The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1886-01-23 00:00:00

[ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.)
CATHERINE'S MISTAKE, I

OR,
A SECRET FOR YEARS.

CHAPTER LIT.
MRS. FAUNCE'S STORY.

EZIAu FAUNCE 'told the magistrates her tale in her
'own fashion, turning her back on George Ross, but
every now and then casting her eye on the dismayed
countenances of Maxall and Mrs. Ingestre. _ _

"My name is Keziah Faunce. lam a married
woman, but a widow now. Fifteen years ago I was
ladys'-maid to Mrs. George Ross Ingestre. She was a
drunkard, and had a vile temper as well. She used
her hueband very badly at those times—l mean when
the fit was on her; but when she was quite right,
Was pleasant and lady-like enough. I was fond of
her in spite of her faults, and I consider I was a good
friend to her in those days—aye, and many a time
since. Her husband didn't like her taking part
against him with his ward and the black thing
Domingo. Those three hung together, and brewed
a deal of mischief and scandal in the place, one way
and another. Then he sent her away to the North—
her and me—and paid handsomely for her in a
doctor's family; but she broke out so dreadful that
they would not keep her; and it was the same thing
over add over again, twenty—aye, forty and fifty
times. She cost him no end of money. I believe he's
a generous man "
Here the woman stopped. Something seemed to
rise in her throat and choke the words. Only for a
moment; she recovered herself, and continued—
. " Yes, he is a generous man, and he never grudged
the money she cost him in the hope of making her
better; but it did not, and he began to hate the
Shame and talk of the thing; for she was so given
to low company when these fits were on her, that
Oftentimes the house he lived in was no better than
a den of thieves and vagabonds. She was not living
in ReelSern then, but in London, and round about it.
She haa a strange fancy for stealing, too, at those
periode ; and it was while she was staying in a
dergyfean's family at Dublin that, in one of her
Worst fits, she took a gentleman's watch. She was
convicted, and sentenced to seven years' transporta-
tion, 'lacier my name—for she always went by it, in
order that I might be her scapegoat in these affairs.
Then it was that her husband swore he'd give out to
everybody she was dead. He did; he went back to
Redfern with the two children (who had always been
kept from her), and the tablet was put up in the
Church to confirm the tale. It is not for me to say
what my master has been since then, or what life he
led at Redfern, but I believe his wife drove him to it
in the beginning, and then it came very easy to him
afterwards. It is not my business to repeat the
scandals that have taken place, but still I heard
enough of them to know that my late master was
a reckless and godless man, and was bringing his
Children up in his own bad ways.
"I heard that he was madly attached to this last
governess of his daughter's, and wanted to marry
her, in spite of his wife being home again, and deter-
mined to annoy him as much as possible. I warned
bun through his lawyer of her intentions, for she
swore to me she meant to work his ruin some way or
other—swear his children were not legitimate, and
that she had never been his wife, if she could injure
him no other way; and she was glad enough when
Maxall, the spy, told her what his guardian was going
to do—marry the lady, and dare her to come forward.
I walked all the way to L • to tell Miss Wace what
I knew. The poor soul thought Mr. Ingestre was a
Widower, and her grief was sad to see when I told her
the truth. She left the house that same night, for
she passed me on the road, walking like one asleep. I
Spoke to her, but she did not answer, only moaned
and went on. No rear of her marrying him after
that. Miss Wace is in the room; you had better ask
her if I have not told the truth." And then Miss Ware
'was politely asked to come forward, and the last wit-
ness fell back to make room. _ _ _

-
She was in front of Mr. Ingestre, and as she lifted
her veil, looked at him for one moment. That look!
ah ! that man seldom had tasted such real suffering
as when he encountered its silent woe.

He stood up, and folded his arms across his mmsive
chest; it heaved up and down in giant throes, and
the veins on his forehead and down his hands stoc d
out in knotty joints. His emotion was painful for
those other men to witness; they turned their eyes
away from his face, and gazed at the lady's.
She told her simple thin simply enough, and in a
lOW, unfaltering voice. She had lived in his hou.e,
been loved by him, and offered marriage; their wed-
ding was fixed for the 24th, but had been delayed by
Mr. Ingestre's non-arrival at Redfern. She was not
married now. Keziah Faunce had warned her not to
Marry Mr. Ingestre, and told her that his wife was
living; she had left the house that night in con-
sequence,
When her voice ceased, his burst forth. It seemed
Utterly beyond his control, and he stood there before
thenl all, a colossal figure of grief and despair.
" Ah, Catherine! did'st think I would injure the'?
!tid'st think out of very wantoness I would bring this
°Larne upon thy dear head? No, no, think it not ! re-
proach me not. I looked upon myself as free. I am,
in God's sight. That woman yonder is none of mine.
Catherine, hear me--"
But with a sickening shudder she turned away, and
taking the arm of the baroness, left the room. Ingestre
followed her with greedy eyes, and then turned them
on Maxall.

" This is your doing," he cried out; "but I forgive
YOU; as I have forgiven all the rest, I forgive this,
too. Keziah Faunce, I thank you. And now, gentle-
am I a free man once more ?"

There was little doubt about that. He had not
laarried the lady, that was certain; therefore the
crime was not committed with which he stood there
charged. Whatever the intention might have been, he
Was guiltless of the fact, and, therefore, Colonel
Towers, with a hearty shake of the hand, told him a
highly unpleasant business was agreeably got rid of,
and he was free of St. David's Gaol.

Ingestre, in spite of his strong emotion, forgot not
the courtesy of the gentlemen. He turned round,
and with a low bow, addressed a few words of thanks
to the assembled magistrates for the good feeling
evinced in the examination he had been subjected to,
and then, with a second and haughtier bow to Maxall
and his wife, marched out of the room, Cleland at his
Side, and Mr. Kent following.