Daily national Democrat., 1861-03-08

! most remarkable pOrtlon OF lhe HlstoTy we
are about to relate is, that it is entirely
/ true.
In the wear 1907 or 1888, Sir John N. Fen
wick, Of Fenwick Hall, England a wealthy
nobleman, married Clara Seymour, the
daughter of a poor clergyman, wao lived on
the Cumberland Hills and ut whose house
Sir John had been detained for some weeks
10y an accident received while upon hunt
ing excursion. The father of Clara Seymour
died short time before her marriage, and
she brought to her husband no dover but
her beauty and her love. The welded pair
made the tour of the continent, and soon af-
ter their rsu'n TO England, Lady Fenwck
presented her Lord with a son and heir, who
was named John North Fenwick. and who
became the heir presumptiye to his fathers
title and wealth.
Sir John had no other relative save two
sisters, who resided with him, and who
while pretending to approve of the match he
had made, and to love ahd esteem his beau
llful young wife, were in reality scheming
against her and determined upon running
her But their mlchinations produced no
effect, save to occasionally render Sir John
morose and cold towards his wife, until the
hoy had reached the age of seventeen years.
Then, suddenly, one day these two sisters in
the presence of Sir John and Lady Clara, ac-
cused the latter OF the most horrible crimes,
and declared that she had herself confessed
that her son was the fruit of an Illicit amour
between herself and certain French Count,
to whom Sir John had introduced Ler at We
nice, during the honeymoon.
Stunned by these terrible and unexpected
accusations, Lady Clara swooned; and her
husband completely carried away by passion
and convinced that the story tQlG him by his
sisters was true, ordered her and the boy to
be expelled from the Hail. and Immediately
hurried to the seaboard and embarked for
the continent.
The shock had rendered the unhappy wife
and mother insane; and in this condition her
el-inlaw caused her to be removed from
the hall and conveyed to Il neigh oring vii
lage, where she remained for some time on
the very brink of the grave. Her only friend
during this sad period. was certain Captain
Edward O'Neil, Of the Enniskilen Dragons.
at that time quartered near Fenwick Hall,
and who had seen Lady Clara often enough
to love her lie nulsed her through her i'll
ness, and when her health and reason had
returned, besought her to accompany him 20
his home in Ireland, and share it with him.
For long time she resisted his appeals, but
finally, 0scertaing that her husband had Ia
ken steps to obtain a divorce from her, and
that Captain O'Ntil was her only friend, she
consented. They went to Galway, Ireland,
where they were married privately, and took
up their residence. Her son, in the mean
time, manifested desire to travel, and his
mother furnished hin with five thousand
pounds, which she obtained by the sale of her
jewels, and placed him on board the steamer
"Adriatic' with instructions TO sail to New
York, and from thence to Texas, to visit
cousin of hers named Somerville, who resided
there as a wealthy planter.
Without any misfortune our youth arrived
at his cousins rancho, situated on the from
tier Of Texas, where he was cordially receiv
ed and made welcome His cousin had a
daughter namad Estele, of about his own
age and very handsome, with whom he fell
in love, andin whose society he remained six
months But on one fatal night the rancho
was attacked by a party of Comanche indians;
his cousin and Estele were murdered and he
carried off into captivity. lie remained
captive for three months when, seizing fla
vorable opportunity and n tomahawk, he
killed the lhdian with whom he was, and
made bis escape to Brownsville, Texas.
Here he met three Texan drovers, who
were ahQpt TO start with an immense drove
Of cattle for Carlinvlle, Macoupin county, in
this State. Being short of hands they offer
ed to hire him to 20 with them and help them
drive. Rendered destitute by being depriv-
ed of everything 10y the narauders, he glad
ly accepted their offer and went.
Arriving at Carlinville, he determined to
return to England and boldly proclaim his
rights. Accordingly he took the cars for the
East. While travelling on the New York and
/ II A.. 1 L. 4
farmer named Preston r. Sappngton, of
Point Isahel, Clinton county, who induced
him to return with him to Clinton for the
purpose of studying law with Mr. L. We'll
don. Our hero. however, ed the pro-
fes>ion, and was employed in the office of the
Clinton Herald by MIR. Snckett, and lately hy
Mr. Ntansbury While here during the Oc-
tcber tern. .ot the Circuit Court, he stated his
case to Hon. Abraham Lincoln, who imme-
dintely wrote to the British Consul at Chca-
go.
Two days afterwards the British Consul,
Hon. Mr.. wilkins, arrived in Clinton. Af-
ter listening to Fenwick's story, and having
a long consultation with Messrs Lincoln and
Stransbury, he took him to Chicago and en-
ployed him in his office In the meantime
the Consul wrote to England, making inqui-
ries in regard to Sir John Fenwick, but
could only hear that he was travelling on the
Continent, but could not ascertain the pre-
else spot.
The Prince of Wales, while travelling in
this country, it will be be recollected, stop
in Chicago. Here the Consul introduced
Fenwick to the Prince, who became con-
WINGED of the truth of his statement He ac-
companed the Prince in his tour through
the United States, and went with him TO
England.
On arriving IN England, Fenwicls proceed
ed immediately TO his ancestral hall, where
he was informed by the servants that one of
his aunts, who had caused him and his moth
er so much trouble and unhappiness, was
now on her death bed, attended by her broth
er, Sir John Fenwck He entered the cham
Der of death The CHASTITY viaage of the dy-
ing woman became still ghastlier when she
Oeheld the hey whom she and her sister had
so deeply wr1uged She Immediately con-
fesscd that the tale they had invented to
blast the reputation of Lady Clara, and ruin
his and her innocent son, was without foun-
dation; that Clara was good and true wife
until he drove he's away and spurned her
Lord Fenwicll folded his long lost son to his
heart, and shed tears of joy over him. The
woman died in few minutes after making
the confession. Her sister is at present the
inmate of Il convent, and strives to atone for
her black hearted tre0chery 10y fasting, pen
itence and prayer.
The health OF Lady Clara greatly failed af.
ter the departure of her son for America,
and Captain O'Neil took her to the south of
France, in the hope of restoring it. But she
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