The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-03-08
A FATAL PAST.
BY DORA RUSSELL.
Author The TRACK OF THE
sToRM," "a BITTER BnrHRIsHr' ETC, ETC
JAIL RIGHTS RESERVED

part u.s." went on Helen, bravely and
proudly, I'VE will not have much money.
but We do not mind that, SO please, Lady
Ennlsmore, do not say any more on the
subject, for l have quite made up nv
sort of groan escaped Lady Ennismore's
ups, but for monsnt or two she did not
speak.
And my wishes are nothing to YOUR she
said, presently. Your aunJs eatreaties
are nothingp
Il will not give mp Francis Roche: you
nave no right to ask me to do SO. Lady En-
Yes, Helen, have right bitter and
terrible right Child, shall tell you what
that right ls-the dreadful secret that Mar
garet Drummond and l have hidden for
nineteen yearsp
You may tell me if you choose, but it
WILL not make me give him upn
Then Lady Ennismore crossed the room.
and laid her hand heavily on the girls
shoulder, and whispered some words in her
cal, aud as Helen listened, she grew deadly
pale, and staggered back.
Is this true" she asked, hoarsely.
AS GOD is above us it is true, only too
true! | aided his escape for your dead
mothers sake and Margaret's it was wrong
OF ma, l know, but the provocation was so
great. the wrong so cruel, that l could
scarcely blame him-and Margaret came to
me and told me all-and then your poor
mother died when you we're born. and since
them
"Since then whatg" said Helen, still in
that hoarse, changed voice.
on have been my charge; / promised
your dying mother that it should be So"
DO you mean that the money on which
Aunt Margaret and live is all yoursr
we need not ak Of this, Helen; it is my
right and duty to provide for you, and l
shall always do so-but you see now that
you cannot marry Francis RocheP'
Mop said the girl, with extraordinary
bitterness, VI cannot give my stain and my
shame to him. But you had no right TO let
US meet, Lady Ennismore; you had no right
TO have me under your roof, and let me
think was as other girlsl Aunt Margaret
had no right, and you had no right, and |
viii not eat your bread any more"
"Hush, Helen, do not talk thus; you are
dear to me, will always be most dear, and
your misfortune is no fault of yours. And
there are circumstances too-other circum-
stances which make liz impossible that you
could marry Francis Roche-his own life
but why talk of it!'
What do you know of his life, Lady
Ennismoreg' asked Helen, almost sternlY.
lie told me he was almost stranger to
you-ls itnot enough that you have wrecked
miner
81 did so most unwillinely, most pain
fully, but you would not listen to me, Helen.
know how terribly bitter this must all
seem to you, but for your aunt's sake try to
bear it bravely for she has borne it nine
teen years, and the burden has been very
heavy, and the anxiety very great"
Helen made no reply, but when Lady En-
nismore would have taken her hand she
drew it sharply back.
No." she said. II would rather bear it
alone. should rather be alone"
Lady Ennismore tried to say soothing.
kindly words, but Helen turned impatieatly
away and went to the window of the room.
Who was that opening the ancient gate,
way, and then coming up the approach to
the house beneath the leafess trees! 1t was
the rural postman that Helen had been
watching for half an hour ago-wetching
for with hope f1uttering her fast beating
expectant heart. Now that heart seemed
turned to stone. A blow had fallen on ner
that seemed to have crushed her young life
to tine dust, and made all the future dark
and desolate.
But a moment or two later Elizabeth
came to the door of the room and raped.
There's letter for you my lady" she
said from outside, land one for Miss
Helen"
Then Lady Ennismore opened the door,
and took the letters, and handed Helen
hers, which in an instant she recognized
was directed in the handwriting of Francis
Roche.
Her own was from Lord Ennismore, and
with it in her hand, after glancing uneasily
once or twice at the girls white, set face, she
left the room.
81 will go now, Helen" she said, 'but l
will see you again presently. For your
aunts sake ask you to be brave.n
But Helen spoke no word. She only
waited until Lady Ennismore had quilted
the room, and then hastily locked the door
and fell down on her knees by the bed press
ing Francs Roche's letter convulsively to
to her breast.
She felt half benumbed; everything
seemed suddenly to have ended for her
hope, Joy and love-all were dead, she
moaned, and the life she had felt SO sweet
but yesterday was now a burden, bitter to
bear, terrible to endure.
She never doubted that Lady Ennismore
had spoken the truth, and that the terrible
story she had listened to was only too real.
A hundred little things came back to her
mind to confirm this. Her aunt's reticence
and agitation when she had asked her about
her father; the seclusion in which for years
she had lived and her almost unchanging
sadness told of some deep and abiding sor-
row, which had made Margaret Drum
mond old before her time.
"No wonder thought Helen, bitterly;
land must bear it too"
Then sue passionately kissed Francis
Roche's letter, without, however, opening
it. His tender words, his fond hopes Of
coming days would but give her fresh pangS
she knew too we'll. For here there YVES
nothing now to come-only weary hours
and endless time.
And am so young" she moaned; only
10. OH why, why was born"
In the meantime Lady Ennismore and
Margaret Drummer were speaking Of her
with great anxiety.
II was forced to do it. Margaret" Lady
Eunismore was saying; ''she positively re-
fused to give him up; it gave me the
greatest pain, but there was no help for 1t. u
81 dread the effect it will have on her
she is a proud, hIgh~spirited girl--it will
break her heart as it broke her mothers ~
and tears rushed into Miss Drummond's
eyes and streamed down her pale cheeks as
she spoke.
"You might have spared me that, Mar
garrett" answered Lady Ennismore with
great pain, and some reproach in her voice
81 am in such a state about the child p
wept Miss Drummond. "Forgive nee,
Katherine and she clasped Lady Ennis-
more's hand; ''God knows that but for you
our plight would have been hundred times
WORSE