Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1894-07-20

1T look but short time for the
young people to fall 10 love. and in
very few weeks he asked permission Of
lmogene's father to marry her.
'The clergyman was delighted aud
wrote to his wife. saying:
"'Tbe young people are so happy,
and the fellow very attractive. couldn't
wish for better match for our daugh.
ter. My only objection is their extreme
youth Then he added that Mr.. Prem
tice, ST., had been up to see them and
was equally pleased with the engage
ment.
''ln the course Of ten days came q
oablogram from his wife saying: Break
engagement at once. | sail for home
by next steamer
This message was dreadful blow
to the young people concerned, and
greatly bewildered the clergyman.
However, nothing could be done but
await his wife's arrival. and then mat
ters would probably straighten them
selves. In the meantime his wife had
sailed, and landing in New York the
following Saturday had driven directly
to the office of tho young mans father
and asked for an interview with him
Mr. Prentice was as much distressed
at the broken engagement as the others.
aud he readily granted her request.
1T is easier for you to imagine, than
for me to describe his sensations, as she
explained her cable by this story. She
began Immediately:
"'Mr. Prentice, your wife was very
dear friend of mine. We we're at school
together, and shortly after separating
as schoolmates, she married you ard
went to the south to live. heard IT,, ~
her occasionally, and knew she was very
happy, and, later, heard that she had
son.
about four years went by, when,
one day, she wrote to US that you we're
in Europe on business, her little boy
was with some relatives, and she was
alone and very miserable in New York
boarding house, and asked me il would
come to her.
My husband was away from home
at that time, and there was nothing to
prevent my leaving, so | came to New
York and joined your wife.
81 had been with her but q few days
when another child was born--a little
girl.
"" From the first l said the mother
could not live.
"''She knew it also, and called me to
her bedside.
"'She took my hand, and said:
Jeanne, you have boen my best
friend all my life. | have not long to
live, and ask last favor Of you.
"'l know your great sorrow 10 life
is that you have no children; ask you
now to adopt my baby.
IF could die, knowing my little
girl was to be brought up under your
care and influence, should be happy.
my husband is still young man,
and, in oil probability, will marry again.
In that case, a stranger to me will DO
the mother Of my child.
"'My husband has the boy to remind
him of me, but this baby wish you to
take.
will you DO this for me
" 4 hesitated but moment, and then
| promised.
She was too weak to say any more,
and she died that day, without speaking
again.
The same evening | wrote to you
telling you Of your wife's death, and
added the awful lie that the child had
died too.
az signed the letter by my maiden
name, that you might never trace me
and discover your child
"'After the funeral took the baby
home, and told my husband had adopt
ed her, that | was under bond Of secrecy
not to say where, but that knew her
parentage.
$50 my husband asked no questions,
and we brought the child up as our own.
I think he has even forgotten that
she is adopted.
"'The rest you know; you came home
from Europe, settled in New York, be-
came prosperous, and as your boy grew
up you sent him to college at New
Haven.
"'Then. with the irony Of fate, dur
ing my absence from home, be comes
into our house, falls in love with our
daughter, and. but for my tardy con-
fession would have married his own
sister 7
Lady Berkeley paused in her nara
tive, and sighed.
She was looking into the Ere with her
hands claspod on her knee, and | thought
her face patbetically sad
Silence reigned for minute, but be-
fore anyone had chance to speak, Lady
Berkeley continued:
well, the young people were told
the circumstances, and Mr.. Prentice
went up to Milford and wished 70 claim
his daughter.
"rhe clergyman and his wife were
broken hearted, but dared not oppose
the rightful father after their selishness
in depriying him all those years of his
own child
"a compromise, however, was made,
that lmogene should live in her old
home three months Of the year.
''She then went away with Mr.. Prem
tice, but never came back to Milford,
for, before the year was out, she was
engaged to an Englishman, and soon
after married him"
Again Lady Berkeley paused, and !,
looking at johnson, said, with smile
lis not this strange enough for Gc-
ton 2"
YES" he answered. "and feel as
though it must be, it was so unnatural
10 the girl to go and live with her
father, who was practically stranger. u
''She was awfully hard-heartod, wasn'i
she :" asked one of the party.
81 am not an impartial judge" said
| Iadu RorLloy ssfo. I NE. al 81 ~,