The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-02-08
A FATAL PAST.
By DORA RUSSELL.
SroRs," B1RrHRIGHr" Ere,
[ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

low sigh, and then she looked gently, al
most pityingly. in the young mans good
looking face.
81 hope your life will be happy also,n she
said. But look,n she added, quickly
pointing to house before them, which a
sudden turn of the road had brought in
view, "yonder is Brackenford. / was born
there, Mr.. Roche-and-and ali the TRACE
dies of my life have happened beneath that
roof"
1.-THE tragedies of your lifeg' repeated
Roche, looking at Lady Ennismore in sur
prise. 81 suppose you are joking, Lady
Ennismore, your life can have had no
tragedies!"
How can yon tellg" answered Lady En-
nismore. Zone great tragedy that all the
world knew happened there. Ny young
brother, Norman, in the prime of his life,
was carried into that house with a fatal
gunshot wound in his throat. 1t killed my
mother. That was tragedy enough, was it
not2 Yes, Mr.. Roche, there are shadows
over many lives which outwardly seem ell
fair and BRIGHT
Lady Ennismores lips quivered, and her
cheeks flushed as she said these words, and
Francis Roche felt convinced from that mo-
ment that all had not gone smooth in the
career OF this apparently most prosperous
lady.
"We all have some troubles. l suppose"
be said.
YES" answered Lady Ennismore alb
sently, as If her mind were still dwelling on
some painful subject. But suddenly, with
almost an impatient gesture. she reused
herself.
"You will think You are going to a very
melancholy place, fear, Mr.. Roche" she
said, looking at the young man with her
charming smile. "but assure you it is not
SO. No one can be melancholy with Lord
Ennismore. He has the brightest temper,
sthe sweetest temper / ever met He is like
big child, l tell him, and he has carried
into middle age all the joyousness of ex-
treme youth"
He is a lucky man." answered Roche.
He is happy man, l hope" said Lady
EnniSmore you should see him with the
child" and she looked back at her boy as she
said this, who was few yards behind them,
still on Helen's pony. who was leading it
Lord Ennismore worships that boy" she
added in a lower tone. ''Sometines fear
he loves him too rnuch-thas IL anything
were to happen to Pat"
lyon must not think of anything hap
pening to Pat" said Roche kindly. "Do
you know that shall begin to think you
take sad views of life, Lady Ennismore."
Il am older than you are and that ex-
plains il" said Lady Ennismore, and again
she smiled. "But here we are at home, u
she continued, for they had now reached a
wall which inclosed the private grounds of
Brackenford. at this spot, and in which
there was q small locked door way which
Lady Ennismore opened with key.
Inside this wall everything told of wealth.
The house at Brackenfcrd was built literally
on the hillside, but the hillside was cultivated
and adorned, and art as well as nature had
contrived TO make the place wonderfully
beautiful. There was rustic bridges over a
| gushing little stream that fell gurgling
| down artificial cascades and rockwork, and
murmured through woods and thickets and
ferns, while above all-towering up grand
and grey-were the great hills which no
hand had touched
The house was picturesque, though some,
what fanciful. Mr.. Maiden had been a
rich man, very rich man, and he had
built his house without counting the cost.
Then the unfortunate young Norman NAL
den, who had died such an untimely death,
had added and improved upon his fathers
plans. And his proud mother had deco ated
the interior of the place afresh after her hus-
bands death, for some titled bride, whom 1t
was whispered, she had urged her only son
to bring to his home.
Now, father, mother and son alike were
gone The rich furnishing remained, but
the proud old dame who had bought it had
been carried away with a broken hear from
the midst of her splendor. Lady Ennismore
had inherited everything, all the vast prop
erty, the coal mines, the iron works, and
Lord Ennismore was a very rich man, and
the child heir to a great inheritance.
Roche could not help thinking what
lucky little fellow this child was as he
walked Through the place with the beautiful
mother. His own childhood had been q
somewhat sad and neglected one. He could
remember neither his father nor his mother,
and he had been brought up by his uncle,
Col. Roche, of the engineers, who was hot
tempered soldier, fond Of his own way, Of
wine and good living, and devoted to his
profession, and very ardent ad nirer Of
the fair sex.
With this narrow-minded. though brave
and honorable man (for Col. Roche was
distinguished soldier, and had seen hard
work and had taken bis place right gallantly
in the front during the last thirty years.
Francis Roche had spent his childhood and
boyhood.
Wherever his uncle went he had taken
the boy. Francis Roche had thus been q
great traveller, and had roughed it in many
places, though. to do Col Roche justice, be
always did what he thought best for his
nephew. In his way he was fond of him.
But the colonel was only 50-a handsome,
soldier-like man still-and he might marry,
and 30 he had never called Francis Roche
his heir, nor encouraged any expectations
of the kind. he allowed the young man
one hundred a year, and it was understood
between them that when Francis got his
ceptaincy that his allowance should cease.
Thus Francis Roche had been peculiarly
without home ties. He went to stay with
his uncle during his long leave each year,
wherever Col. Roche happened to be sta
toned, and he wrote to him each month,
and this was all he ever saw of his rela-
tions.
Make your own way, my boy, with your
sword" the colonel once told him. "You
bear an honorable name, live TO make it
more honorable, and when you die let your
epitaph be gallant soldiers"
Somehow Francis Roche knew by that
subtle instinct with which we discern the
real feelings Of those around as, that how
ever early he died the death Of gallant
SOLDIER that this event would not break
his uncles heart. He was justified, there
fore, In saying somewhat sadly Of Lady
Ennisnore, as they walked through the
beautiful grounds of Brackenford, and as
he thought of the happy fate of the young
heir of all this wealth, and so much love,
that he (Francis) always felt himself SO
lonely in the world.
81 have no one who particularly cares for
uie,n he said. every one else has mother
or sister, think; but have no one-no Que
to love me nor to think about me. Lady Ea-
nismore. If | were to die tomorrow, there
is not single person who would shed tear
over INV rrava