Democratic Sentinel, Volume 17, Number 40, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 October 1893 — AT WAR WITH HERSELF. [ARTICLE]

AT WAR WITH HERSELF.

The Story of a Woman's Atonement, by Charlotte M. Braeme. CHAPTER lll—Continued. The lawyer and his companion looked at the flushed face and shining eyes. “If you think there is any doubt, however slight, tell me. Leave me here to my old life, to its monotony, Its dreary gloom; I can bear it now, I could never return to it, once I left it." “There is none,” returned the lawyer, gravely. “I did not wait upon you until everthing was perfectly clear; there cannot be the faintest dispute as to your title. The probability is that, if the Earl of Charnleigh had made a will, he would have left everything to Captain Paul Flemyng, who, in the genealogical table, stands next to you. He is the only member of the family, I believe, that the Earl ever saw or noticed. I remember once he mentioned your father, and asked me if he had left any children. I answered, ‘Yesy-one daughter.’ ‘lt puzzles me,’ he said, ‘why there are so many women in the world; could do better with just half the number. ’ ” Despite Leonie’s emotion and anxiety a faint smile rippled over her lips. “Did he know my father?" she asked. “No, only by repute, as being a brave young officer. The truth was, he liked no one; if such a thing could be, I should say he was a hater of his kind.” “And this captain—what name did you say?” “Captain Paul Flemyng,” repeated the lawyer, and she half whispered the name. Did any warning come to her then of the tragedy that was to shadow her after life —the weight that was to make the coronet a burden? “Paul Flemyng—and is he disappointed? ” she asked. “I cannot tell. He may have thought the chances were greatly in his favor; but he is too true a gentleman and too brave a man to envy the happiness that has fallen to a lady’s lot.” “I hope he is not disappointed,” she said; “pleased as I cannot help feeling, I should not like to purchase my happiness by another’s pain. ” “Even should Captain Flemyng feel pain he will not show it,” observed the lawyer. “Do you say I shall have a great deal of money? He could have some of it. I am not obliged to keep it all myself.” Mr. Clements smiled at the simple words—perhaps another idea suggested itself to him. “I do not think that will be needed," he remarked. “Captain Flemyng has some property besides the income derived from his profession. He is at present with his regiment at Malta. ” “What relation is Captain Flemyng to me?” she asked, looking up at him with the questioning glance of a child. “I should say about fourth cousin, if such relationship exists at all. * Your father was the late Earl’s second cousin. Captain Flemyng stands three degrees lower on the family tree. I wrote to him at once, and told him there was no will. It is six months since the late Earl died. Every possible search has been honestly made, and there is no trace of his ever having intended to make a will—no memorandum, no papers. During that time we have anxiously made out the claim of each relative, and yours is the strongest, the clearest, and the truest; indeed, your title is so perfectly clear that you might safely take possession of Crown Leighton to-morrow.” “What shall I do?" she cried. And again the beautiful young face grew deadly pale. “How can I bear the change? I shall not know what to do with my life. ” _ “There will be much for you to consider. Have you no lady relatives of your mother’s living?” “No,” she replied, with an outburst of passionate sadness. “It may be true that I am a countess, but I am quite alone in the world.” “I should suggest that you at once engage the services of some elderly lady as chaperon. You cannot live alone. Perhaps Miss Templeton would be the best person to consult in the emergency.” Mr. Clements here rose from his seat and bowed with an air of deference he had not shown before. “Permit me,” he said, “now that my legal business is explained, to be the first to offer my congratulations to the Countess of Charnleigh. I pray heaven to bless your ladyship in your new life, and to send you every blessing and prosperity and every earthly happiness.” F “I thank you,” she said gently. Then Mr. Dunscombe stood up and offered his congratulations. “If you will allow me,” said the lawver, “I will wait upon you, Lady Charnleign, to-morrow. I have an imperative engagement this evening; to-mor-row I hope to have something to suggest that will meet with your entire approbation.” With the most respectful of salutations, they left her standing like one entranced; as they left her, so she remained, until the sound of the door opening aroused her.

.CHAPTER IV. “Now, Miss Rayner,” said a rough voice, “if you and your visitors have done with the room, I shall be glad to get it ready for my mistress.” The insolent tone and the sharp words generally brought a proud flush into the beautiful face; now the young girl looked at. Susan Netley, the cross house-maid, as though she had not even heard her. “I have lived at King’s Court,” continued the aggrieved domestic, “for many years, but this is the first time I ever saw governesses and their friends make so free. ” “If she knew,” thought Leonie, smiling, “instead of being insolent to me, she would fawn and flatter—she would cringe to me. Ah, the power of this wonderful gold!” The maid-servant was annoyed to see that she had produced no effect. “I shall certainly tell Miss Templeton the minute she returns why my work is not done, ” she continued; but to her surprise the young girl merely left the room, with the same strange smile on her face. She wanted to be alone, she must be alone to think over this wondrous event.' She sat in the dull, gloomy playground until the clock struck five; no one came to tell her that tea was waiting; no one. seemed to care whether she had anything or not. As she re-en-tered the house, Susan met her and said, not very civillv: “Your tea has been waiting, Miss Rayner, in the school-room for an hour past.” She laughed aloud as she thought how different it would be soon, and then time passed in another dream until Miss Templeton returned. At 7 the formidable mistress of King’s Court was to return. Leonie had been accustomed to count the hours with a certain kind of dread; now she sat so completely entranced in her glorious dream that she did not even hear the noise of the much-an-ticipated arrival. It was a custom of Mias Templeton’s to keep the governess

pupil in her place, as she expressed it, oy continually finding fault with her. When she returned from her holidays, it required some ingenuity to make out ajist of complaints against the young girl, but she generally succeeded. On this occasion she did not linger long over the dainty tea prepared for her. Susan, fired with indignation at Miss Rayner's insensibility, was only too pleased to tell how the young governess had had visitors in the drawingroom, and had spent over two hours with them. Miss Templeton went at once to the school-room, where she found the young lady seated before her cold, untasted tea. A frosty greeting passed between them, and then Miss Templeton seated herself in state. “I am sorry to hear, Miss Rayner,” she began, “that your conduct during my absence has not been so circumspect as I could have wished. May I ask who were the gentlemen you entertained for more than two hours today?” There was a faint ripple of a smile on the beautiful lips, which angered Miss Templeton very much. “Two hours,” continued the schoolmistress, “is a long time for any lady to spend in the society of gentlemen, above all of strangers, as I should imagine. these to have been.” “Then I must demand an explanation of your conduct, Miss Rayner. King’s Court is both known and honored for the exemplary conduct of its conductor. If you have deviated in the slightest degree from established rules, we must part." No fear shaded the bright eyes that looked laughingly into the stony face. “The gentlemen introduced themselves, Miss Templeton. lam quite innocent of having known of their visit beforehand.” “Will you tell me who they were?” repeated the angry lady. “Mr. Clements, a lawyer of Lincoln's Inn, and Mr. Dunscombe, the manager or steward of the Crown Leighton estates.” “May I be permitted to inquire what they wanted with you, Miss Rayner?" said Miss Templeton, somewhat wonderingly. “They came on business that astonished me, Miss Templeton, as it will you. They came to tell me that owing to a strange chain of circumstances, Fortune has played a jest upon me. ” “I do not understand riddles,” said Miss Templeton, coldly. “Fortune has been amusing herself at my expense. If the gentleman’s researches are correct, I am now Count ess of Charnleigh. ” In the greatness of her surprise, Miss Templeton committed what was for her a sad breach of good breeding. * “You are what?” she said. “I am Countess of Charnleigh, and mistress of the Crown Leighton estates.” “My dearest child, you cannot mean it! You are jesting, Miss Rayner!” “I am speaking in all sober trvitx," she rejoined, calmly. “But your mother was only governess —your father quite poor!” “Poor, but for all that of good family and a gentleman. It is as his daughter, Miss Templeton, that I am Countess of Charnleign.” CHAPTER V. Miss Templeton, in after life, was accustomed to tell the story, and declared that she had never received such a terrible shock. She could but repeat the words in a helpless fashion. “Countess of Charnleigh! Explain to me—my mind is not clear.” And Leonie, half indignant, half amused, gave the lady a complete resume of the history she had heard herself. When it was ended Miss Templeton rose from her chair and embraced her. “My dearest child—my favorite pupil —I am so heartily glad, so pleased, so delighted—l am overwhelmed.” The stony face and dull, lusterless eyes wore a look of excitement that completely changed Miss Templeton. “For your own sake lam so pleased. Countess of Charnleigh! The title is a proud one—you will do it justice. I always thought there was something distingue, something aristocratic about you.”

“Did you 9” asked the young girl, wonderingly. “I fancied you were never very pleased with my manner.” Miss Templeton positively blushed—a phenomenon that had not occurred for years. “Those who have the charge of youth must be severe, ” she said, “or, the youthful character never would be formed. My dear child, what advice you will need! What a terrible, almost awful responsibility for you! You will indeed require help. ” “So Mr. Clements says. He is coming to-morrow to consult with you, for l am young to be a countess in my own right and mistress of a vast fortune. Yesterday I felt so old, so tired so weary of my life; to-day—l cannot help it—my heart is like a singing-bird. ” Miss Templeton looked at her in wonder; the young girl had never said so much to her in all her life before. “That is but natural, Lady Charnleigh. I had better give you your title at once —it will accustom you to the sound. You itiXst have some lady of experience with you; you cannot live alone. Countess of Charnleigh! I cannot get over my surprise. ” At that mement Susan entered with a message. The expression of gratified revenge on hpr face did not escape the notice of either lady. She looked with an air of triumph at Leonie, “Susan,” said Miss Templeton, sharply, “I desire that you do not annoy Miss Rayner again. If she wishes to have the drawing-room for her visitors, remember it is always at her service." Susan left the room full of rage and astonishment, contemptuously wondering to herself what was going to happen that Miss Templeton should be so civil to a governess. That night Leonie was Miss Templeton’s most honored guest. She was allowed to go out on the lawn and sit under the shade of a great drooping cedar until the moon and the stars gleamed in the darkening sky. A large magnolia grew near and its rich fragrance seemed to fill the air, and gave to her dreams of luxury and magnificence such as come only under the influence of rare odors. Then the state bedroom, hitherto reserved for the most honored guests, was at her disposal. Lady Charnleigh smiled as she saw how carefully it had been prepared. It was pleasant when she rose to mark the deference the servants paid to her, the extra respect; how each one called her ; “Lady Charnleigh,” and waited upon her; and she was young enough and woman enough to be pleased at these things, and feel life life more pleasant with them. Mr. Clements called before noon, and then there was no more doubt, no more hesitation. Her claim was allowed on all sides, and she might at any moment she liked take her place in the world as Countess of Charnleigh. Even the change in the lawyer’s manner she noted. He was politeness itself, deferential, respectful, with somewhat of kindliness, that was extended, perhaps, because of her youth and inexperience. “Do I really understand you that my dear pupil can take pcsiession of her estate at ones?” said Miss Tompioton,

whose surprise could still be barely repressed. “To-day, to-morrow, or any time she wills,” was the reply. “If I may venture upon making a suggestion to Lady Charnleigh, it is that she should, under Miss Templeton’s chaperonage, go at once to town, and there mak» such purchases as she may deem fit; then, when ready, I advise no further delay in going to Crojvn Leighton. If your ladyship will authorize me, I will at onoe write to one or two influential i people who will be able to recommend a proper and suitable companion.” “You mean that I am to buy new dresses,” she said, looking at him with her face in a glow of delight. “How shall I know what kind of dresses a countess should wear? Mv wildest dreams never went beyond a pretty silk.” He smiled. Miss Templeton looked distressed. “Your best plan, Lady Charnleigh,” she suggested, “will be to drive at once to Madam Berton and let her get everything necessary; she will know if you do not. As a matter of course, you must for some time wear mourning; but, as expense will not be a matter of consideration, you can have it as elegant as possible.” “I should explain to your ladyship,” continued Mr. Clements, gravely,“that during the six months we have spent in ascertaining the claims cf different and distant relatives, the income derived from various sources, to be afterward explained to you, has accumulated and has been lying on my hands. I have brought with me a check for a thousand pounds. You can do afterward as you will;” and he looked half wistfully at this young girl on whom the mantle of splendid estates had so suddenly fallen. “A thousand pounds!” said Leonie, Lady Charnleign. “And I have never in my whole life before had five shillings of my own.” “Perhaps, after all, the best way to acquire a true appreciation of money is to want it,” said Mr. Clements. “Ana now, Lady Charnleigh, it only regains for me to add that whenever you think of going to Crown Leighton I shall be happy to attend you. ” “I should like to give half of this away,” she said; “how many people would be made happy by a little money!” She was looking with her bright eyes full of wonder at the check he had laid before her. "It is the great lever of the world,” remarked Miss Templeton. “Yet I cannot imagine Chevalier Bayard, or King Arthur, or any of the heroes I loved, caring for it,” rejoined Leonie; “there is nothing grand or heroic in the love of money. ” “For the present be content with enjoying it, Lady Charnleigh,” said the lawyer, smiling kindly; “you can mon alize about it afterward. ” pro BE CONTINUED. |