Mr. Louis, uttering his lie as glibly as though it were the truth. "That's right! That's right! Glad of it, boy! When did you reach Frankfort?" " Last night, sir, by way of Lexington Junction, from Louisville." " Your baggage is at the hotel ?" " At the Bramble House, sir." " I'll send a boy over for it. Now we've got you we'll not let you go in a hurry, Louis." " I shall be happy to remain, Squire Douglas," said Mr. Louis, telling the truth for once more. At this moment a cry went up from the sable group at the corner of the verandah. " Dere dey come ! Dey're a comin'." And the wagon in which were Vance and Sam rolled up the broad drive. Squire Douglas was down the steps in a moment. "Why, why, Vance! What's all this what's WEAVING THE WEB. 23 all this? Sure it is nothing worse than a sprained ankle? " " Nothing worse, uncle, I'm glad to say. " " Well, by George, it's bad enough! " cried the old gentleman, looking over the side of the wagon at the fearfully swelled ankle, from which Sam, by Vance's orders, had cut the boot. " Here, boys! one, two, half a dozen of you, come and carry him into the house, and let somebody ride lik Jehu for Doctor Burnett! " But to this Vance would by no means submit. He put them all aside, even to LeDru's solicitous offer of assistance, and leaning only on Sam's shoulder, hobbled up to his own room, while Squire Douglas began to give orders for the comfort and entertainment of his unbidden guest : . CHAPTER IV. WEAVING THE WEB. " AUNT MADDY," entreated Vance, as he was fol- lowed up-stairs by a curious troop of house-serv- ants, " send them all away! I won't have it. I won't have a doctor, either! Just let Aunt Nerve fix up something to stop this swelling, and that's all I need. " " Go down, boys and girls, every one of you," was Miss Madeline's order. " Rosa, go to the dining-room and send Nerve up with a bowl of strong vinegar and some brown paper; then go to Miss Marcia at once. Don't you know it is almost dinner-time? " Rosa hurried out, with a toss of her comely head which made her new ear-drops twinkle, and speed- ily sent her mother, or " Aunt Nerve " as she was always called, to Vance's room. 24 WEAVING THE WEB. Aunt Nerve was the head of the house-servants, and had been Marcia's nur-ee in her babyhood, as well as her attendant ever since, until Rosa was old enough to assume the position of waiting-maid. Since which time, Aunt Nerve had been pro- moted to the post of chief nurse, and assistant house-keeper, though it is doubtful if she even con- sidered herself second to Miss Madeline in that respect. Sitting down on the floor, she began skillfully to bind up Vance's injured ankle, using her tongue as briskly as her fingers. " Now, Marse Vance, jes' you heave dat foot up on dis hyar stool, an' we'll fix it in less'n no time! Well! 'fore de Lord! ef dat hain't swelled de power- fullest! You'se not set dat foot to de flo in a month o' Sundays! " Oh, hush, Aunt Nerve! You're a regular Job's comforter," growled Vance. " Dunno much about Job's comforters, honey, but I reckon you'll need some o' his patience 'fore dis hyar gits well!" calmly went on the privileged nurse. " Little mo' o' dat vinegar, please, Miss Mad'line. Nuffin better'n brown paper an' plenty o' vinegar for a sprain. Dar was my ole man, Uncle 'Killus, he done sprain hissef one year, right in plantin' time, an' I 'clar, Tore my Hebbeuly Mars- ter, I done fetch him fro' wid not a singly ting but vinegar an' brown paper. 'Deed, did // " " Well, there, that will do, Nerve," said Miss Madeline. " We have done all that is needful just now. You go down and see that they get dinner up in good order. We have company, you know. " " Laws, yes, Miss Mad'line, honey, I done seed the gen'lman!" " He will remain some time, so you and Hitty will have a chance to show your skill." " Yes'm, Hitty cooks far, she does, " said Aunt WEAVING THE WEB. 25 Nerve, having the last word as usual, " an' wid me to boss her, she kin git -long, Hitty kin. We'll see to de dinnah, Miss Mad'line." " Do you feel better, Vance?" asked Miss Maddy, as Aunt Nerve disappeared. " Yes, aunty, much better. I wouldn't mind the confounded thing a bit if it didn't keep me a pris- oner. " " I hope it won't do that very long. Try to take a nap before dinner. It will soon be ready, and I will send yours up here. I must go down to the parlor a little while, but I will come up again soon. Do you want anything before I go? " " No, thank you, aunty." " Try to rest, then, and it will do you good." Miss Madeline left the room. Vance closed his eyes and leaned his head wearily against the back of his great easy chair. Presently light footsteps sounded in the hall, his door opened, and Marcia peeped in on her way down-stairs, fresh and sweet in cool robes of thin pink tissue, some sprays of sweet-fern fastened with one crimson bud upon her bosom. " How is tlie lame foot?" she asked. " Much better. Come in, please, " replied Vance, with a faint smile. Marcia tripped over and stood beside him, brush- ing the damp, golden locks from his forehead with her soft fingers. " I'm so sorry, Vance! That was an unlucky ride, wasn't it?" she said, with more truth than she knew. " Oh, this is nothing!" said Vance, lightly. " It pains me some, but I reckon I can stand that." " Pains you? Yes, I should think it did, judging from your pale face!" " That doesn't matter. It will soon be well. How do you like Mr. LeDru, Marcia? 26 WEAVING THE WEB. " I can hardly tell yet. He is certainly the hand- somest man I ever saw, and has the most elegant manners. Papa has already invited him to stay all summer, and he has accepted the invitation. Arn't you glad?" * " Um well yes, I suppose so!" said Vance, dryly. " He will be such an addition to our little pleasure- parties, you know!" " Um yes, I suppose so! ' : said Vance, as dryly as before. " He is so handsome, all the girls will be sure to fall in love with him! " " Um yes, I suppose so!" said Vance, a third time. " Don't you be one of the girls in that" re- spect, Marcia!" " Oh, I'm proof ! " laughed Marcia. " There's the bell, I must go down. I'm so sorry you can't come, too, Vance. Mr. LeDru will miss you so much." " Bah! If you miss me, I don't care whether Le- *f j; Dru ever thinks of me at all or not!" " Why, Vance! I thought he was your friend!" " Well, I reckon he is. But he isn't my little sister-cousin, you see! Now kiss me and run down, they will be waiting for you. " As freely and innocently as if he had been her own brother, Marcia bent and kissed him. As she stooped, the fragrance of the sweet fern upon her bosom was borne strongly to Vance's senses. It is odd how small a thing will sometimes last- ingly impress us. To his dying day, Vance never inhaled the odor of sweet fern without having a vivid picture instantly before him of his Cousin Marcia as she stood before him in her pink robes that bright June day. " Good-by now, until after dinner," said she. " Will you come up again, then?" "Yes." WEAVING THE WEB. 27 " Be sure you don't let our fascinating guest make you forget it. " " Now, Vance! I've a notion not to come, to punish you for that! " " Haven't I been punished enough already, to-day?" " Yes, I believe you have, so I'll be merciful. Good-by! " She tripped away, while Vance, with an unusually grave face, watched the last flutter of her pink robes disappear as the door closed behind her. Mr. Louis LeDru, neither so tall nor so heavy as Vance Douglas, Was yet formed in perfect sym- metry and manly proportions. His complexion, very fair in spite of his Southern origin, was rendered almost dazzling by contrast' with his jet-black, curling hair, long black eyelashes and fresh-colored cheeks. His eyes were the very blackness of darkness, " dark, vivid and eloquent," with a wonderful magnetism in their unfathomable depths. His finely-cut lips were of the richest crimson, made brighter by contrast with his brilliant, white teeth, and hardly concealed by his silky, black mustache. Yet far from being merely " a pretty man," his appearance was manly and noble to an unusual degree. His graces of mind were no less striking than his graces of body. He was the personification of high-bred, cultivated elegance. In fact, he was accomplished in everything except pure goodness and genuine honor and honesty. In these, Louis LeDru never had learned, never was likely to learn, the first and simplest rudiments. Marcia was by turns repelled, attracted, bewil- dered and fascinated, in spite of herself. But for the fact that her whole heart, although yet unknown to herself, was long since given to 28 WEAVING THE WEB. Vance, she would certainly have " fallen in love " with the handsome stranger as he meant she should do, from the very first. Vance knew his own heart well. But he knew, too, that Marcia's awakening from careless girlhood to noble womanhood had not yet come. She was but eighteen, he twenty-two. They were yet so young, they lived under the same roof and were always together, there seemed to be no need of haste. And so Vance waited to pluck the golden apples of life until Louis LeDru came to shake the bough ! Dinner was announced as soon as Marcia came down. The little party proceeded to the wide, spacious dining-room which opened upon a cool back piazza. The table was covered with finest damask, and glittering with costly silver, glass and priceless china. No one who has ever been a guest in one of these " old Kentucky houses " needs to be told that it was luxuriously spread. Mr. Louis exerted himself to make a good im- pression, and succeeded beyond his hopes. The old Squire was delighted, Marcia irresistibly charmed, and even staid Miss Madeline thought, with a sigh, of the days when his father had sat at that board and tried to win her for his bride, and how proud she would now be if this handsome, black-eyed Louis could call her " mother. " After dinner the small circle returned to the parlor. Poor Vance had partaken of a solitary dinner in his own room. His apartment was directly over the parlor, and the sound of gay voices and merry laughter was wafted up to him by the summer wind, effectually disturbing the slumbers in which he tried to lose himself. Vance was not at all of a jealous temperament, WEAVING THE WEB. 20 but it was hardly consistent with human nature that he could be content to be a prisoner to his room, while in the parlor below this fascinating Carolinian cast his witcheries over Marcia. Mr. LeDru had taken full license in speaking of his friendship with Vance. He knew that the col- lege acquaintance by no means warranted the name of friendship. He never was a favorite with Vance. There were stories afloat in those old days of things which the honorable young Kentuckian could by no means approve. But as a guest in his uncle's house, LeDru was safe against one hint to his prejudice from Vance, and sure of the most courteous treatment. And well he knew it! But Mr. Louis overlooked one point. Their meeting that morning had not come about so aus- piciously as to make Vance forget everything to Louis' discredit rather the contrary. Kentuckians are all born riders, and very sensi- tive on the subject of their main accomplishment. Vance was a far better rider than Louis, and the accident of the morning was a source of deep morti- fication to him. His up-stairs musings were not the pleasantest in the world, nor the most favorable to Louis LeDru. Marcia seemed to have forgotten her promise to come up again. It stung poor Vance to think that she was already so charmed with their imbidden guest that she could not spare one moment to brighten his suffering hours. At last, weary with the pain of his ankle, lonely and depressed, Vance fell asleep in his chair and dreamed that Marcia and LeDru were walking on the edge of a terrible precipice, while he, struggling to warn them of their danger could not make them hear or heed him. 3O VAXCK AND FLORRY. But Marcia had not forgotten him. As soon as politeness would allow her to leave her devoted guest (and the time was not so long as it seemed to waiting Vance) , she came up to redeem her promise. She found Vance still sleeping, with a troubled look on his fine face, and stole away without dis- turbing him. But she left a spray of sweet fern lying upon his folded hands, and when Vance awoke, he knew she had been there. CHAPTER V. VANCE AND FLORRY. " Oh, merry goes the time When the heart is young !" Old Song. WHETHER his dream was a meaningless vision, or the workings of a mind so stirred that even in slumber it could not rest, Vance knew not. But putting what he knew of the past, and what he could guess of the future, he felt that a dangerous precipice might, indeed, lie in Marcia's pathway. And whether he ever won her for himself or not, he determined to save her if he could, not allowing even one day to pass without his watchful care around her, though she might not know it was there. When Aunt Madeline came up next morning, he told her not to send his breakfast up, for he was coming down. " Indeed, you must not think of it, Vance! " re- monstrated Miss Maddy. " But I do think of it, Aunty, and I'm coming down," insisted Vance. " Are there not a pair of old crutches somewhere round the house? " VANCE AND FLORRY, 31 " Yes, up garret, I believe. But you had better not go down to-day, Vance. It may hurt you seri- ously. " " Not a bit worse than to fret up here, aunty! I'm not going to be cuddled like a baby over noth- ing but a sprained ankle! Just send Sam to look up those crutches, please! " Miss Madeline knew that when Vance would have his way, he would, so she called Sam, the crutches were brought from the garret, and Vance hobbled into the dining-room, just as the family were sitting down to breakfast. " Why, hallo, my boy! Able to be about already? " was the Squire's greeting. " Yes, sir. Couldn't be a prisoner any longer! Good morning, Marcia! Good morning, Mr. Le- Dru." " Good morning, Vance. I'm glad you are bet- ter," said Marcia, with a bright smile. Mr. Louis, his handsome face expressing deep delight, rose from his chair and warmly shook hands with Vance, saying: " Good morning, good morning! I am indeed happy if the accident of which I was the unfortun- ate cause, prove but slight. You Kentucky fellows must be blessed with plenty of pluck, Douglas, or you would not be on foot to-day." " There are worse things than a sprained ankle," returned Vance, lightly, as he took his seat at the table. " Mine shall not longer prevent me from enjoying your social circle." " Nor a bit of this boiled trout, either," said Squire Douglas, placing a nicely-browned piece on Vance's plate. " These are from our own river, Louis. Do you have anything finer in this line down in Carolina? " " No, sir, we do not," answered Mr. Louis, who was a devoted lover of the pleasures of a well-spread 32 VANCE AND FLORRY. table. " I never tasted finer fish. In fact, I seem to have been blessed with an excellent appetite ever since I reached Kentucky." "That's right! That's right, Louis! We want people to enjoy eating while they are with us. And, by the way, youngsters, Louis will find the old hall very dull unless you give him some entertain- ment. You must show him our country society. " " I am sure I could not have more charming society than I find here! " protested Mr. Louis, with a glance at Marcia, which did not escape Vance. " Of course we mean to do something for enter- tainment, papa," said Marcia. " Can you suggest a beginning for to-day? But remember Vance can't go out, and we will not leave him alone." " Never mind me," put in Vance. But the Squire answered: " Send for somebody to come here then. The Leslie's and Florry Edwards." " Good! " cried Marcia. " Papa, that's a grand idea of yours! We'll act on it immediately! Just the nicest girls, Mr. LeDru! I shall insist upon your falling in love with May Leslie straightway! " And she gave him an arch, laughing glance. " Yesterday I might! To-day I am in no dan- ger," said LeDru, in a low tone, as they passed out of the dining-room. "Nonsense!" returned Marcia, blushing rosily, and hurrying away from him to send the invita- tions. Vance overheard Louis's low words, too, and ground his teeth hard, but kept silent for the present. Marcia's messenger promptly returned, saying the invitations were all accepted, and the young folks would come over early, so as to avoid the heat. VANCE AND FLORRY. 33 Miss Madeline at once carried the news to her satellites in dining-room and kitchen, desiring Aunt Nerve to see that everything came up in proper order, and saying she would speak to Hitty also. " Laws, now, Miss Mad'line," said the privileged old servant, " dar ain't no use ob worritin' yerself wid dem kitchen niggahs! Fse able to boss dem yit awhile, an' Hitty kin cook fur de president his- sef ef he eber comes along! I'll say dat fur Hitty, ef her an' me does disagree 'bout de bes' way ob doin' tings, sometimes! Bettah leabe it to me, Miss Mad'line, honey, 'deed hadjj/r- ever from the presence of virtue and truth. While in the parlor, the guests were assembled to witness the wed- ding which would never take place. CHAPTER XXVIII. A WEDDING AFTER ALL. "So we wandered through the gate together. Hand in hand upon our future way." Miss BURN SIDE. "Now, old friend," said the Squire, turning to Mr. Edwards, "I have to thank you for standing by us in this time of trouble. I know your discretion can be relied upon." " Most entirely ! " returned Mr. Edwards. " But your thanks are not due to me, but to Vance, brave fellow ! I did not dream of such a state of things until to-night." " I have thanked him already," said the Squire, laying his hand affectionately on Vance's shoulder. " He knows how I appreciate his work. " " You must thank Florence, too, uncle," said Vance. " I could have done nothing without her. She has been friend, confidant, sister and helper, from the very first." " God bless her for it ! " said the Squire, fervently. " Thank you, Squire ! I am proud of my girl this night," said Mr. Edwards, warmly. " We owe a debt of gratitude to those young people." Marcia, with a happy light in her brown eyes, left her post beside Nettie, and softly slipped her hand into her cousin's, where it was held with a strong clasp. " Our task is not yet ended," resumed the Squire. "We have a mighty tough knot still to untie. Those people in the parlors have come to witness a wedding. Somebody has got to tell them there will be 'no wedding here to-night. Friend Edwards, will you under- take to help us over this very embarrassing point?" I/O A WEDDING AFTER ALL. Before Mr. Edwards could answer, Vance had drawn Marcia's hand upon his arm, and thus led her before his uncle. " Uncle Samuel," said he, "there is no necessity of disappointing our guests. If you say so, the wedding shall go right on. I will take Mr. LeDru's place as bridegroom. " In his sudden surprise the Squire almost bounded from the floor. " Why, God bless my soul !" he cried. Lord bless us all, I never , thought of such a thing as that." "/ have thought of it, these many long months," said Vance, calmly. " But but, boy, we all supposed you were courting Florence !" " Florence never has been, never thought of being, more than a good, kind sister to me," said Vance, not doubting what he said. " She has helped me in this affair, knowing all about my love for Marcia. I took that long journey because I could not give my cousin up to another. May I have her, uncle? " " Vou'll have to say yes, Squire. He has fairly earned her," said Mr. Edwards, smiling at this unique proposal. " So he has ! So he has ! I'm glad to let him have her, too ! That is, if she consents. How is that, my girl? " " She will consent, uncle. Won't you, Marcia? " said Vance, bend- ing low. " Gladly ! " was Marcia's simple answer, raising her love-lit eyes to his. Vance's bold plan had succeeded. " Amen ! " fervently uttered the old Squire. " I must say, young folks, your way of getting over the difficulty is ahead of mine. But see here there's the license. " " Who has it?" asked Mr. Edwards. "I have. That confounded rascal (I ask your pardon, Mrs. Le- Dru ; I forgot you were here ! ) gave it to me to hand to his grooms- man, Doctor Burnett. I haven't given it yet." He drew the paper from his pocket. " Perhaps I can be of service in this crisis," said Mr. Edwards, drawing out his watch. " It is now seven by mounting your fleetest horse, I could ride to Frankfort, change this for a license with the correct name, and get back by nine, at latest, only a half hour after the appointed time. " " The horse shall be ready instantly ! " returned the Squire. But Marcia, stepping forward, blushing crimson, laid her hand on her father's arm, saying, " Papa, Mr. Edwards is very, very kind, but if you would let Dick Leslie do this for us, I think, nay, I know he would be very happy to have the chance. " "I yield the task freely," said Mr. Edwards, smiling. "Dick is much better fitted for a harum-scarum gallop than I am, any way. Shall I call him, Squire?" " Yes, call him, Edwards, while I order the horse. We'll explain, and have him off in a twinkling. And you young monkeys fly up- stairs and get your fix-ups on ! We'll have a merry wedding yet, by the Lord Harry ! " While Vance and Marcia hastened up-stairs, Dick was summoned to the library, and told as much as was needful to his errand. He was almost struck dumb with amazement, but he was heartily rejoiced at the change, for his hatred of LeDru was deep and sincere. A WEDDING AFTER ALL. I/ 1 Marcift judged rightly honest Dick was sincerely glad of the opportunity to serve them, and if ever a horse was made to fly over "bank, bush and scaur," it was Dick Leslie's horse that wedding night, on his way to change the license. Marcia found only Rosa in her chamber. But Rosa stood speech- less with surprise that laughing, radiant face she had not seen on her young mistress for many a day ! " Rosa, have Myra and Florence come?" asked Marcia. " Miss Myrahabn't, but Miss Flo'encedone wait in de bnaesmaid's room dis long time, Miss Marshy." " Go tell her to come and dress me, Rosa; I'm late now. And then do you go find Aunt Maddy, and tell her papa wants her in the library. Vance has come and brought friends with him. " " Marse Vance got home ? Well, dat's good news ! Yes'um, Miss Marshy, I tell 'em, right quick !" and Rosa sped away on her errand. Florry hastened to Marcia's room, not in her bridesmaid's robes, but still wearing the plain black silk. At sight of the rapt, happy face, flushed cheeks, smiling lips and sparkling eyes Marcia turned toward her, she stopped short, almost aghast. White cheeks, anguished eyes, blanched lips, she had expected but not this ! " Fie, you naughty girl ! not dressed yet ! " cried Marcia, merrily. " Now I shall condemn you to dress me first. " " But you are you are not! you don't! " stammered Florry, quite unable to comprehend. " Don't what ? Don't mean to be married ? Yes, of course I do ! Dress me quick, we are late now ! " " But I but, Marcia ! you don't know ! " " Yes, I do ! I know everything, you noble, good girl ! " cried Marcia, flinging her arms around Florence, and giving her a good hug. "Bless you, Florry! I'm the happiest girl alive! Now, will you dress me ? " "No! I won't!" cried Florence. " This iniquitous wedding you know it can't go on ! " " I know it can, and ska! I, Florry. " " Marcia ! Marcia ! for Heaven's sake ! He has a wife already ! " " He has no wife but me ! Never will have ! " cried Marcia, with merry lips and sparkling eyes. "Oh, Florry! can't you guess? It isn't Louis! " Florence caught the sweet, rosy face between her two hands, and looking at it, a joyful wonder lit her own. "Is it Vance?" she cried. " Yes ! " A fervent embrace said all the rest. "Well! thank the Lord!" exclaimed Florry. "Now we must hurry! Oh, I'm so glad! But why don't Myra come? Your combs and brushes first, Marcia, quick ! Where is Myra, I say? " " She has not come," said Marcia, while Florry's fingers flew over her beautiful brown hair. " She is not well, you know, and I suppose was afraid to venture out in the damp air." Florence guessed that Vance had not yet spoken of the affair be- tween Myra and LeDru. But she knew that Myra had not come because she could not bear to see the man she loved wedded to another. But she only said: 172 A WEDDING AFTER ALL. " Well, we can't wait for her. You will have to do with ne bridesmaid, that's all." ********* In the front parlor a large number of guests, considering the weather, were waiting. In the back parlor and hall were seen the dusky faces of the negroes, who had all gathered to see their beloved young mistress married. The minister was also waiting, and the company were beginning to grow impatient, when a whisper ran through the rooms, and the bridal train appeared. First came Mr. Edwards, with Aunt Madeline upon his arm, fair and stately in her stiff black satin and laces. Next came Squire Douglas with a pale, sweet lady, also in black satin, whom nobody knew. Then Mr. Walters, escorting Florence, and lastly the bride and groom, Marcia and Vance Douglas! The murmur of amazement, and even of delight, from the back parlor, could not be suppressed, but it was quickly stilled as the Rev. Mr. Manning arose and began the impressive ceremony. Mr. Man- ning had been instructed previously, and held the new license in his hand, so he proceeded without hesitation. The service was soon over. In the brief instant before congratula- tions could begin, Squire Douglas rose and said: " My friends and neighbors, before you offer your good wishes, allow me to say that circumstances soon to be explained, have led, as you see, to a change in one of the leading actors in the scene you have just witnessed. By this change, my daughter and my son " the Squire's voice trembled at these words " have consummated an attachment as old as their lives. Let us now wish them the happy future they so well merit. " He stepped forward and gave them his blessing, then stationed himself at Nettie LeDru's side. The family first, and then the friends came up, and each one, as they passed, was introduced to the stranger lady as a " second daugh- ter of his house and sister to his children, as well as the wife of Louis LeDru. " " This circumstance," he would say, " quite explains Vance's right to the place he took, which would have been his long ago, but for a misunderstanding between him and Marcia. Our Louis has not been a very good boy, but we, by our Kentucky kindness and hospitality, will make up to this dear girl wherein he has failed." Nettie blessed him for the generosity with which he spoke of her recreant husband, who had intended such a blow against the honor of his house. The Squire knew well that an appeal to their virtues as Kentuckians would place her at the best advantage, and that his guests would assist him in supporting her through an ordeal which could not fail to be a trying one. Xo one, entering those gay parlors, would have seen that Nettie was a stranger, or perceived anything of the undercurrent of surprise, wonder, and in some cases, almost incredulity which filled the minds of the guests. Dick, still warm from his hasty gallop, knew, of course, who the bridegroom would be, but he was surprised that Myra and Doctor Burnett were not with the bridal party. RETRIBUTION. 173 Glancing about, he saw the doctor among the guests, and while the congratulations were being offered, he made his way to him, and asked why they had failed to carry out their part of the programme. " I am very sorry that we did fail, " said the young doctor, " but as the bad weather kept Miss Myra at home, of course I was of no use without her. " " Did I understand you to say that Myra is not here ? " " I was so informed by Miss Edwards." " That is strange. I thought she came over an hour or two before I did," said Dick. He then sought for Florence. The company were just going out to supper, but he made out to get a word with her, and ask if she was sure Myra was not there. " Certainly not," answered Florence. " We waited as long as we could for her." " Well, it's queer," said Dick. " She was dressed to come long before I left home." " How was she coming, Dick ? " " In the carriage. Father and mother were coming, but father is kept in the house with a cold, and mother would not come without him. The carriage was ready for Myra before dark, or I would have come with her. I came on my horse, later." " It seems odd, doesn't it, Dick ? " " Yes. But I suppose she changed her mind and stayed at home, that's all." Dick went off satisfied. But Florence, knowing all she did, felt very uneasy. After supper she went quietly to Dick and said: " Dick, I am worried about Myra. Suppose you ride over home and see if she is there. It won't take you long." " Certainly I will, Florry. I feel a little uneasy myself. I will be back in half an hour, and probably bring her with me. " He went out at once. Florry returned to her place, and waited with an anxiety she could not subdue, for his reappearance. After supper the light cloud which seemed to hang over the com- pany had quite vanished. Even Nettie, though wearied with travel and sorrow, finding herself taken at once to the homes and hearts of so many kind friends, was able to wear a semblance of pleasure. And when she thought of Willie, sleeping soundly up-stairs, and knew that now his name and rights were fully established, her anxious heart did swell with grateful joy. CHAPTER XXIX. WHERE IS MYRA? RETRIBUTION. " There be troubles in this world That no man can escape; and there is one That lieth hard and heavy on my soul." JEAN INGEI.OW. AN hour haa passed since supper, and Dick had not returned. Florence grew seriously alarmed. She looked at her watch, and saw that it wanted only ten minutes to eleven. Why did he not come? 174 .RETRIBUTION. She was just about to speak to Vance of her fears, when the front door was thrown open, and Dick, still in his evening suit, but pale, mud-splashed and disordered, came rapidly in. Florence flew to him. " Oh, Dick ! what is the matter? Where *j"Myra?" " God only knows ! " groaned Dick. " I went home, and found she had sent the carriage back to the stable, saying she had concluded not to come over here. Mother thought she was in her room. But she was not even in the house not on the place anywhere. Our folks are greatly frightened. I came back to see if anybody here knew anything of her." " Anything of who? Who is missing? What has happened, Dick? " asked Squire Douglas, coming forward, while the rest all gathered round to listen. " My sister Myra is missing, Squire. We don't know what has happened yet, " said Dick ; and in a few words told all he knew, ask- ing if any one there could tell where she was. " I am sure / can not," said Vance; "but I do know, and so do others present, circumstances which may throw light on this affair. Shall we retire to the library? " " Xo," said Dick ; " we are all friends here ; if you know anything, out with it, right now ! " It may be just as well," said Vance. " The story will creep out, and it is better, perhaps, to let it go truly. Mrs. LeDru, if it will pain you to remain " " No, no ! " interrupted Nettie. " I know it all, and if this poor brother can bear it, I can. Speak as freely as if I were not present, Mr. Douglas!" "Let our daughter stay! "said Squire Douglas, while Marcia went over and stood beside Nettie, taking hold of her hand. "Tell your story quick, Vance, for God's sake!" groaned Dick. " If it is more of that man's work, I will " he closed his teeth hard in an effort to control his rage, and Vance said, with a hand on his arm: " Gently, Dick! There is room for apprehension, but all may yet be well. Uncle, please send Sam and Lina Leslie here; they may add links which I cannot. " Sam and Lina were brought in, and, amid tears, sobs and exclama- tions of grief, anger and pity, Vance told the story of their suspi- cions, and Florence added her testimony. Then Sam and Lina were called. Sam could add little to what had already beu-n told by Vance. But Lina, weeping and sobbing, took from her bosom a little folded paper, and confessed that when she went home that day to get her best clothes for the evening, Myra had given it to her, and bade her find a chance to hand it to Louis LeDru after the ceremony was over. Vance took the paper, glanced over it, and uttered an exclamation of horror, as he passed it to Dick, who took it with shaking fingers. Poor Dick tried to read it tried again then threw it back. " Oh, read it ! Read it ! I can't ! My brain whirls, I cannot see ! Read it, Vance, read it out ! " Every soul stood breathless while Vance read the note aloud. It ran thus: ..RETRIBUTION 175 " Farewell, Louis, my beloved ! You won rap heart, only to break it ! I know now that your promises were ad lies, and you nevef meant to marry me. I do not upbraid you, but life is too dreary without you - I cannot bear it. Farewell, mother, brother, sister, friends. The waters are cool, and there is rest beneath them. I have sung my death song, and I go to join the poor Indian girl who died, like poor lost Myra, for a false lover. Farewell, forever!" Oh ! what a scene followed the reading of the fatal note ! "My God! she has jumped the falls!" groaned Squire Douglas, while moans and sobs resounded through the room. Dick staggered and fell to the floor like a log. Vance rushed to raise him, while Marcia and Florence, almost in hysterics, flew to Nettie, who had fainted upon the sofa. Doctor Burnett wrung his hands, tore his hair and wept aloud. Poor Sam was down on his knees, groaning and crying like a baby, and Lina had to be carried shrieking from the room. Oh, the woe, the woe ! which can be wrought by one man's ill doing ! The hearts which must ache and break for one man's sin. No one slept at the Hall or at River View that ill-starred night. Most of the wedding guests at once departed. A band was formed to search the river for poor Myra, and another to carry the news, should any discovery be made. Before noon the next day, they bore her pretty, lifeless body, still decked in its gala robes, into her sorrow-stricken home. Poor, inno- cent, unfortunate Myra ! Not alone did they bear her. No vengeance was left for father or brother to take. Retribution, swift and stern, had descended upon the evil-doer. With the train which carried poor Myra's light form, came another, leading a lame and riderless horse, and bearing the cold, drowned body of Louis I ,eDru. The party searching for Myra had found the horse which he had ridden from the Hall, lame, drenched and bruised, upon the river bank, not far from the falls. Guided by that discovery, they searched again, and found under the bridge th drowned body of the sinful Louis, only a few yards from the spo' where poor Myra was drawn out. Her destroyer had died with her. Whether he did the deed purposely or not, could never be known It was most likely (as was generally believed) that, after leaving th hall in such deep disgrace, galloping madly toward Frankfort, he had, in the intense darkness, missed the bridge, and dashed directly in U the stream, to meet his awful end. From under the roof which he had planned to desecrate, he was carried to the grave, scarcely mourned save by the wife whom he had deserted. Little Willie did not even know it was his papa who lay so still and white in the long, black coffin in the great parlor. Not one word of vengeance was breathed. All felt in silence that vengeance was the Lord's, and He had repaid. 176 CONCLUSION, CHAPTER XXX, CONCLUSION. THE children of the Hall took no bridal trip, preferring, under the sad circumstances, to remain with the old squire, Nettie, and the bereaved friends at River View. Though their wedding had been marked by such disaster, it was followed by a peaceful and happy life, undarkened by a cloud. They still live at the old Hall, and Squire Douglas grows young again as he romps with their merry children. Nettie LeDru and her boy inherited Louis' wealth, which was still quite a fortune, in spite of his extravagance. At the earnest entreaty of her friends, Nettie remained in Kentucky, and for three years made her home at the hall. Then she was married again, to our old friend Dick, who divides his time between admiring his beloved wife and spoiling her boy, who does not inherit one trait of his father's, excepting his wonderful beauty. Florence is not yet married. But Doctor Burnett is very attentive, and it is generally reported that the wedding will soon occur. Sam and Lina "done hopped de broomstick," as Pete expressed it, a long time ago, while Pete himself has been promoted to the position of chief groom, is quite a dandy, and makes eyes at all the pretty col- ored girls in the neighborhood.