The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-05-10
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the adjourned inquest on Norman Malden's
| death, and his long silence was thus ex-
planned to the miserable girl. l was born
that highland just before her death my
dying mother toak her sisters hand BE
kind to the child, she whispered, and God
knows" added Helen, bursting into sudden
tears, that dear Aunt Margaret fulfilled
thas last request
My dear Helenm said Francis Roche.
much moved, "this is indeed sad story;''
and he took both her hands.
Twill get calmer in few moments. "
sobbed Helen. 'Just think what poor Aunt
Margaret must have gone through, and the
long misery and anxiety of her life! Her
father, who was the vicar of Brackenford.
was very old man, and he knew nothing
of the dark tragedy that had gone on un-
der his roof. He died the same year as his
young daughter, and then Aunt Margaret
went TO live in Scotland, and Elizabeth
May, with whom l had been left, brought
me to her there"
"And you lived there always after thatp'
Yes, except when I went to Bracken-
| ford. | used to go there every year from
the time l was about 10 years old think,
and Lady Ennismore was always very kind
to me until
Until she told you a story you never
should have known, Helen"
| Aunt Margaret never meant me know
| it, nor did Lady Ennismore-but for your
sake-and we can understand her conduct
now, Frank-it was only right to tell me
| then"
81 don't think so. Helen; it was no fault
of yours, the sin of her brother"
But you see we were-"
First cousinsl Do you know I never
| thought of this till now, HelenrI
| II thought of it last night when you told
me OF Lady Ennl5more's first marriage with
your father, and it-gave me new feeling
I "a VIrp I'd NTNVN 49,, Ill.
| De-nothing else, we were still rela-
lions, and near ones, though other people
may not know it. Lady Ennismore, of
| course, is my aunt"
And my mother! Really, Helen, this is
very wonderful"
Eyes, very, very strange. am glad you
are my cousin, Frank, l shall not feel so
quite alone in the world now.n
She put her hand into his timidly as she
spoke, and Francis Roche held it fast, ard
was silent for moment or two. Then he
| looked at her and began speaking very
earnestly.
You have told me this story, Helen; the
story which induced you, from a feeling of
honor, to break of your engagement. 1t is
sad and terrible story, but rot a shade
of shame or blame or in nv ewes rests
on you. Not one shade, Helenl You are
dearer, if possible, to me now than YOU
were before-dearer and nearer-and Pm
not going to take any answer but onen
"Oh, Frank, this is folly"
NO, 1t ls not; the one living person to
blame connected with it--aud scarcely like
to say it's Lady Enrismore
But, Frank, don't you see. nv uncIe
killed her only brother-it was but natural
she should wish to part us-and you her
sour'
"i es, a son she disowned a son she never
saw TILL he was grown man, and of whose
birth even her own mother never knew
Her life has certainly been a tangled web.
linen your father must have died almost
Immediately after her first marriagem said
Helen, innocently.
Francis Roche gave rather bitter laugh.
"She believed him dead-yes. that's
true"
Relieved him dead ~ repeated Helen "
Yes, dear; yours is wonderful story.
out mine Is about as strange. Lady Ennis
more secretly married my father when she
was almost child, and then nv father
who is younger brother OF Col. Roche
whom you saw last night, got into some
troublesome very disgraceful trouble. too
and he had to fly the country, and was
supposed to be lost at sea-"
Yes, Frank"
The ship went down, at all events that
he sailed in, and he was never heard of
more; his name, indeed, appeared among
the list of the lost passengers and crew. and
my uncle-thea Capt. Roche-wenr to
Brackenford to tell the news No one knew
that Katherine Maiden had been married
to George Roche but her maid, but it was
known that they had been lovers, | believe.
and her mother, Mrs. Maiden, was bitterly
opposed to the idea. Besides, my father had
disgraced himself, so suppose his name was
never mentioned. But when my mother
heard her young husband was dead. and she
herself was almost a child, she utterly
broke down, and my uncle gathered from
her lips enough of the truth to know she
was better away from home, and out of her
mothers sight. He persuaded Mrs. NAL
den co allow her to go TO Paris for a change.
and she went, accompanied by your aunt
Miss Margaret Drummond, and her maid
Lorimer %
by Aunt Margaretl They were indeed
bound Il geCher them
"Ihat 40 doubt was the reason that when
her dreadful trouble came abouther brother
and sister that Miss Drummond confided in
Lady Ennismore. Miss Drummond had
been most faithful friend to Lady Ennis
mo- e, and Lady Ennismore, i'll her turn.
proved friend to your aunt You under
stand now, don't you, Helen. Your
aunt was with my mother when was born
in Paris, and neither Mrs. Maiden nor tbe
unfortunate Norman Maiden ever knew
thet was born, and year later Lady Ea-
nlsmore married Lord Enuismore"
ut is all SO wonderful, said Helen. CLASH
ing her her hands together.
Il will tell you the strange sequel to the
TRANCE story some day" smiled Francis.
t'but not to-day. We have talked eaough
to-day of the past, and it has brought us
trouble enough, and now l want to talk of
she future. Helen, you did care for me
once little bit. dida't you''
mo, not little bit" said Helen. and for
the first time during the conversation she
smiled.
"A great big bit, then" said Francis
Roche. And now, my darling, | am not
going to let any nonsensical scruples, nor
sins nor sorrows Of other people come be-
tween US. VIII you be my wife, Helen.
and lot US leave all these troubles behind
usP
"But we cannot, we cannot, Frank We
cannot undo what was done, or bring back
the dead-but there is one thing we can be
we are cousins, and let us remain
friends?'
Very fast friends, then. Helen. Have l
to be Jntent with this to-day? but. mind. /
warn you shall not always be content
Aud these words were very sweet 70 the
girls ears.
They walked together through the Qaller-
les after this, and stood before the works
OF the great masters, and talked Of them.
though ~ their hearts they needed them
not