Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1883-06-07

were tried at the Old Bailey for the forgery
and sentenced to transportation for life"
81 see you have all the facts at your fin
gers ends" he said with cynical calmness.
''But paid the penalty for what [ did in
nocently enough, in Ignorance of the law"
"Do yourself more JUSTICE" she eXclaim-
ed. "You were not innocent, nor ignorant.
You knew the law we'll enough, and you
outraged it wilfully."
"And haven't suffered for what l did ?
Haven't been punished for my crime, as
YOU call it over and over again ?" Haven't
I undergone years of punishment? But you
don't know what transportation means.
It's mere word to you. To Newell, /
won't speak of it. | can't bear to think OF
it. Every morning I prayed that might
not live through the day. Everynight l
prayed that l might not live to see another
sunrise. It's a wonder / never laid hands
upon myself, beat my brains out against
my prison walls"
HYou loved yourself too dearly" she said,
with ScOrn.
"It's easy for you to say that. What
suffering have you known" All has been
made smooth and easy for you. The sun
has always shOne upon you. You have al
ways had money in your pocket. You have
w
whom your lightest wish has been law. In
truth, your lines have fallen in very pleas
ant places"
"Liarw she began impetuously, then
checked herself, and continued in calmer
tone: "But you were always that. [ have
not suffered, you say: Was I not your
wife? Fool that was. did I not listen to
your false words, your flattery, your prom
ises and protestations You persuaded me,
or 1 persuaded myself, that you, adventur-
er, imposter, cheat, were a hero, chival-
rous. devoted, selfsacrifcing, noble, l was
a weak, credulous, romantic girl. 1t is not
surprising that I was duped. Yours was a
grand triumph. You married me for my
money, which you squandered at the gam
ing-table or the turf. Then came a long
course of neglect, ill treatment, cruelty"
1--WE had our misunderstanding GER
tainly"
"You struck me''-
"Did I strike you," he asked. ''Pd for
gotten that"
the marks Of your blows?"
II was wrong, of course. But l lost my
temper, or was not sober, and you provoked
me. You could be very provoking when
you chose. Still, / did not really mean to
hurt YOU"
She seemed to brush away this eXplana-
tion with an abrupt movement of her hand.
Then you neglected, abandoned me; left
me at last penniless to starve, with my
child"
:. ",Really, I'd forgotten the child. 1t died,
didn't it,"
ayes, thank heaven!" she said with a
fervor.
"It was as well, perhaps. But | could
not help leaving you, you must bear in
mind. 1 was arrested upon criminal
charge, and brought to trial. was power
less. 1 often thought of you, but | really
could do nothing to help you. What can a
man do when he's locked up? Then l was
sent to New South Wales. You may call it
you, but had really no choice
in the matter, and after all you did do so
badly. Women, young and good-looking
as you were then-as you are now, for the
matter of that-rarely fail to find friends.
You found one, and something more. After
a while you married again-married the
gentleman whose service you had entered
as a governess to his children. You, see,
I know something of your history
"It is true | married Mr.. Bertram.
Many years had elapsed; no news of yon
came to me. l was entitled to believe you
dead. Mr.. Bertram knew my story; con-
cealed nothing from him. Heloved me sim
cerely; he behaved to me with exemplary
kindness and generosity. lowe everything
to him; but for him l might have been
wholly lost. L had the truest affection for
him, and now that he is no more l venerate
his memory. He was the truest, the kind
est, the noblest Of men,"
'That will do" he said, rather morosely.
81 don't care to listen to the singing of Ber-
tram's praises. After all he wasn't really
your husband. You are aware, suppose,
that you committed bigamy when you mar
ried him? The law might have something
to say to you on that subject. | am your
real husband and perhaps you don't under
stand that all this isproperty of yours---l mean
the land and money, goods and chattels, left
you by Mr.. Bertram's will-really belongs
to me as your lawful husband if | choose to
claim it?'
"And you mean to claim it ?"
'"That depends. have come back to the
old country to end my davs in peace. Why
should not find co.. ,rtable home in my
wife's house? Why should not I, after all 1
have undergone, secure refuge here, share
in my wife's prosperity, ask her forgiveness,
beg her to bestow her love on me once more
and take me to her arms again? Really,
Gertrude, we might live happily together
ever afterward,' as the people do in fairy
tales"
$50 that is your plan, is it, Godfrey Wen
ham ?" she began.
"Hush" he interrupted. "Not my real
name, please. There's danger in the sound
of it. / shiver when I hear it. Call me
George Harvey; that's how / am known
now"
"George Harvey, or Godfrey Wenham-1
care not how you are known or called-listen
to me-" She arose as she spoke and stood
him. "Take heed what you do.
You are not now dealing with the girl you
duped 50 easily in the past. You have cru
ely wrOnged me, but have drawn strength
from my injuries. My sutferings and eXpe-
riences have given me courage. [ do not
fear you in the least. l know that you dare
not treat me again as you treated me in the
past. l am not to be frightened now by
scowls and threats, oaths and abuse; and if
you strike me-but you know better-you
dare not! You say that you can claim this
that YOU are my husband, and you prove
that | am not Mr.. Bertram's widow--that /
am not entitled to the property he has be-
uueathed to me it will revert, therefore,
to the surviving members Of his family, and
become part of his general estate. And
more than that-come forward in your own
name to claim possession of my property,
and to declare yourself my husband, and
what follows? You own yourself Godfrey
Wenham, a convict transported for life to
New South Wales. Who gave you leave to
return to England? let me ask you, and
what is the penalty for returning to England
without leave? DO you happen to know,
Godfrey Wenham? 1t used to be death.
Perhaps it's death still. You should know,
Godfrey Wenham-none should know bet
ter than YOU"
The man had turned very pale. "Do you
mean to betray ." he asked huskily,
with on oath