The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-07-08
A NAMELESS SIN.
HY DEHTUt 81. CLAY.
Author OF" Z brown on the world" "a hit.
ter Atonement," md Love Works
Wonders"


the wedding ring which adorned her finger. and
Instinctively tried to conceal II.
That ring had been placed upon her finger
less than six months before. by Owen Roden. n
poor gardener. yet rs noble specimen OF man
hood Ms ever breathcd
Now, husband. hOnor-evcrything that true
wife holds dcnr-wprc all forgotten 10y the am
bilious wife when the tcmptcr pictured TO her n
The tempter snt before her in her humble
home, and told strange story Of missing
elderly man. with spare figure aud shrcwd
face iron which spanked Keen black eyes.
the wife of her husbands employer. had called
at the gardeners cottage, and in naughty. i'm
nerious manner had commanded Iaurc Rodcn
10 perform some mental service Lady Cardin u
manner was 80 unnecessarily rude that the
young Tc Yas @ r n'Hh h Lnt1 r'SGn'm9 hn
face was flushed with shame. she hastily
brushed the dirt from Lady Cardn's riding
habit.
This little incident was not lost upon Mr..
Roadway. and when Lady Cardn had ridden
. away. from the cottage. he ielt sure that he
would succeed in his purpose
You have told ms that my mother was tho
descendant of n noble family. and that am the
hciress 70 princey fortune" said the young
wife, Prove It,.
said Mr.. Roadway, nor will IT take YOU long to
understand. Years ago. the marqus-Jean
Baptistc de Bourbon, one Of tho ancient peers
of France-was banished from the kingdom,
his estates conlscnted. he himself a ruined
man; he earned some kind of living here in
England by teaching. languages. Here also in
England he married quite young English
girl, who died when her only son was born.
This son grew up. married in England mar,
ried poor. unlettered. country girl. who had
two children-a boy and gir-follow mo pa
young man OF no account the son was restored
TO the tiilo and estates of his ancestors. But he.
the present MARQUIS de- Bourbon, refused either
To live or 10 trust in country 50 llckl" as fair
France; he sold his estates. Keeping only The
old Chateau DIG Bourbon. and he purchased
FernhOmo Abbey whore he lives now. 1t
proved 20 lbs "a most fortunate purchase for
him; u railway company bought Tor an enor-
nous sum one quarter of the land. and in n re-
mote corner was found one of the most vnlua-
BILE coal mines in England; so that the Marquis
Is n millionaire.
He tried in every way to find his sister. but
could not; the only thing known OF her was that
she married and lived in London, that her nus
bands name was Knowles and he. was writ
ing master He died in London and his widow.
with one little girl, went away After three
years OF patient tracing. Of unwearied labor.
have found her grave and her living child
Your mothers name was Augusta de Bourbon.
you dire her daughter, and the niece OF the Mar
Did my mother know who she was ?" asked
Laure.
" / think not; there was no hope no thought.
when she was child OF ever recovering the
family estates and honors. She was called Miss
Burden people did not even know her right
name; certainly. John Knowles, the writing
She never spoke Ia mo Of France or the De
Bourdons-I cannot remember one word You
must be- right-shc knew nothing Of it,
THE present Marquis married peers
daughter. who died n few years afrrward, leav-
fatality, they are both dead. and he. with his
large fortune, his grand estates and ancient
titles has neither heir nor heirrss. He did ali
that was possible i'm ordrrto find out II his sister
had LETT any children, ana alter having tried in
VAN LOT some years three vars u.o u. ptlhcon
the matter in my hands, will be quite frank
with you, and tell you all that happened. He
promised me i've thousand pounds II ! could
TO him: but TO this there are certain conditions
The Marquis told mo distinctly thnt ii found
his niece, and found her married. was To leave
her as she was-he would find some other heir
or heiress but If found her single, and all that
ments for taking her to him at once. Your name
he knows il Knowles. but 50 soon Hs you be-
come his adopted heircss, you will be Lady de
Bourbon"
How old is my uncle? ?" Laure asked. with
He is nearly seventy. There was quite
twenty years difference between your mother
and your uncle: he was man. almost, when
his sister was born. She was brought up IN the
greatest poverty. AMI ran away with the writing
master from house where she gave lessons"
" Then no never knew her 7 said Laure.
Hardly. He remembers hcras a little child :
but when he came into possession uf his for
tune all trace Of her was quite lost Yet have
traced your mother through all her wander
ings, TO each town. TIL finally she settled down
In a little cottage here at Rosethorpe. Can you
tell me how she lived hero Z"
A sudden rush Of tears filled the girls eyes.
" II was hardly to be- called living" She cried
with sudden passion; sometimes we had bread
to eat. and sometimes none. My mother kept Il
little school; then sometimes; she found plain
cold. until God raised US up friend who-who
helped US"
Her beautiful face flushed holly. her lips
trembled rs sne answered him:
" Yes. friend. the truest and best we were
lonely. penniiess. and lrendess; he was a
Again She hid most carefully tho hand on
which her wedding ring shOne.
why should he care whether am married
or not?' she asked, after short pause.
The marquis II naturally anxious; your
grandfather married peasant girl your
mother married - poor man IT common origin {;
he believes honestly that "A few moro such mar
ragcs and the whole race VIII dcterlOrate. You
spoke OF friend who had been kind to you.
am quite suro that If the MARQUIS knew of any
one who had shown either 10 YOU or your
mother any attention or consideration. he would
know that having lived long perhaps. in this
pretty little village. you have naturally grown
TO love IL; you nave male friends here you are
attached to the place and the people in il. That
is all right and natural 1t is for you to decide
whether the future will pay you for giving M
Judge. 1t is future that falls to the lot of few
You will be rich beautiful honored and fcted {:
you will have money and Jewels. servants, car
rages, horses, dresses everything that wo-
mans heart can ire-everything that can
make life bright You have to think whether
ms WI SUIT you, or whether you prefer your
life as 1t is"
smile Of something like contempt passed
You know that hate my life as it is" she
Il do not know purposely, refrain. from
turn should press questions upon me. III may
judge from the cool insoencr OF the lady who
came 10 the door Just now. you occupy an in
ferior postiOn-One. should say, full of humil-
iation 10 any one proud as yourself. You must
decide whether you will change this for one Of
honor and rank. where men and women will
bow TO YOU
Il cannot decided" she cried with sudden
passion.
" You will when YOU have time to reflect
when your Judgment is cool. Yourself calm.
shall take no answer until then"
-" There is one other thing" continued Mr.
Roadway, that had almost forgotten, YET 1t is
most important. The Marquis wishes you to
keep all this profound secret if he finds you
all that he hopes To do he Will take you abroad
for some time then bring YOU back To- England
and introduce You ~ his niece aud heircss he
urges YOU to Keep all your story secret; YOU
must not mention 10 any creature living what
! have told YOU on leaving this piaco; you must
leave everything -yuu understand me-evrry-
thing; you must givrup home. friends all as
s0clations IN iat II you become heress Of
Fernholm". You must give up your old life as
completely rs though YOU hay lrAd.'
You need not decide now he said after n
pause; YOU have plenty of time. You know
the little town Of SAITH, five miles from Rose
thorpe; shall b" staying at the hotel there next
week come over and give me your answer