The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-06-07

She hid her face in the coverlet to hide tae
tears that were now streaming down her
face. and after a moment or two Lady En-
nismore seemed to sink Into a sort of half
sleep, half -unc jnsciousness, from which she
never again really quite rallied.
But she murmured disjointed words occa-
sionally; words that fell without meaning
on her listeners cara.
"Ennismore, forgive me now, they hear
her say; ''for the boys sake-forgive me
now"
And so as the hours passed she drifted
away. and Francs and Helen watched her
all through the night. Watched her until
another day was born, and a faint light
stole through the window panes.
Then suddenly a strange change cams
over her face She opened her eyes, and a
look OF JOY, OF great peace, for moment
'Enuismore" she cried, lifting her band
aged hands as if in welcome. Bus the next
moment they fell back, aud the light in her
eyes faded, and with that last word on her
lips she died.
4
They led 10 little Pat to kiss his dead
mother. and the weeping girls, and thus all
her children stood round her. and gazsd
with fearful eyes on her changed faca. And
Francis-her eldest son-bent down and
| kissed her also, and then kissed his little
brother on his white brow.
A great charge had been left to Francis
these fatherless and mothsrles children,
and vast wealth, and responsibilities of
every kind. 1t was well for him that he had
a bright clever girl like Helen Drummond
by his side to share them, for Helen at this
time showed her real nature, which for a
| time had been so utterly crushed down by
the knowledge of her unhappy mothers
shame.
Now she seemed to have forgotten all
this, for Francis wished her to forget it, and
| she owed so much to him, she told herself,
that she tried completely to put it out of
her mind. Aud during the sad days that
followe Lady Ennismores death she was
his right hand. 1t indeed made the situs-
ton so much easier to them all to know
that Helen was to be Francis wife. The
girls had always known Helen, and knew
nothing of the tragic history of her birth,
and they accepted the stranger brother for
her sake. and began to call him Frank"
| as she did.
Francis telegraphed the news of Lady
Ennismore's death to his uncle, Col Roche,
and also to the man who had wrecked her
life and broken her heart. And it must be
admitted that George Roche felt very I'M
comfortable when be heard it-so uncom~
| Portable that he very nearly brought on an
attack of delerium tremens in an attempt
to deaden a certain uneasy feeling in his
heart that he could not get rid Of He re-
membered the beautiful young girl he had
| loved long ago, and the beautiful woman
he had seen in the park after his return to
England, and he almost wished his work
undone.
Still he had only done his duty to
| Francis" he told himself, Ito his son and
heir" But he did not express any wish to
| attend her funeral, and wrote very sub
| dued letter to Francis to express his regret
at her melancholy death.
Col. Roche also wrote. and then Francis
asked him to come down to Brackenford,
which request the colonel cheerfully as
sented TO. He had been very much shocked
at Lady Ennismore's death, but he could
not help feeling a sort of sober pleasure
when he arrived at the magnificent house,
| Of which Francis Roche was now the owner
and reflected on the great property he had
inherited, and thought of the moors and
st-eams-for the colonel was keen sports
man--that he, the colonel, would now have
the enjoyment Of
He found the young people at Bracken-
ford-for Francis. the eldest of them, was
but 22-all on very good terms
with each other, and there seemed
| no i'll feeling il the hearts of Julia and
Maud Bingham toward Francis. As
| for poor little Pat, he was too young to
understand his loss. and was quite delighted
| to have "a big brother" He was pleased
also with Helen, who showed both tact and
| good taste in her new position, for she was
now virtually the mistress Of this great
! house, though she consulted Julia about
everything.
You have chosen very WELL Frank, l
| think, y said the colonel as he and his nephew
were smoking on the terrace the first even
| ing the colonel was at Brackenford; Miss
Drummond is very fine girl, think, and
Mrs. Southwell thinks so too, and back
Mrs Southwelps opinion against any ones
| to know good woman when she sees one"
She's very dear girl, at any rate"
answered Frank; II don't know what we
should have done without her here, and Pm
80 glad you like her, Uncle Walter"
shes got good head on her shoulders,
which is a great thing continued the coll
onel, who prided himself on his correct
| judgment about women. However pretty
a woman is, she is sure to pail on man I'M
less she's got some wits to back her looks
Yes, | consider, Frank, you have done
| well.n
This conversation between the uncle ard
nephew took place on the night before Lady
Ennismore's funeral. The tragic circum-
| stances of her death-dying, as she did, to
save her little son-so soon after he had lost
his father, aroused great public sympathy,
and the most beautiful wreaths of flowers
were sent to Brackenford from all parts of
the country, for Lady Ennismore, in her
| lie, nad made many friends.
| They buried her in the family vault at
Brackenford church, where her father and
mother slept, and Norman Maiden, her
brother, who died in his early youth. Here,
too, lay Robert, Lord Ennismore, her hus-
band. and they placed her by his side. None
knew the terrible secret Of his death, for the
dead woman had spoken no word. They
| knew now, however, of the early marriage
which had blighted her life, and the people
| said it was strange and pathetic sight to
see her two sons. Francis Rocne and little
Pat, following her coffin as it was borne
into the church; little Pat holding fast by
the hand of his elder brother.
The girls went also, and many tears were
shed as the once brilliant woman was car
ried TO her long rest.
1t was a bright day, too, with the sun
glancing on the hills; but the shining beams
| only seemed to make it more sad to the
black-robed mourners.
ut will be so lonely without her." wept
Julia. leaning her head against Helen's
shoulder.
Hush, darling" answered Helen, putting
her arm around her slender waist
And all through the sad day it was the
Same thing Helen was the CONSIDER and
the help of every one.
| Perhaps the sweet hopes in her own heart,
the knowledge that Francis Roche loved
her. that this was to be her home, and that
| Iii