The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-08-17

most unfortunate. Is there any one alive
who would have been likely TO be present at
weddings about that timer
| i don't think so, the clerk said "beyond
the vicar and my father and the pew
opener, and of course the friends Of the
married couple, no one would be likely to be
there, unless the parties we're known about
mere The pew opener who was here then
died fifteen or sixteen years ago.
well, | think, at any rate,n RoberuHar-
out said, you had better come across with
me at once with this book to the rector.
that he may see that this leaf has been cut
out. 1t is very serious business, most
serious. win you stay ia the churchyard,
Miss Corbyn, until return. There will be
no occasion for you 10 come in with me-"
Not word was spoken between Con-
stance and Annette Duport until Robert
Harbut returned. Constance looked at him
lnqulringly; he shrugged his shoulders.
The vicar Is greatly distressed and an
noyed- Its OF course entirely new TO him.
| de says that no doubt it took place long be.
fore his time. but Of course that may or
may not be. You see there were In that
book two weddings on the page, and can
not say with any certainty whether
1t was distracted by somebody
desirious of destroying the record Of
the other marriage. At any rate
am afraid for the present we are completely
stumped. 1 mean," he went on, in answer
to Constance's look of Interrogation. that
we are for the present brought to full stop
by an impossible obstacle"
but is there no other way, Mr. HarbutY
| We have been SO wonderfully successful up
to now. Surely we cannot be altogether
defeated by the loss of this register; there
must be some other way Of proving the
marriage"
"No doubt, no doubt" Robert Harbut
| agreed, speaking in hopeful tone, 1t is only
that we are brought up SO suddenly on this
particular line. We followed the scent
hotly, and have met with, what they call in
hunting, check, and then the only thing is
/ to make a cast in fresh direction until we
get on the scent again. At present the re-
suit is 30 unexpected, and confess that the
disappointment Is so keen that one cannot
pull oneself together all at once. But when
we have time to think the matter. over
again some fresh light may occur to US"
II think you only say so, Mr.. Harbut,"
| Constance said, quietly, ITO relieve my dis
| appointment; but | always like to know the
| truth. and would rather that you told me
| frankly If you thought that all was lostn
Indeed, do not think so, Miss Corbyn
l do not disguise from you that the abstrac-
ton of this leaf from the register enorm-
ously adds to our difficulties, aud that at
present do not in the slightest degree see in
| what direction we must search for collateral
evidence OF the marriage. Still you see
things have no till now presented them
selves in most unexpected way, and we
| have succeeded in marvellous manner in
ascertainiug number of particulars We
have learnt your mothers birthplace and
| parentage, have received the clergyman's
| testimony as to her character and your
grandfather's last letter to her and her let
ters to him. We cannot absolutely say that
we have discovered for certain that they
| married in this town, for whatever ouI
| ideas on the subject may be, there is ne
shadow of proof that the missing page con
tanned the register of that marriage. We
have assumed that it took place here, but
your mothers letter did not say that il did
SO; all that we know Is that the letter was
posted here, but they may have been mar
cd in London before leaving town, or at
Canterbury or some other place on the
road. We may have to grope in the dark
for bit, but / trust that we may come
across a clew again. You see, Miss Cor
byn, l have engaged in this matter as
sort of amateur private detective, and con
slider that my honor is at stake in ferret
ing out the matter if it be possible to dc
So"
"You are very kind aud good" Con-
stance said. gratefully. "Isuppose we may
as well go back to town at once: it will be
of no use searching the registers at other
churches, | suppose"
81 should hardly think So" he said, at
was sure to have been the Parish Church if
anywhere, at least l should think SO; how
ever. it is of no use throwing away q
chance, and now we are here it Is better to
decide the question. ! will invest at once in
a sixpenny guidebook," and he ran into a
stationer's shop.
NOW, here are the churches and the
dates of their building. You see there was
only one other at the time. 1t is not worth
while for you to trouble about it. i will go
and have a look at the registers"
Gro BE CoNTINUED.)