The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-05-24

the marriage. But mat, after two and
twenty years. this Mr.. Roche has reap
peared, and of course in such a case her
marriage with Lord Ennismore would be
null and void"
YES" again faltered the Rector.
Have you ever heard anything of this
| first marriagep asked Mr.. Beale quickly,
for there was something in the rector's
manner thas excited his suspicious.
"I-never saw Lady Ennismore until shs
had been married for many years to Lord
Ennismore," hesitated the Rev. Peter, with
! downcast eyes.
| There was some scandal, l remember,
about her when she was quite a girl" said
the lawyer; something about a love affair
with young fellow that her mother, Mrs
Maiden, did not approve Of. l wonder if
this extraordinary application has any
thing TO do with that old story"
The rector did not speak for a moment:
he was bordering what he ought to do.
DO you suppose this-Mr. Roche means
TO bring his claims into the new courtsP
he said at length. ,
His solicitors state that he has a very
strong case, and that Lady Ennismore her
self saw him and admitted his identity dur
ing the life OF Lord Ennismore; and his
| brother, Col. Roche of the engineers also
recognized him. And to complicate matters
Lady EnniSmore-so the lawyers state-had
son by this first marriage. who was
brought up by his uncle. Col. Roche, and
who Is also in the army"
| And this son would be-
| Don't you see. my dear sir that If this
| nrst marriage is an absolute fact, and can
be proved, that the poor little fellow up
yonder is illegitimate ana no more Lord En-
nismore than l ami The eldest son by the
first marriage, of course, in such case
would be the heir to the property, and not
Lord Ennismores child"
The rector rose to his feet and began
walking up and down the room with irreg-
ular footsteps, and the lawyers keen eyes
followed his lean figure as he did so.
Pardon me, Mr. Prescott" he said mo-
ment later. but may l ask you plain
questions Have you heard anything of this
| beforeln
Then the rector stopped. but still was
silent.
| "We must, of course, see Lady Ennis
more at once on the subject" went on Mr..
Beale. II thought her manner very ex-
traordinary the last time l did see her
| perhaps this had something to do with iii"
II have seen her, said the rector slowly !;
she told me something of such a story,
but own l thought her mind was I'M
hinged"
Its enough to unhinge the mind of any
woman. Fancy what position to find her
self in, and through no fault of her own,
!
| TO be dead when she married Lord Ennis
more. But there may be some weak spot
In the mans story, and it is our duty, of
course, to try to detect this, and therefore
| propose that we go at once to Brackenford
and see Lady Ennismore."
The rector made no objection to this, and
the two then walked up together to the
house beneath the roof-tree of which such
dismal tragedies had been enacted, They
were admitted to Lady Ennismore's press
| ence, and her manner was now much more
composed than when she had last seen the
| rector.
81 have come from town especially to see
you, Lady Ennismore," began the lawyer.
Yes" she answered, and there was a
strange, hopeless ring in her voice as she
| spoke.
81 have received very extraordinary
| communication" went on Mr.. Beale: "a
communication regarding an alleged first
marriage, prior to your union with Lord
Ennismore, and thought it my duty to see
you at once on the subject"
A flush dyed Lady Ennismore's white,
| haggard face for a moment, and her thin
hands nervously clutched her black gown.
"Of course. conclude there is no founda-
zion for such statement" said Mr.. Beale.
'Yes. there is" she ans wered in broken
| voice; II was married before l married
Lord Ennismore-when l was &c."
Good heavens! Lady Ennismore, you
don't mean to say this is trueg exclaimed
| Mr.. Beale
sit is true; 1 believed George Roche to
be dead-saw his death in the papers-was
assured he was dead before married Lord
| Ennismore, and all the years OF my married
life believed this man to be dead until-a
short time ago."
"And you have seen him; you are sure Of
his identityW asked Mr.. Beale.
Yes" added Lady Ennismore briefly.
"And this letter states there is a son by
| this first marriage; is this 500"
"Yes." again said the white-faced woman
| he was questioning.
ut is a most unfortunate business, then
most unfortunate for Lord Enuismore's lit
tie sonl"
She did not speak, but both the rector
and the lawyer saw her clutching hands,
| her qulvering lips.
May there not be some flaw about this
| first marriagew continued Mr.. Beaie. "You
were so young at the tlme-a mere child, in
fact-that there may have been some irreg-
ularlty you were not aware of. Where did
the marriage take place, and who per-
| formed the ceremony, and by whom was it
| witnesSedg
Then Lady Ennismore repeated the story
we have so often heard. She told the date
| of her marriage to George Roche and the
disgrace that befell him, and how he fed
the country, and was supposed to be lost at
sea. She spoke all this with the same hope
less ring in her voice with which she had
commenced the conversation, and the law
| yer listening felt convinced of the truth of
| her words.
And this other son-he is a young man
| now, of coursa" he said, as he paused.
"Yes," and a faint flush stole again to
her face; II know him. | think he is
undetermined. l am sure he will be gener-
Gus TO little Patn
well, Of course, we must do nothing
rashly, Lady Ennismore. / will see this
geptleman's solicitors, and arrange an in
terview with him-I mean George Roche,
for | presume you would prefer private
arrangement to the matter going into
court!"
1T would be useless to go into court; I do
not mean either to dispute or deny my
miserable fate"
well, it will not affect you so much per-
sonally, as, ofcourse, you hold the property
for life!"
Then for a moment or two Lady Ennis
more broke through the outward calm
which she had hitherto maintained through
out the interview.
ut is more bitter than deathm she cried
suddenly. Lord Ennismore is better
deadp'
ut is certainly very painful affair; but
we must try to make the best of it, and
! 10 Of -