The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-11-22
CHAPTER II.

Monckton Hall was supposeo 10 De
haunted by the people about; at all events II
acquired areputation 50 strange that 1t was
very hard to get servants to live in It.
Those that did had quiet and happy home,
under an ideal mistress; for Kate Hether-
inRton was as much beloved when she be-
came Lady Monckton as she had been as a
girl.
But there was something very curious
about the ball. To begin with there had
only been one child born to Sir Reginald
aud his wife-a boy. And yet there were
two boys who ran and played and learned
and laughed together. Such happy children
they werei-just the same age, so much
alike none knew which was which-though,
as the time passed on, a difference between
them was developed. Eric was a gentle,
Ioveable lad, and Arthur somewhat hastY
and passionate.
But the extraordinary thing about these
children was that no one, not Sir Reginald
or bis wife, had any idea which Of them was
their son. The other was a mysterious
child, brooght none knew how, and laid in
the heirs cot, by his side. when both were
nothing but sweet balls of flesh, like
crCmpled rose leaves and dimples. day
Of amazement, which intensified into hor-
TOR, was spent by father, mother. nurse. and
eventually the household; for
it was found no one could tell one
of the beautiful children from the
other. Such thing seemed impossible to
Kate, at first; but gradually she realized
that it actually was sol y s, she herself did
Ill n
expect any one else tot If anyone had pro-
fessed 70 she would not believe them. Sit
ting for hours beside the children, and
thinking it ali over in every possible way,
she fully realized that no assurance from
outside herself would ever be any use to her,
once she herself was confused-not if the
mother of the other child came and claimed
her own, would Kate herself ever be con-
WINGED that she had claimed arightl The
thought was awful to her Never would
she know her own child
The other had been placed with him in
the dead Of night when both were babes
Every possibility of Identification had been
destroyed, for both children had been left
undresSed side by side. No clothes had been
found nothing had been found that had be-
longed to the strange child; and the heir had
been undressed and his clothes thrown down
on the floor. The thing had been done
hastily but effectually.
Who had done itf So noiselessly, so mvs-
teriously had the thing been done that the
common people were inclined to look upon
it as a supernatural event.
But as the children grew Kate saw some
thing that brought her intelligence. The
likeness between them became remarka-
bic.
at is Adeia's child" she said suddenly to
her husband one day.
Il have thought 50 already" he an-
sWered-
And both were silent, for Adela was
dead, and her sin aud sorrow alike were
buried in the grave. Maurice Harcourt had
gone to Africa, where he was shooting big
game and apparently having good times, to
judge from the stray scraps OF gossip that
travelled to England. For the time being he
had passed as much out of the lives of those
60 whom he was OF any vital Importance as
though be too were dead, though to his own
family be was only gone on one of his ia
vorite travelling excursions in search Of
sport.
when that mans wife dies" Reginald
would say sometimes very bitterly II be-
lieve he will take his pick out of the pretty
girls of his time and she, too, will die. He
Is one of those men who are never punished
for their sins. IL is the others who are
punished, like poor, fond, foolish, reckless
Adelan
No one knew whether a child had been
born 60 Adela; her father had only been in
formed of her death.
Deadl Adela deadl And his dear Kate
married to one OF cursed race. The
fathers home was empty indeed, and his
heart very sad.
The court was shut up, for Mr.. TrevellIan
was dead. and Fanny and her mother were
abroad. Fanny had never married. Her
brilliant career had ended in solitary life
Which now seemed confirmed She had
hardened and altered and she, who had not
go long ago been the reigning beauty of the
hunting field and the bathrooms Of the coun-
ty was not missed, her abse ce rot daplored.
For she had grown bitter and cynical, and
Yves 10 longer popular among her old friends
IL seemed to Frank HetheriDgt1n some
times that he was living in another world
from that in which his daughters bad
dwelled together in their picturesque home.
all was SO changed. And yet he lived in
the same hours still; but alone, and with a
sad heart
One day be was surprised by receiving a
visit from Sir Reginald, alone He was
surprised because Kate and her husband
were lnseparable. He had never seen them
apart before since their marriage, and now
Sir Reginald came driving from the station
alone with his portmanteau on the cab. and
asked his father~in-law's hospitality for a
hisbS' liz SecLIeu very Cn6ertul, and
tres Ted the unusual occurrence, as a matter
of course, so Frank simply gave the warm
est welcome possible, ana waited to see what
would be forthcoming. He was very much
attached to Reginald, who had made his
dear Kate very happy.
kate's was one of those deeply passionate
natures which attach themselves the more
profoundly If there is some sorrow or attic
ton around those they love- Her devotion
to Rex was absolute, and had been from the
first moment when he had spoken to her.
The people about Monckton Hall said it
was always SO; that the doomed race were
gifted with fatal fascination. Unhappy
in their inheritance. yet they were always
happy in their loves. Good and lovely
women were ready to devote their lives to
the unfortunate Moncktons, as Kate had
done. To her it seemed now, as from the
first. that life was not life without Sir
Reginald; with him she could bear any suf-
fering.
He said nothing extraordinary on that
first evening which he passed with Frank.
He simply made himself excellent company.
for he was indeed one of the most charming
companions possible to imagine. The time
passed delightfully."-. and Frank went to
sleep solaced with the idea that after all
there was nothing unusual-only a little
break in the accustomed habits of the de-
voted couple.
But the next day Sir Reginald came
down ~ : changed manner-melancholy
and sad.
81 must go home this afternoon" be
said, "or Kate will be quite troubled at INV