The Panola weekly star. (Sardis, Miss.) 1882-18??, 1884-11-15

VIOLA ;
-0H-
Thrice Lost ID Struggle Tor a Name
nv n n n EDsos.

81 do nntth nix, from tho time ! fully
understood that letter that there was
nny other wish or purpose or PRAYER in
my heart, save this one to find out II
my father WAS guilty oi what DeVries
accused him, and TO get at my rightful
nflue aud inheritance, for, | argued,
then, II was Harry Montford's child,
bad fright 10 them, even II he was u
sconndrcl liut this last I did not be.
lieyc, for ! dimly remembered this man,
and remembered how Kind and gentle
he was, aud how fond he was Of my
mother and myself, and ! had little faith
In DpYries, YOU may be sum,
But must hasten my story. After
Aunt Molly died | went to Lansing and
worked nearly two years rs waiting.
maid IN n wealthy family, saving every
penny for this n pnrposo-a visit "a
England. A year ago last fall ! went
n there learned that John Montford
had died within a year after tho acct.
dent by which his son lost his life In
crossing tho English channel in n small
yacht. Tho yacht had encountered a
heaiy sea, and Harry Montford was
washed rom tho deck and drowned, Il
bclug 50 dark aud stormy at the time
that he was not Immediately missed,
and when ho was, he could not b.
found, tho vessel driving about helpless
before the wind, rendering II impossible
to stop long In tho vicinity Of the acct
dent.
1.-THE Montford estates had all passed
into tho hands Of Gilbert Montfori,
nephew Of John Montford, who had
previously been In very straitened cir
cnmslances. The year after he came
into possession Of { il property, which
was very largo. he had disposed OF II
and with his family removed 10 America.
"Of my mother | learned only this,
and this learned In France. Sho had
met u Young Englishman In Paris,
whore she was living with n distant rel.
aiyo. She was married To him "a thew
supposed, and left In his company, and
they had never seen her since. but II
had been 50 long they were not sure tho
namc was Mont ord. but had an i'm.
precision II was; Gencvieve had always
called him Harry. and I think they had
troubled themselves very little about
her, As them had been a large family OF
gltls Of their own. who had TO DO pro.
yidcd for.
Five months ago | returned "a
America, drtcr.nlned to find Gilber,
Montiord u ho was on the continent. /
had lcnrrcd also, by the way, that one
Alfred DoVrios had accompanied him
here as bisines- agent and private score.
iarf. visited nlmberless cities. and
scarched directories till | began to dc,
SPAR. when 0ne day In Chicago-l had
AN impression that he was somewhcr,
West, from Dcvries' evident unwilling.
pess that ! should DO brought here, ),
long ago-l saw Dcvrics IN tho street.
know him instantly. aud made maui
RES and found whore he llyol, aud In,
neNt DAY ] came here. aud the next on
tered Moniford House rs A servant
There. that Is the story. 30 far. hav,
found nothing definite. but | am resolve,
on one hing ! am the righiml heir /,
the estate and the name OF Montford
aud | utH ha q thcml II Is the onl,
thing care 10 live for. now. Remem
her II you drive me from this. my In,
hone is gone. tell YOU ! have no o,he
wish To hyc'' sho added. with a it'll
fcrre gesture
"Bui why persist in this-or. VIII.
MOI come on, openly and declare YOU
self hc asked.
What proof have | of ANYTHING
have told YOU save that old. half legibl
letter. And even that declares INV lille
gitimacy. II Dcvries hired Joe Bricrl,
eight years ago, as he did. To keep m.
out OF tho way. do YOU think he woulr
hesitate now at holder and more unscni
pulous mcansP I do not imagine m
lie would hc safe nm hour II he kne,
who was Why should | put mysel
IN his power when ! have twice escape,
No hunted my poor mother to he
death. for ! know now the letters al
nscl TO have VEN from him, aud
doubt not he watched MI her move
ments. and thought he had her In ri
power surely when she was fleeing I
O. rape him. Hut death released bel
thank hcaycnl | had r~aiherlhlnk ,
her lying under the turf on that "a
away sea shore. than exposed 10 nj. pc
s%ecuiions win yet triumph over hin
her wrongs shall yet be avenged. for
believe he was tho cause Of ali her 90
rows aud ! sometimes believe oi m
father death. for he was in the yaoI
at the time
CHApTFR Nv.
Al. Ht-