Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1879-05-21
A Terrible Mistake.

Seeing my duNanlagc pulSleu II, anu
in few minutes | saw signs Of yielding
She went to a small desk on the table, un-
locked it with key she carried about her.
and took a sealed packet from it. Ii was
directed to Max.
This Is the paper ! received from Mon
sieu de Champrose at the Assembly rooms,
she said ''When You have read it, Mr.
Edwards, YOU will know why left, why |
have deprived my boy Of such riches and
rank"
She broke intoa bitter laugh rs she spoke
took the packet, opened it, and as | read it
could not prevent a cry of surprise. Ii was a
copy of the register Of marriage sOlemnized
at DeyOnShire village between Frederic
Maxwell. Baron Daneslord. and Ellen Mar
win on the 18th of August, 1861. | felt
the color receding from my face at the
thought which was beating itself into my
brain, that Max had married Jeanne de Ia
Mignordin while his first wife lived.
Hurriedly glancing back | recollected
that by the death OF his brother in the
hunting field Max had become Lord Danes
ford in 1867.
Monsieur de Champrose, said Jeanne,
breaking the silence at last, ''had known
me before, LEFT France, and he said he
loved me. When | came to Danesford. he
followed, and by some chance he found but
this, and threatened, if | remained with
Max, to assist-tO prosecute him for-If |
left him, he would spare him. | loved
Max too well not to come away. She was
living they told NE.
She spoke simply and slowly, in a weak
tmid voice. with her face turned towards
ne. For a moment, as the past came back
to me, and saw the greatness, the unset
fishness of her love for Max, the utter dis
regard for self and care for him that she
has shown, she whom we had thought 50
base, could not speak.
-'Can you forgive me, Lady Danes
ford." Il am not a wicked wife, you
know, Oh, Mr.. Edwards, you could hard
" have thought so, 1t was too wretched
to think of it then. or might have guessed.
You will be his friend still p she went on
pleadingly. ''You will not give him uP!n
Too much moved to speak, | bent and
kissed the little trembling hand | held.
II do not give up hope yet" | said,
after few moments. 1T was in 1867
that Max came to the title, but ! am not
sure at what time of the year You will
let Alice come to You sometimes will you
not." | added breaking of abruptly.
Ii was hard to pass that evening with
Max, to look at the worn weary face and
think of the secret we possessed. | could
not be satisfied without knowing the date
of his brothers death. but ! feared to ask
for it last | should arouse suspicion. \
mere chance revealed it to me. Alice was
busy with some photographs at a table
near MaXwell's couch; among them was the
Huguenot picture, copy Of Millais world
known chef-d'Gurre.
"What day in August is st. Bartholo-
news Dayl" she asked, innocently, OBJ
tanning for me the information | wanted.
.The twenty-fourth, lord Danesford
replied quietly. Il have reSaon to rcmem-
Der it,
"why, Maxi | said, thinking of the
seventeenth.
'It was he day on which poor Fred
met his death, he said; and could hardly
retain the exclamation of joy which sprang
to my lips.
The next day | went to Devonshire,
hunted up the little village, and searched
the church registry. There, sure 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 Danesford had
loved with all young mans passion and
unreasoning attachment. They had been
married quietly one fair August morning,
lust one week before he meet his death.
The Young wife returned home to her father
who knew nothing of her marriage, and in
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 VI. de Champrose | had no daubt.
He had taken advantage Of Jeannes ''jea-
lousy in love" her ignorance Of English
laws and customs, and her inability to in
alire into matters, TO take terrible revenge
for her rejection of his suit. Ii was with
a light heart that | returned to town and
impaired my happy news to Alice, who
cried for very JOY and gladness.
'.You must tell him, Alice, | said, as L
held nv dear wife in my arms. :" You viii
do il best: should blurt it all out and per
haps do him harm. Meanwhile | will go
for Lady Danesford.
Trembling a little, and with fearful eyes,
Alice went down. Max glanced up as she
entered, and seeing that something troubled
her, said quickly
.swhat was it, Alice! Is anything the
matterl"
"Nothing," she said. 81 have been
hearing a story from Hilton which made
me make a "baby of myself such
touching story, Max. Shall tell it to you
II is a story about woman's great love for