The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-05-10
CHAPTER XXI.
HELFN'S SFCRFT

very pale, and Helen was embIlng vlSlbly
Francis Roche was standing on the steps
which led into the gallery when Helens cat
drove up, and he ran down and handed her
out and then side by side they proceeded
together through the silent rooms. for only
very few people were present, and these
were far apart in little scattered groups.
Then in one gallery they found themselves
absolutely alone. and Francis led Helen to a
seat. She looked at him very wistfully as
be did this, as if mutely asking him to
spare her some great pain; but he felt that
he could no longer endure his own torturing
anxiety, and at once asked her to tell her
pitiful story.
Tell me now, Helen" he said in an agi-
tated voice; don't keep anything back-I
wish to know the worst"
She drew long, shuddering breath, and
did not answer him at once.
Whatever it is" urged Francis, 81 would
rather know; do tell me, Helen"
She looked at him again her lips quivered,
and then in broken and trembling words
she began sad and tragic tale of days long
past.
You remember when you came to Scot
land, Frank" she said, land when we met
on the hills, that told you believed there
was some mystery attached to my fathers
name"
''Iremember you saying something Of the
sort, Helen, and that told you did not
care"
Eyes; we'll, the night returned to Ard
leigh / asked Aunt Margaret if there was
anything, and she answered in an agitated
manner that he had been an unfortunate
man, but she would say nothing more. She
was also very much agitated when she heard
L. Al L.
had ever known any one of the name OF
Roche, and she said yes, in her youth she
had known some one. We eau understand
this now, Frank"
Eyes, of course
"Then you came to Scotland, but did not
tell Aunt Margaret this, lest she should
write TO Lady Ennlsmore; but one day
when | went back to the house she asked me
who had been walking with. We were
engaged then, Frank, SO l told her, and
Aunt Margaret could not conceal her emo
ton at the news. Then you remember the
last day you were there-when we met each
other twicep
81 shall never forget that day. Helen"
"When went home after we parted in
the afternoon found Lady Ennismore sit
ting in the parlor, and l knew then that
Aunt Margaret must have written to her
about you. Lady Ennismore also questioned
me about you, and l told her the truth
were 6nbhReu, duu sn6 SAID IL could
never, never be-taat l must give you up,
Frank, l refused, and Aunt Margaret
stopped Lady Ennismore saying anything
more that night, but the next morning she
came TO my room, and again urged me to
break off our engagement. still refused
felt very strong, Frank believed you
cared for me, and knew what felt, and
thought nothing could part us!"
Il feel that still" said Francis Roche,
taking one of her trembling hands in his
''Wa ait till you hear what | have got to
tell you. For Lady Ennismore, finding all
her arguments aud entreaties were in vain,
suddenly turned to me and began such
tale of shame, sorrow and crime, that my
heart seemed TO die within me-that felt l
had no choice-that knew in honor could
never be your wife"
''What did she say?" asked Francis Roche,
hosrselv.
''What do you think l am, Frank!n an
swered Helen Drummond, rising in her
overwhelming emotion, and standing be-
fore him. "a base-born child-a child of
SIN and shame-born in secrecy and bitter
sorrow. My mother was Nora Drum
mond, Aunt Margaret's sister-and my
father
"Welll"
tits terrible story, Frank-terrible for
me to tell and you to listen tony father
was Norman Maiden, Lady Ennismore's
only brother, and he was murdered for his
sinm
My Godln exclaimed Francis Roche hor-
ror>stricken.
did not tell you it was best untoldr'
went on Helen, passionately. This dark
tale Of stu and shamel Norman Maiden
had promised to marry my unfortunate
mother, but he had made this promise
secretly, as his own mother was proud aud
ambitious woman, and there was a Lady
Cecial Hay, 1T was said, she wished him to
make his wife. Al all events he refused to
fulfill his promise to my poor mother,
though her own family knew of it, and
then, IN her sudden anguish, she confessed
to her slster-to Aunt Margaret-the dread
ful truth She was about to become a
mother; and when Aunt Margaret heard
this she wrote to Norman Maiden and i'm
plored him 60 do her young sister Justice"
do was curw said Francis Roche,
sternly, as Helen paused il her sad story
1T was a cruel action" went o. Helen
but he still refused, ana then Aunt Marea-
ret told her brother, James Drummond, who
was young man of ~. Just about to sta {
for Canada. lie was naturally most indlg-
nant at the treatment his beautiful young
sister had received, and he also wrote to
Norman Maiden. But no answer came to
his letter, and this almost maddened James
Drumond. SO one dreadful day he met
Norman Maiden alone upon the moors and
insisted that he should marry his SISTER. be-
men were carrying their guns, and upon
Norman Maiden again refusing to fulfill his
promise, in fury James Drummond shot
him in the throat, and left him lying dead
amid the heather"
And quite right, too; he thoroughly de-
served his fate
but 1t Yves a dreadful fate, Frank. and
broke his mothers heart, and after James
Drummond saw what he had done he too
was filed with horror and remorse. Then
he hurried home and told his sister-Aunt
Margaret-and she at once saw the dread
full consequences if this were known. She
went TO Lady Ennismore and told her all.
and Lady Ennismore ptied James Drum
moDd, and gave his sister money to get him
quickly and quietly away. He had been
known to be about TO start for Canada. and
he left very day of Norman Malden's
death, and before his blood-s aimed body had
been discovered and carried home James
Drummond is still alive, Frank, so you un.
derstandP'
THE motive for keeping this secretp
Yes; only Lady Ennismore and Aunt
Margaret knew the dreadful truth But the
saddest part is yet TO come-sbout my poor
-poor-mother."
1T broke her heart 1 supposep
They kept Norman Malden's death a