The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-05-31
CHAPTER XXXVIII,
A DIAMOND NECKLACE.

The next day the rector saw Francis
Roche, and like Mr.. Beale he was pleased
with the frank and generous spirit shown by
the young man.
"Can the entail not be broken, and the
property divided equally between myself
and PatF be said. 'f my mother, who
now owns Brackenford, were to make a will
and do this. and /, who am the next heir she
tells me, were TO agree to it, would it not
hold good, Mr., Prescottr
The rector shook his head
II fear not" he said "Mr. Beale tells me
that the property was settled firstly on Mr.
Norman Maiden, who died childless, and
then on his sister, Lady Ennismore, and
after her on her eldest son, and then on the
eldest sons son, and so on for three genera
tious. But belive there is a large sum OF
money which you and Lady Enuismore will
have power to dispose Of. ="
but part OF the income out of the prop
erty could be set aside for Pat also, even
without breaking the entail OF course
feel most anxious to make up in every way
to him for such an unlooked-for change Of
fortune"
"It was, indeed, unlocked for, and the
most painful part Of it to Lady Ennismore
is. think. the knowledge that the boy will
not bear his fathers name The title, Mr..
Beale tells me, will now go to cousin Of
the late lords"
81 feel so much for her; she has been very
good to me, and yet l wonder she does not
hate me-"
''You have been innocent OF all wrong to
her; the terrible wrong was your father all
lowing her to suppose he was dead. and
after doing this to return to England"
Il don't think he ever did mean to re-
turn" answered Francis with faint flush
rising on his face. He meant, he told me,
always to allow everyone to suppose he was
lost at sea, but he was driven bv poverty to
come back, and driven Also by poverty to
apply to Lady Ennismore for assistance:
and then when he found out was living, he
Insisted on bringing forward his claims"
The rector sighed.
"We can but make the best Of 10 now.
Mr.. Roche" he said; "the best for Lady
Ennismore aud her poor children, and | am
truly happy to see that you are anxious to
do this"
Indeed am, Mr. PRESCOTT
Il truly believe so; and little Pat l am
sure, will find you a good brother. Mr..
Beale is coming down tomorrow, and then
and Lady Ennismore, l Understand, pro-
poses TO make her will, and provide for her
younger children"
And the next day the lawyer did come.
and ample and most generous provision
was made for the two girls, Julia and
Maud, and also for little Pat and by q
special request of Francis Roche portion
of the yearly income from the landed
property was to be set aside to augment the
boys fortune. This, of course, could only
be done by agreement with the next heir
(FranciS Roche), aud only duri lg the life
time of the said Francis Roche, as the entail
was very strictly drawn.
But during his lifetime Francis Roche
agreed to allow his half~brother, Patrick,
three thousand q year from the revenues Of
the property, and he sigued deed to tina t
effect, so that with the fortune his mother
could leave him, and this yearly allowance,
little Pat was amply provided for.
Francis Roche stayed at Brackenford I'M
til all these arrangements we're made, and
during this time he felt that Lady Ennis
more was learning to love and trust him,
and in every way he tried to help and COM
fort her.
Miss Sinclairs sharp eyes had not perceived
that something very unusual was going on
at Brackenford. At last she could restrain
her curiosity no longer, and asked Francis
Roche why Lady Enuismore had requested
her not to call little Pat Lord Ennismore.
Lady Eanismors is SO strange and re-
served now, l was half afraid to ask her
reason. said Miss Sinclair, smiling; ''but
am not afraid to ask you, Mr.. Roche, and
y "
perhaps you will tell me2"
II must ask leave from Lady Ennismore
first" answered Francis, also smiling aud
when he did so, Lady Ennismore babe him
tell her truth.
Everyone will know soon, so why not
those of my own household" she said half
bitterly; but the next moment she added
II have but one consolation through all
this shame and misery, Francis, and it is to
know you areas you are Alb, you should
have been my Ennismores sonm
81 mean to try to be a good son to you at
any rate" answered Francis kindly, and ne
took her hand
And there is another thing wish to
mention, Francis" went On Lady Ennis.
more; land it is not for the worlds sake.
remember, for the world is nothing to me
now. aud l shall never enter it again; but
still, though have no right to it, 1 wish to
bear my second husbands name-not the
other"
Eyes, of course"
"Ennlsmore was my true husband, you
know, all these long, long yeers!' contin-
ued Lady Ennismore with deep emotion.
And my poor father was always un-
worthy to be your husband"
II shall never see him again in life" an
swered Lady Ennismore, with a shudder.
Never name him to me, Francis-to me he
is dead"
~ will respect your wish, said Francis;
'aud nov do not let US taik.any more on
painful subjects"
He changed the conversation, but the
next time he saw Miss Sinclair he drew her
aside.
'You asked me a question about little
Pets name, and have got leave from
Lady Ennismore to tell you a long story, "
he said, "and then you will understand"
He then briefly told her the outline of
Lady Ennismores sad life, and Miss Sinclair
listened with the utmost establishment and
some secret satisfaction.
Then. she is actually not even Lady
Ennismorer she said.
"She wishes to continue TO keep her hus-
bands nams )" said Francis Roche, repress-
lively; land OF course every one will respect
such WISH
but be was not her husband, Mr., Roche.
il all this be true.n
''She believed him 20 be her husband for
more than twenty years, MISS Sinclair;
it was her misfortune. and through no fault
OF hers that such a terrible complication
should arise"
"And 1 always thought her such fortu-
nate woman. declare used 20 envy her
Well, one can never tell.
And Miss Sinclair shrugged Der shoulders
"And the giTlsp 8 Q said the next min
ute. WHY, they will be Legitimate, 100,
Mr. Roehen
They will bear their fathers family
name. and ~ they will have very large foi.
tunes do not suppose thai IL will ever bs