The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-03-08
CHAPTER XIV.
A SUDDEN CHANGE.


So Lady Ennismore left Ardleigh, and
the three women who had lived there before
her brief visit went on living there after it,
with no seemingly outward change in their
lives
True, Mrs. Campbell remarked one day to
Johnny that Helen Drunmond was not so
pretty as she used to lie, which Johnny
stoutly denied; and Margaret Drummond,
though she never SPOKE of it, knew that the
iron had entered into the girls soul, and
that her young life was spoilt.
A day or two passed after Lady Ennis.
more left before Helen found strength TO
write to Francis Roche to tell him that it
must be all over between them. She did
this in a few broken-hearted words; words
which wrung her breast to write, aud made
her cheeks burn with shame.
Dear Frank" she wrote, "the reason
that have not answered your letter sooner
is because could not find courage TO do so .
You remember our last parGing2 l went
| home, feeling very sad to leave you, but
still full Of the sweet hope that we should
soon meet again. To my great surprise, l
found Lady Ennismore sitting with my
| aunt when | entered the house. She at
| once spoke OF you, and blamed me for hav-
| ing broken my promise Of not seeing you
| again. l told her that promise was not
binding to me now. as we had agreed to be
true TO each other. Sac said | must give
you up, and / told her could not. But the
next morning when / was Watching for the
postman, who | hoped would bring a letter
from you, she came to my room, and told
me such a tale of shame and crime con-
nected with my birth that she left me no
choice. Frank, l can never be your wife,
nor the wife of any honorable man. Ishall
always think of you; but we must see each
other no more. have not strength to do 81,
and l ask you not to seek me, for the sake
of the love that has between us, and which
in my heart will not change. HELEN"
She sent this letter, and Roche received it
with establishment and even anger. He had
bsen ready to make any sacrifice to win
Helen, and knew from what Lady Ennis
more had told him that there was some
shadow on Helen's birth. But he cared for
her bright face too much to let this stand in
his way. And they had agreed that nothing
should part them, yet here was Helen ready
to thro him over, without even fully ex-
planning her reason for doing 30. Crime !
What possible crime could be connected
with her birth? Thoughts Roche, angrlly
There might be shame, but if he were ready
to look over this, what had Lady Eonismore
or any one else to do with it? He, there-
fore wrote the following letter to Helen,
and impatieltly awaited her reply:
my DEAREST HELEN-Your letter gave
me great surprise and PAIN. We agreed to
allow nothing to part US, yet you tell me
must see you no more, because Lady Ennis
more mas told you some unhappy story con-
nected with your birth. She more than in
simulated this to me at Brackenford, yet you
see it did not prevent me following YOU to
Ardeleigh. Be frank with me, dear Helen,
and tell me exactly what the story is, and
then allow me to judge whether you are not
fit to be my wife, nor the wife of any hon
Orable man, which you, in your over-sen-
sitiveness affirm, aud think l tell you be-
forehand what the answer will be. | cam
not get leave again 50 soon, or l should go
to Scotland and try 10 see you. But don't
let Lady Ennismore, who has nothing to do
with either of US, except that We first met
at her house, come between us. You tell
me your love for me will never change,
neither will my love for you. Why then
should we be made unhappy by the mis-
deeds Of others. Answer this letter at
once, dear Helen, for shall be very i'm
patient until | hear from you. And believe
me, yours faithfully and affectionately,
FRANCIS ROCHE"
Ths reply to this letter duly came, and
was quite hopeless in its tone.
DEAREST FRANK (for that you must
Rel thank you for your generous words.
But am bound hand and foot | cannot
be your wife, and cannot see you. Ask
me no more. for it is impossible for me to
Tell you inc DlILeE EcdSOuS WHICH part US
forever. HELEN"
Thus ended Francis Rocbe's engagement
to Helen Drummond, for the young man
felt he could urge nothing further He was
greatly disappointed, for he had truly
cared for Helen, but he had not the time
or tie leisure to brood over his regret as the
unfortunate girl had. For, as the dark days
OF December passed on, the gloom in Hell
ems heart grew apace. In the bitter
weather she used to 60 out, but not with
thu light step of old. She had never again
alluded to the unhappy secret that Lady
Ennismore had whispered in her shrinking
ear, but it poisoned her life and made the
world weary and hateful to her. She tried
to hide this from her aunt's watchful,
anxious eyes as much as possible, but Mar
garet Drummond know very well of the
sileat sufferiugs which had sharpened Hell
ems features aud stolen the lovely bloom
from her girlish cheeks. And when the
Christmastide drew near and brought with
1t an invitation from Mrs. Campbell, Of Ard
leigh Lodge, to Miss Drummond and Helen
to dine and stay all night on Christmas
day, Helen refused to accept it.
''It would be little change for you, my
dear" said Margaret Drummond.