The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-05-03

by her side, while Mrs. SOutbwell called TO
the colonel to make the fourth at game OF
whist
This was soon arranged. The four elderly
people sat down 70 play their game. aud the
two young ones were practically alone.
Il have got something to say to you,
Helen" began Francis.
Yes. Frank" SIZE answered grayely.
You broke of our engagement; l want
you TO tell me why"
u did tell you why, Frank"
You wrote some very sad things, Helen,
but you wrote things 1 cannot understand.
Do you not think 1 have right for a fuller
explanation"
1T would do no good" said Holen SCR
rowfully, and it might do harm; best
il alone, Frank"
But | can't leave it alone. Helen. m
sger me one question, at least, Had it any,
thing TO do with Lady Ennismore"
Helen thought for a moment, and then
answered slowly
ut had something to do with some one
connected with her,
Connected with herr" repeated Francis
quickly.
"Yes-and-and have no right to tell
more-perhaps l should not have told so
much"
Then, you won't trust me-yet feel
very much inclined to trust you with a
great secret connected with my life"
with your life, Frankp asked Helen 10
serprise.
Yes. Helen, your aunt, Miss Drum
mond, was great friend Of Lady Ennis
more's, was she notP
They were old friends; they had known
each other from girlhood."
YES, know: aud Miss Drummond never
told you, suppose, any of the secrets of
Lady Ennismore's girlhoodW
THE secrets of her girlhoodl No, never !;
but how could she have any secrets! She
married Lord Ennismore when she was Is. -
'Yes, Helen, you wort trust me. but |
am going to trust you-but you must keep
the secret
II can keep secrets, Frank"
II know you can SO | am going to trust
you. Lady Ennismore married Lord Ennis
more when she was IS you say; but she had
been married before"
Married before" repeated Helen, in the
utmost amazement.
"Yes, when she was almost child. At
16, / believe, she was married to my
father"
Helen started violently, and looked with
wide open eyes at Francis face.
And your aunt knew OF this, went on
Francis; was with Lady Ennismore when
| was born"
Helen clasped her hands together in great
Sis T6tloIuD6T6u dU moment
Miss Drummond's agitation when she first
heard the name of Roche; she understood
better now why Lady Ennismore had in
sisted upon parting her from Francis
Roche
"Oh! Frank, is this true" she cried. ooh
| understand better now why she did it-why
she nearly broke my heart"
Tell me why she did it, HELENE
Helen put her hand over her face she
49, 81 4
she forgot that two of the whist players at
least could see her very distinctly; she only
remembered what she was to Francis; only
remembered the terrible secret that parted
them still further now.
do not agitate yourself, dear" said
Francis tenderly, but what | have told
you is true, and | naturally wish to know
-0
"Oh! hush, hush Frank" said Helen,
deeply moved; LADY Ennismore was rig hi
you do not know the dreadful truth
"And you will not tell meg'
~ must think it over-perhaps you had
better know-but not tonight; l cannot
talk of it Tonight
"But you viii promise to tell me!"
Helen made no answer; she was looking
at Francis with a new expression on her
face. She was pale, she was deeply moved
and the whist players very plainly perceived
Ll6b Lu6Te was u tragic eLelU6ub III JQ0 con-
versation of the two who sat apart; who
were looking in each others faces, but not
smiling; looking with eyes full of some
great passion and pain.
"WM you meet me tomorrow asked
Francis, after a little silence had been be
tween them. Meet me anywhere you like
to fix, or shall come here, and will you tel
nue. thenF'
Again Helen hesitated; and again she
IL ! IL.
was with great effort.
II will if you wish-but it will do nc
good"
"Still l most earnestly wish it; nay, have
a right to hear it. think. Helen, have
| not told you all my story yet-but that will
keep. Where shall see you thenp
LET us go TO some quiet place-Mrs
Southwell is very good-if tell her want
to go out she will not object"
"Well, fix where you like. :"
shall we go to the National Gallery
| Jhena | was there the other day, and IL was
very quiet"
81 will be there at any hour you name"
1.-THE morning will be best, it is so soon
dark. VIII ~ o'clock tomorrow suit youH
Ives, of course. IL is bargain, then,
shall see you tomorrow at twelve"
Eyes" said Helen in a low tone, and thul
the conversation ended.
Anu Dy -anu-Oy the WHIST players rose, anC
Mrs. Southwell asked Helen to sing.
But not if it is too much for you, my
DEAR" whispered this kind woman.
Il will try" answered Helen, and shC
went to the piano, and moment or two
later her beautiful voice rang through the
room, with such pathetic power and sweet
ness, that as she finished her song every one
in the room crowded around the piano tx
| thank her but Francis Roche.
He stood a little apart, and when the
| evening was over be silently pressed her
hand as he babe her good night. He was
very silent also as he drove with his uncle Il
their hotel, and Col. Roche also forbore
| to mention Heleu's name.
| Then followed an almost sleepless night
! for Francis He was TO know az last what
had parted him from Helen, and naturally
his mind was full of doubts and fears. She
| had admitted that this terrible secret al
she called it, concerned some one connected
with Lady Ennismore-with bis mother
and very painful thoughts began to beset
| his mind
| He was glad when the morning came and
! eagerly scanned the papers for news of LORD
Ennismore. The bulletin was not SO favor
able as that of the previous day. Lord En-.
/ nismore had passed restless night it said
and his temperature was higher.
| docs not look very well for him, pooI
! fellow" was Col. Roche's comment OF
this news at breakfast, and with thest
ominous words still ringing in his ears Fran
els Roche started to keep his appointment
with Helen Drummond.