The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-07-04
her power at any moment to have closed the

her power at any moment 10 nave clOSeQ Lue
door on even her beneIactor.
For all this she exercised very limited hos
pitaity. Her only visitor beside the Duke
was her slster-a woman somewhat younger
than herself. and of almost equal beauty. AT
times this sister formed one Of the party In a
daily drive, and che took charge OF the estab-
lishmeDt during the occasional absence of the
owner from town.
The cottage was comm0dlous and elegant,
and it might have suf1ced for the require.
ments OF inmates OF far more pretensions IN
SPOT, and as Mrs. - grew older her need for
at least thu right of society Increased. she
wished to live near pnblic thoronghfare. The
expression of this wish was enough for the
Duke. In short time the fine high road from
Hyde Park 10 Kensingto0, which ia borderpd
by some Of the most magnificent houses IN
London, was adorned by another structure In
the cottage style, but of noble proportions.
The new house, standing on lib OWN freehold
ground, commanded view Of the Albert me-
moriei, OF KenslBgton gard ms, and the park,
and OF strip Of road which is scarcely ever
Irre from the -quipages OF wealth and fashion.
Its position was emphatically one of the best
in London, and its occupant could have Wanl-
ed no material aid 10 The enjoyment oil lile. 1t
was 10 have been presented to Mrs. - on
her next birthday, but before that day came
round she was dead.
deeper melancholy took possession of
the Duke after this occurrence. He rarely
Stirred abroad, or If he did 30 IL was to
seek the society of the surviving sister whom
Mrs. - had earnestly conAded to his pro-
lection on her deatnbed. In time This sister
seemed to have acquired that ascendency over
his mind which had been possessed by the
other. Whether her relationship 10 him was
of the same equivocal nature cannot be known,
hnfo oha rAnHtV4 hIa p1aItp IN fla
time OF his death.
Tt is now hinted that the confidence In Mrs.
-, in the strength of her position, had
deeper cause than her reliance on The favor OF
the Duke-Lhat she was In reality his wife,
and that her son was the legitimate offspring
of their union. In this event hr. Hastings Rus
sell, who had always been locked on as The
heir preaumtive to the family honors and es-
tates would. of course, be relegated 10 his posi-.
ton Of comparative poverty and dependence.
The event alone can show, for there is no EVIL
depce on either side to take the snrmse out
OF the region of pure probability. At present
whatever Steps may have been taken towards
the assertion of this supposed claim are strict
ly the secret OF the family advisers. The facts
we have laid before our readers will enable
them to form their own conjectures, but can
not lead them to any Ger ainty OF conclusion.
On the one hand they favor the assumption
that Mrs. - had moderation enough 10 be
content with the independence, both for her
self and her son, which had been assured 10
her; on the other, they furnish grounds for
the belief that her woman's ambition had not
neglected the great opportunities placed with
in its reach by the absolute devotion OF her
protector; and whether or no the agent could
throw light on the matter we are not In
position to say. He was never indeed seen at
the house in Kenslngton. but his seemingly
elevation TO his position has yet TO
be explained.