The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-05-27
A Terrible Mistake.

Seeing my advantage pursued it, and
IN few minutes | saw signs of yielding
She went to Il small desk on the table, un-
locked it with key she carried about her,
and took a sealed packet from it. 1t was
directed to Max
"This is the paper Ircccivcd from Mon
sicu dc Champrose at the Assembly rooms"
she said. "When you have read il, MIR.
Edwards, you will know why left, why |
have deprived my hoy of such riches and
rank"
She broke intoa bitter laugh as she spoke.
] took the packet, opened it, and as read il
could not prevent n cry of surprise. 1t was a
copy OF the register Of marriage solcmnized
at Devonsllirc village between Frederic
Maxwell, Baron Dancsford, and Ellen Mar
vim on the Eth Of August, 1867. | felt
the color recedng from my face at the
thought which was beating itself into my
brain, that Max had married Jeanne de In
Mgnordin while his first wife lived.
llmricdly glancing back rccolcctcd
that by the death Of his brother in the
hunting-ticd Max had become Lord Danes
ford in 1867.
"Monsicur dc Champrose, said Jeanne.
breaking the silence at last, chad known
ne before, left France and he said he
loved ne. When | came to Dancsford, he
followed, and ny some chance he found but
this, and threatened, if | remained with
Max, to assist--tO prosecute him f0r-If /
left him, he would spare him. loved
Max too well not to come away. She was
living they told me.
She spoke simply and slowly, i'm weak
timid voice, with her face turned towards
me. For moment, as the past came back
TO me, and | saw the greatness, the unset
fislmess of her love for Max, the utter dis
regard for self and care for him that she
has shown, she whom we had thought SO
base, could not speak.
Can you forgive ne, Lady Danes
ford9" 81 am not a wicked wife, YOU
know! Oh, Mr.. Edwards, you could hard
~ have thought so2 1t was too wrctched
to think of it then, or might have guessed
You will be his friend stil2" she went on
pleadingly. "You will not give him up2"
Too much moved to speak, bent and
kissed the little trembling hand | held.
"l do not give up hope YET" said,
after a few moments. "It was in 1867
that Max came to the title, but am not
sure at what tinia of the year. You will
let Alice come to you sometimes will you
not?" / added breaking off abruptly.
1t was hard to pass that evening with
Max, to look at the worn weary face and
think of the secret we possessed could
not he satisfied without knowing the date
Of his brothers death, but feared to ask
for it last | should arouse suspicion. A
mere chance revealed IL to me. Alice was
busy with some photographs at table
near Maxwells couch; among them was the
Hugucnot picture a copy of Millais' world.
known chcf-d'teupre.
"What day in August is st. Bartholo-
news Day3" she asked, innoccntIy, Oh
tanning for me the information I wanted.
"Thc twenty fourth" Lord Dancsford
replied quietly. 81 have resaon to rcmem-
her it,"
"Why, MAXI" | said, thinking of the
seventeenth.
"It was he day on which poor Fred
met his death, i" he said; and could hardly
retain the exclamation of joy which sprang
to my lips.
The next day went to Dcvonshre,
hunted up the little village, and searched
the church registry. There, snrc enough,
was the marriage, and the incumbent,
kindly, simple old man, told me the sad
little story of Ellen Marvin, Lady Danes
ford. She was young country girl of
great beauty, whom Lord Dancsford had
loVGu Will h'i " JouilS Ilhll laSSlul anu
,lnreasoning attachment They had been
married quietly ono fair August morning,
Just one week before he meet his death.
The young wife returned home to her father
who knew nothing of hcf marriage, and in
a few weeks had faded away, dying of that
disease which never kills, they say-a brok-
en- heart. That all these circumstances were
known TO NJ. dc Champrosc had no daubt.
lie had taken advantage of Jcanne's "jca-
lousy in love-" her ignorance Of English
laws and customs, and her inability to in
l,iire into matters, to take terrible revenge
for her rejection of his suit. 1t was with
light heart TINT returned to town and
impaired my happy news to Alice, who
cried for very joy and gladntss.
"iou must tell him, Alice, said, as ]