The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1882-12-22
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VIOLA =. 49, - :.
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Thrice Lost in a Struggle for a Name,
CHAPTER xIv.lCoNrISuED.
ny MRS. II. d. EDISON.


81 do not think, from the time fully
understood that letter that there was
any other wish or purpose or PRAYER in
my heart, save this one: to find out if
my father was guilty of what DeNries
accused him, and TO get at my rightful
name and inheritance, for. l argued.
then. if was Harry Montfords child,
had right to them. even if he was a
scoundrel. But this last | did not be.
lieve, for dimly remembered this man,
and remembered how kind and gentle
he was, and how fond he was of nv
mother and myself, and had little faith
in DeVries, YOU may be sure.
But | must hasten my story. After
Aunt Molly died | went to Lansing and
worked nearly two years as waiting
maid in a wealthy family, saving every
penny for this one purpose-a visit 10
England. A year ago last fall went,
ana there learned that John Montford
had died within year after tie acct
dent by which his son lost his life in
crossing the English channel in a small
yacht. The yacht had encountered a
heavy sea, and Harry Montford was
washed from the deck and drowned. it
being SO dark and stormy at the time
that he was not Immediately missed
and when he was, he could not be
found, the vessel driving about helpless
before the wind. rendering it impossible
to stop long in the vicinity of the acct
dent.
The Montford estates had all passed
into the hands of Gilbert Montford.
nephew of John Montford, who had
previously been in very straitencd cir
cumstanceS. The year after he came
into possession of is property, which
was very large. he had disposed of it
and with his family removed to America.
"Of my mother i learned only this,
and this learned in France She had
met Young Englishman in Paris.
where she was living with d slant rel
alive. She was married to him as thew
supposed, and left in his company, and
they had never seen her since, but ii
had been so long they We're not sure the
name was Mont ord, but had an i'm
preston it was; Genevieve had ALWAYS
called him Harry, and think they had
troubled themselves very little about
her. as there had been a large family of
girls of their own, who had to be pro-
vided for. ..-. &c.,. ... o..
Five months ago l returned to
America, determined to find Gilbert
Montford if he was on the continent. /
had learned also, by the way, tr,at one
Alfred DeVries had accompanied him
here as business agent and private secre-
tary. visited numberleSs cities, and
searched directories till began to de-
spair, when one day in Chicago had
an impression that he was somewhere
West, from DeVries' evident unwilling
ness that should be brought here. so
long ago-I saw DeVries in the street.
knew him instantly, and made inqui-
rieS and found where he lived, and the
next day ! came here, and the next en-
tered Montford House as a servant.
There, that is the story, so far. have
found nothing definite, but am resolved
on one thing: am the rightful heir to
the estate and the name OF Montford.
and | SCiH have them! 1t is the only
thing | care to live for, now. Remem-
Der. if you drive me from this, my last
hope is gone. tell you have no other
wish to live" she added. with 4 little
fierce gesture.
But WHY persist in this-or, why
not come out openly and declare your
Self?" he asked. ~
What proof have l of anything l
have told YOU save that old. half legible
letter? And even that declares my ille-
gitimacy. If DeNries hired Joe Briefly
eight years age, as he did. to keep me
out of the way, do you think he weuld
hesitate now at holder and more unscru-
pulous means? l do not imagine my
life would be safe an hour if he knew
who i was. Why should put myself
in his power when have twice escaped
it? He hunted my poor mother to her
death, for l know now the letters she
used TO have were from him, and l
doubt not he watched all her move
ments, and thought he had her in his
power surely when she was fleeing to
escape him. But death released her,
thank Heaven, | had rather think of
her lying under the turf on that far
away sea shore, than exposed to his per-
secutions L will YET triumph over him;
her wrongs shall yet be avenged. for /
believe he was the cause of all her sor-
rows. and I sometimes believe of my
fathers death, for he was in the Yacht
at the time aasfs.-...st Ia,