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'THE SOUTHERN WORLD. DECEMBER 1,1884.
Written especially for the Southern World.]
TBS SIDE! OF ROSE DARREL.
BT JOHN E8TEN COOKS.
fThti story began In No. 11 of Volume 8.
Back nujr.bers can be had at 5 cent* per copy.
AU right* reserved.]
XXVIII.
MB. LUDWELL’S PROPOSITION.
* It was a fine autumn morning.
Mrs. Darrel and Mr. Ludwell were
seated, in the drawing room at the Mead
ows engaged in conversation.
. The lady was plainly laboring under
a'good deal of emotion. The gentleman
yja* cold and collected. His manner
indicated nothing in particular, unless
iViFas a slight sense of injury; but he
was perfectly polite, and had the air of
a person obliged to execute some disa
greeable duty.
“I believe I have made my meaning
tolerably plain, madam,” be Bnid in
rather a formal manner, “ and if I have
appealed to your sense of justice, it whs
because I felt that I had a right to do
so.”
“Yes—certainly you have a right,”
said poor Mrs. Darrel in rather a feeble
manner.
”The circumstances, you must ac
knowledge, are peculiar,” continued
Mr. Ludwell in the same tone. ”My
uncle's wishes were perfectly plain from
his will—that I should have his proper
ty. He had adopted me as his heir, and
if I had remained at the Meadows I
should now bn in possession of the
estate. That I am unable to comply
with the conditions of my uncle’s will,
giving it to me, is certainly not my
fault.”
“ No, it is not your fault,” said Mrs.
Darrel with a sigh.
“I have offered to fulfill the condi
tions, and you know how my offer has
been received. To all my expressions
of affection, the young lady who is con
cerned in this affair, made only one re
ply. You know what that reply was.”
“Yes.”
“ That she declined to marry me.”
Mrs. Darrel sighed.
“ After more than two hours spent in
“ I say my estate, madam, because the
Meadows and my uncle’s investments,
which have only recently come to my
knowledge, are really my property, if
we consider the plain wishes of the tes
tator.”
“Yes, I am sure that my poor dear
cousin wished you and Hose to marry
and have the estate,” faltered Mra. Dar
rel.
“ No one could doubt it, madam—but
I am not to have it. It passes to you
and I am penniless.”
Mrs. Darrel shook her head.
“ I do not want it, and of course shall
leave it all to dear Rose,” she said.
Was Mr. Ludwell strongly tempted to
reply that Major Singleton would expect
to be consulted as to that? If so he
did not yield to the temptation.
“Under any circumstances, I repeat
that I am penniless, madam,” he said.
“I have resigned my position on the
Pacific Railroad and am not sure of
again securing it. I did so under the
protest of my superiors, and they ex
hibited some resentment at my sudden
action. I am sorry to annoy a lady like
yourself with these matter-of-fact con
siderations, but how am I to live?”
“To live?”
“ I have nothing and was brought up
by my uncle in habits of luxury. In
the West I lived in the same manner,
for I was certain that at any moment I
had only to return and my uncle would
forgive everything. In fact he wrote as
much to me—you have read his letters
and can judge for yourself. I was with
held from returning by a feeling of pride.
I could not bring myself to consent to a
life of dependence. Then I feared that
new misunderstandings might take
place, and that we might be further
alienated. No, while I earnestly longed
to see him, I remained in the West.”
“ It is a pity you did not return.”
“I certainly ought to have come back,
if I had an eye to my intere<>ts. There
never has been the least doubt that my
uncle expected me to do so, and intend
ed me for his sole heir. He certainly
died under the impression that I would
succeed him in the possession of hiB
whole estate—and you see what is the
result. I am forced to beg.”
Mr. Ludwell had not ceased to look
fixedly at Mrs. Darrel while he
u t T noura spent in flpeak [ ng . To a cool observer it would
urging her, I could extract nothing mpre L bavtj be 8 en obvioUH that he wa8 bent
from her than that she was notjgiiung
to carry out my uncle’s wishes.”
Mra. Darrel sighed again
“ I am ho sorry,” she said.
Mr. Ludwell looked at her rather
coldly
“Another person might be tempted
to ask if you are sincere in saying that,
madam,” he said. “ As we are discuss
ing a matter of business will you par
don me if .1 allude to the fact that there
is at least every reason why you should
not be deeply grieved?”
“I really am,” said Mrs. Darrel.
“ And yet my ill fortune puts you in
possession of the Meadows estate.”
“ I really could not help i. I—I have
done nothing to influence Rose.”
“ I hope you will not understand me
as charging you with doing so, madam.
“Iam sure you would not. Rose has
decided for herself—”
“With the assistance of her dear
friend, Dr. Lanier,” said Mr. Ludwell
with sudden rancor.
“ Dr. Lanier? Do you mean that Dr.
Lanier has prejudiced her against you?
“ I think there is very little doubt of
it, and that this unknown person is des
tined to be—well your son-in-law, mad
am.”
“Yousurprise me!” said Mrs. Dar
rel. “ I am sure Rose would have told
me if she had determined to accept the
addresses of Dr. Lanier.”
Mr. Ludwell’s brows contracted.
“ Miss Darrel is not very confiding,
he said with some bitterness; “she
never kicks before she is spurred.”
Mra. Darrel made no reply, but her
expression indicated that she was a lit
tle shocked at this very unceremonious
language.
“In other words, madam, she may
not be engaged to be married to Dr. La
nier ; but he will ask her, and she will
marrv him.”
" You really astonish me!” said Mrs.
Darrel.
“ I am certain of what I say, madam,
and of course that puts an end to my
further residence at the Meadows.”
“I suppose so,” sighed Mrs. Darrel.
“ I offered to go as soon as I suspected
what was going on. I offered to sur
render all my claims and did so by a
formal keed even before I was aware of
this state of things. It was only after
enjoying some weeks of Mibb Darrel's
society that I hesitated in going away
so suddenly. In other words, I became
fond of her, and resolved to risk her ill
opinion. I proposea to her—and you
know the result. I am neither to mar
ry her nor to have my estate.”
’ “ It is very sad,” sighed Mrs. Darrel.
have been obvious that he was bent
upon bringing the conversation to a cer
tain point.
> “ It is scarcely to be expected, mad
am,” he continued, “that in so import
ant a matter of business I should not
act in a business manner. It would pain
me to contest my uncle’s will, and noth
ing should induce me to do so, but ab
solute necessity—”
“ Contest the will I” said Mrs. Darrel.
“ I see you are surprised, and perhaps
I have shocked you. I assure you that
very few people in my situation would
hesitate as to their course* ”
“Contest, the will 1”
“ There would be no difficulty in do
ing so. My uncle was the mo«t eccen
tric of men, and was supposed bv many
persons not to be in his right mind.”
“Oh! I am sure you are mistaken,
sir!”
“ Your surprise is natural, but I have
often heard that said. It was not likely
to be said in your presence.”
“ Cousin Philip not in his right mind! ’ ’
“I use the word generally employed.
He was so eccentric as to be spoken of
as unsound of intellect. It is certain
that hundreds of wills by men less ec
centric have been set aside.”
" Set aside?”
“I need not say that I should be
pained at being driven to test the ques
tion ; but I have fully stated the case to
eminent counsel by letter, and they de
clare that such a will as my uncle’s is
proof of his unsoundness of mind.”
Mrs. Darrel was a little agitated but
said nothing, and Mr. Ludwell added:
“ Under the peculiar circumstances an
arrangement has occurred to me.”
“ An arrangement?”
“ I do not wish to occasion scandal by
a lawsuit, or appear as your opponent
in a court of justice, madam. Such pro
ceedings ought always to be avoided, if
possible, between relations—but I owe
it to myself to protect my rights, and
the rights of my children if I should
marry, which is possible.”
“You mean—”
“That under the circumstances a fair
compromise would be just to all parties ”
“ A compromise l”
“The Meadows estate is worth, I am
informed, more than one hundred and
fifty thousand dollars, and my nude’s
investments m stocks amount to between
thirty and forty thousand more. I pro
pose therefore to execute fully the deed
which I formerly proposed but subse
quently destroyed—to surrender all my
right and title to the Meadows—on con
dition that I have the stock conveyed to
me.”
Mr. Ludwell leaned back in his chair.
The long conversation had at last come
to a point.
“Is that agreeable to you, madam?
I should be sorry to be obliged to con
test the will.”
Mrs. Darrel was much agitated and
for some moments made no reply. Dur
ing this long and trying interview she
had felt a vague impression that she was
far from being a match for this cool and
wary gentleman, and that the best thing
she could do would be to listen and say
little.
In other words, Mrs. Darrel waB a
very charming person, but very weak;
and the weak in presence of the strong
feel that finesse is their only resource.
It had proved a valuable one upon this
occasion—the strong will had extorted
nothing from the weaker vessel; and
now wnen Mrs. Darrel was driven into
a corner and forced to speak plainly,
she sighed, reflected, and said faintly:
“I will consult Mr. Thwackett.”
“Mr. Thwackett!” exclaimed Mr.
Ludwell, contracting bis brows, “that
is wholly unnecessary, madam!”
“ I think I should prefer it—I am very
sorry—”
“ Rut consider, madam!”
And mastered by an excitement he
had not manifested up to this moment,
Mr. Ludwell urged the fairness of a
prompt decision. Mr. Thwackett was a
mere lawyer, and this was a family mat'
ter—he might suspect that threats had
been made by himself, Mr. Ludwell, to
contest the will. Between relatives
such arrangements might be made with
out the intervention of third parties—
but in spite of all his hot arguments the
weaker vessel was not overcome.
“I know so little about business—I
should like to consult Mr. Thwackett,”
the lady murmured.
And Mr. Ludwell, with his teeth set,
was obliged to acquiesce.
“Very well, madam,” he said, “as
you insist I will say no more. But I am
obliged to return to the West. You
might send for Mr Thwackett at once.”
“ I will write asking him to call to
morrow morning—I hope that will suit.”
Mr. Ludwell hesitated.
“I must submit whether it suits me
or not. madam. And yet—”
Mrs. Darrel had risen, but waited for
him to end the sentence.
“ I will not conceal from you that I
had expected you would agree to mv
proposition and that the arrangement
would be made this morning—lor the
transfer of the stocks To be frank,
madam, I have a debt of honor which I
promised to meet on the 10th. This is
the 8th and there is just time to send
the amount by mail.”
“A debt of honor?”
“ I was obliged to borrow money on a
recent occasion from a friend, madam.
I gave him my word of honor I would
return it by the 10th of the present
month, The amount is not large—only
a thousand dollars—but it is a debt of
honor.”
Mr. Ludwell added a few words deli
cately intimating that a check would an
swer his purpose—and Mrs. Darrel, with
a vague impression that Mr. Ludwell
waB perhaps a very ill used person,
granted his request.
She went to a secretary and wrote the
check, which Mr. Ludwell pocketed.
At the same moment wheels were
heard without, and Mr. Ludwell, with
pardonable curiosity, went to the win
dow.
As he did so, anyone observing him
would have been struck by his singular
expression. It was that of a man who
is on the qui vive to all that is going on
around him.
It was Major Singleton in his elegant
equipage, with a fresh pair of kids and
the smile of the conquering hero; and
Mrs. Darrel, apparently forgetting all
about business and checks, resumed her
seat as Mr. Ludwell retired from the
apartment.
(TO BE CONTINUED.)
IThb DeSaussuees commenced In No. 14, of
Volume 2, and will run for several months yet.
Back number* containing this thrilling and
deeply interesting historical romance can be had
at five cent* per copy.]
THE DeSAUSSUBES.
A Historical Romance.
BY B. F. SAWYER.
CHAPTER - XXXVII.
The day of Mrs. Coleman's wedding
anniversary came, elaborate prepara
tions had been made to celebrate it with
the happiest eclat. In addition to the
guests already, there invitations to the
city and the surrounding country had
been extended. Among those from a dis
tance was, by special importunities,
Judge Middleto-. with his wife and
blooming daughter.
Judge Middleton was a hale and hearty
old gentleman of sixty and five. He
was a stiff, precise, dignified old gentle
man, a born aristocrat—punctilious on
the score of birth and breeding. This
inborn pride had been cultivated by ed
ucation and association, and further
rounded by a diplomatic residence of
several yeara at the aristocratic courts
of Europe, from whence he returned to
his home in America incased in as im
pervious a shell of hearty exclusiveness
bb ever held the pride of a bourbon.
There were many such in this demo
cratic land of ours in the’r day. There
are few like him now. Mra. Middleton
was some thirty yeara his junior and
still wore a well preserved beauty. She,
too, was the daughter of an aristocratic
house, but of fallen fortunes, who, to
maintain the pride of birth, the impov
erished fortune of the family was inade
quate to sustain, had given her hand to
tbe wealthy widower. What little heart
she had went with her hand; but the
wealth into which the marriage had
lifted her soured it for all sweetness to
wards others, and save for her daughter,
she had no sympathy with her kind.
Towards Miss Helen, the sole daughter
by his former wife she conceived an un
natural aversion, which the queenly
young lady was at no pains to conciliate,
and when in contempt of her, father’s
pride and the stepmother’s taunts, the
daughter ran away with and married
the handsome young overseer, she stood
ready to whisper the nninonpd h^troH nf
he
CONSUMPTION CURED.
An oM physician, retired from practice, hav
ing had placed in his hand* by an Bast India
missionary the formula of a simple vegetable
remedy for the speedy and permanent cure jf
Consumption. Bronchitis, Catarrh, Asthma and
all throat and Lung Affections, also a positive
and radical cure for Nervous Debility and all
Nervous complaints, after having tested its
wonderful curative powers in thousands of
cases, has felt it his duty to make it known to
cases,
his suffering fellows.
Actuated by this motive
„ y
and a desire to relieve human suffering, I will
send free of charge, to all who desire it. this
recipe, in German, French or English, with full
directions for preparing and using. Rent by
by addressing with stamp, naming this
paper, w. A. Noyes, 149 Power’s Block, Roches
ter; New York.
A CARD.—To all who are suffering from er
rors and indiscretions of youth, nervous weak
ness, early decay, loss of manhood, Ac.,I will
send a recipe that will cure you, FRBB OF
CHARGE. This great remedy was discovered
by a missionary fn South America. Send self-
addressed envelope to Rev. Josbvh T. Ikkaii,
Station 9, New York. Mention Southern World.
her soul into the outraged father’s heart
and to harden it in irreconcilable bitter
ness against the daughter,. From that
day Helen Feaster was held as dead to
the Middleton home, and for years back
her name had not been spoken. Her
own daughter, Miss Hortense, was
only dimly cognizant of her existence,
and had no conceivable idea as to her
fate or her whereabouts.
Miss Middleton was a stylish girl, gay
and sprightly, albeit, a little inclined to
frivolity. She had her mother’s beauty,
but was devoid the dignified grace that
the lady deemed so essential to the posi
tion of the Middleton’s. The young
lady’s fondness for company had some
what broken oyer the exclusive barriers
of that hegira in tbe Middleton dignity,
and in the widened circle a less aristo
cratic society had been embraced. In
this circle was included the Lawsons,
who, though good people and wealthy
as the Middletons themselves, could not
boast an unbroken descent from the best
blood of England. Still, young Lawson
was a lad of spirit, as his predilection
for the army showed, and with his and
his mother’s wealth to back him, aided
bv the influence of the Brook's, was
almost certain to make his mark. This
consideration, with the equally more
important one with the mother, of the
daughter’s inclination, made him not
only ad unobjectionable parti, but really
a desirable one. In fact, once to enlist
the mother’s diplomacy, Miss Hortense
had condescended to fall in love with
the young cadet, and now that the young
cadet had blossomed into a full blown
Lieut-Col., Miss Hortense’s choice had
been partially approved, and the net
was set to catch him. When Miss Cole
man wrote that Major Lawson was a
gueBt at Rio Vista, recuperating from
his wounds at Manassas, and would at
tend her mother’s fete, no further argu
ment wsb needed to induce its ready
acceptance, and so, in due time, the Mid
dleton’s pure et mure et fiUe, came and
were installed in the rooms at Rio ViBta.
“ Papa, and you, too, mamma,” ex
plained Miss Coleman, as they walked
to the gate to meet and weleome them,
‘say nothing to them of the nearness
of the Feasters. I wish to surprise the
Judge.”
‘ ‘ Yesi; we have suspected your scheme
and will not set it aglee by blabbing. I
shall Bluff the old Judge with General
Leon Feaster. and you must stuff the
old woman, Molly; but not a word about
Helen or Miss Mary,” said the old gen
tleman.