The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-06-26


~ FOLLOW i,er. The pair proceeded down I
tho hrf,s,, wing OF the prison, 80 unsfgntiy
sneeiac,e with its black iron galleries ana
scores of naisstudded doors, LII they catne
10 a private part OF the building "here Inc /
;;oyernorss Office stood. The nlatron 10 ock- |
cd, aud In moment the prisoner was usa u |
cred inte an apartment divided IRON Iool " |
floor by railing OF bars. Behlho snes s
nloryns In the other part OF the room were
crowned the Governor. Mr.. and Mrs. hui
tf,esy. julia and Heury Bennion. The is'ter
was leaning drscctcdly with On elbow On TUE
soantel.shelf. but when the prisoner entereu
No would have advanced towards her hao
not Mr.. Kusthew checked him. LET me
try 70 identity her first" said the sohcitor'
coid,y. .sJulia, come with me-
iTbere vas a moment OF deep and solemn
si,nncc. The father, with his daughter De
side Iin, gszed through the bars, endea-
vorius to detect the liueaments OF MS otueI
child Ia The shame-stricSen hgure peiole
him. Maria Burt put up her hands Delors
her face and quailed. . TAKE do"n you,
hands, Twelve,'' said the Hafron curly,
and glsncing ut Mr. kurtheW, sue piaIh's
an mis-. forehead. Yet, after moment
hesitation. the solicitor said hoarsely, SO
t,rsrt he had to clear his throat In the midst
of his sentence, 81 do not knoW-tnls-.
Ithis-person--do you, Juiia?' :.
..No-o.o faltered Julia, with her haao-
kerchief to her mouth. -, 49,
e.And YOU, Mrs. Knrthew ?" said the
Governor; addressing that lady.
| 81 do not know her," repeated Mrs.
Kurthew. almost inaudibly. She had NOT
left her place, and bad only cast one 1efsTlu,
| glance towards the ratings, then turned
her face away and burst out crying; Vnaer
any circumstances her tears seemed nas F'ra,.
| Henry .Beupion now stepped fofHara.
and the gaze which he bent on the prisoner
made her cover. His eyes CLEANED Is In
fever. and there was no uncertainty in tIclr
| exDres sion, vet his voice was beseechto2ty
low and pathetic-alnost whisper, as ne
murmured, "Dou't you know me- babel!
Whatever horrible mystery may have
brought you here, don't be afraid 20 con,
fess II. You remember how / loV"G you"
al don't understand you, sir" Nurmur-
cd the prisoner, whose features we're con-
vulsed by SpaSms.
"Look at me again give me ToUf h%nd.'
pleaded Henry Bennion. "See now NINE
shakes. Do you think L could mistake my
own Wife,"
aI am not your wife, SIR muttered
| Maria BuTI. ucll U lAi@ w ~
treat from him, she placed hand oTer her
eyes, whilst her features worked in con-
yulsion that ended in Q. hy,teric laugh.
" No, I'm not your wife, say--!llt il you
like to adopt me when come out i YORK
ing, | don't mind. No, no, il You're in
clned to il. l dare say you could give me
q good home"
| mo, that's not r.,y wife" sighed Ben
Mon. dropping the prisoners hanu. Ma
bel wouldn't have spoken like sD"'."
| "No, Made! wouldn't speak Ike ilI.t."
repeated Mr.. Kurthew, drawing his son-n-
law away by the arm. Now come along;
this scene is too trying for my wife; she Is
ready to faint.'
Mrs. Kurtbew bad ALREADY tainted. She
dropped on the floor in Il swoon aS tie p'i
soner vanished from behind the rails With
out giving her look.
1t went forth to the world that Henry
Bcnuion had been dcluded by l Csc NJ mis-
taken identity. Nevertheless, few morn
ings after this strange scene might have
been seen enacted within stones throw "i
4 the gates of Woking Prison. Maria Burt
had Just been released Dressed in plain
clothes. like those OF servant-girl, she left
the penitcntiary and walked hurriedIy down
| the road till she came to . corner where
cab stood. She halted Il moment as ii rll-
certain which way to turn, Nncn her pro-
srcss was barred by Mr.. kurthcw appear
! inc before her. holding the cab-door open.
Get III, Mabel" lie said, with 4 mournfui
composure. II did not choose 10 rcco"-
nizc you at tie prison the othr:' day be-
cause of the scandal it would have caused,
butt
| 81 assure you you are mistaken, sir
answered the discharged convict, retr at
ing.
Come, you need not be afraid OF me-"
said the old man, wiStfully; you can't
deny that you are my daughter"
! "Yes, yes; you are quite wrong. Please
| leave me-" faltered Maria Burt: and dart
ing from him she crossed the road. turned
down Il corner, and was lost to view.
| Can it lie possible?" lnurmurcd Mabel
Bpnnion'S father; and he stood stock still
gazing in the direction where The woman
had gone as if he had seen an arparition
that was not OF this earth.
Five years passed. During that time Mr..
and Mrs. Kurthcw both died, and ut length
julius health, which had always been so
bad. broke down, and she lay in her turn at
the point OF death. On the day when the
doctors had pronounced their verdict Com
corning her, and when it was evident that
she had but few hours more TO live. she
sent for Henry Bennion and made him
| confession.
"That woman in Working was Mabel.
YOUR Wife" she said. 81 knew it when /
saw her, and 1 have ascertained it for GER
tain now"
ALL" exclaimed BennioD, risin%, with
a look of unutcrable horror in his eyes.
Yes; DON'T scold me, but listen"
moancd Julia. "You and she were not
made for each other You used to leave
her alone for hours aud days. She could
not bear chat, for she loved to he made
much Of. She made the acquaintance OF Il
man-an advcnturcr-Wl0m she uScq 10
visit. His true character was unknown TO
her, but one day while she WAS with him
he was arrested for passing forged notes,
and she was taken as his accompllce. Snon-
CT than let you find out her inhdelliy she
preferred TO let you think she was dead.
| That is the whole sccret.'
"And-where is Mabel now?" asked
| Henry I,ennion, with fatal sort OF calm.
She died in Australia six months ago."
said Julia, "and she sent me this for you-
q lock of her hair, with prayer thai YOU
would pardon her. Here, look at the hair;
Mabel was quite young, yet it has gray
streaEs in it. You do forgive her, don't
you:"
eyes" murmured the wrctchcd wild.
ower.-L0ndon Wech.
WINES. Aiteu0KS. tec.
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