The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-01-15

affidavit of the facts, We have also OBJ
tanned an affidavit from the landlady Of
the lodgings. There is no doubt pos
sible.'
What ale you going--going to do?'
The man caught the back OF the chair
and showed q CHASTITY face. Man, it 1s
ruin-absolute ruin-to me. You don't
know what mischief you may be doing.
I will pay anything-anything. ,
AT the trial your w11e wouln LAY
nothing; a word from her would have
ruintd d you. A word from you would
have saved her. What forgiveness
what consideration can you hope?"
L will buy silence at any price. Look
here, there are only you and / present;
it doesn t matter what I say. It's oil
true; did marry her. told her it was
false marriage because was driven
nearly mad. / suffered terribly at the
time, she ought to think of that; suf-
fered terribly. / Thought it was all over.
In her lifetime nothing was said. But
your wife is dead"
Dead? Is Ruth dead?" His face
frightened again. Dead! Then it is all
right! 1t doesn't matter to anybody"
1t matters to her memory and to her
friends. She is dead, and now the story
shall be told. Yes, Mr.. Stoke, you will
face the whole truth " s.
just then the door was thrown open,
and Lord Perivale himself walked In; he
bore in his hand a little bundle Of pa.
pers. which he threw upon the table.
What is the meaning OF this an
nouncement, sir?" he asked his son;
"and this, and this. In the st. James
Gazette-in the Pail Mall-apd in the
| Observer this morning. What does it
mean. l say? ON Friday, April 20,
Ruth, wife tf the Honorable Henry
Hendricksen Stoke, of Chester SQUARE
and Threadneedle Street, daughter OF
| the late Nathaniel Heron; j. P, OF Bar
chester, aged 25.' What is this, ask?'
His SOD looked at the announcement,
but made no reply.
What is it?" reared his lordship.
1T MEANS" said the librarian, what
it says. Your sons wife is dead.
Who put in this announcement
Il did,"
-Then, sir. you shall smart for it II
| there is law in the land.
1t is true, the librarian said, quietly.
Your sons wife is dead.
Who is dead?" ...... ..t
1t was Lady Beatrice who stood at
the door, dressed ready for church, and
asked this question.
Who is dend?" she repeated,
This mans wife is dead," said the
norarlan, pointing TO ner own nusDano.
His wife? What do you mean?"
His wife died on Friday. She will be
n, ad fha dow oftor IN morrow
"Harry what is the meaning Of this?"
She caught her husband by the arm.
Speak! what does this mean?"
1T means-it means-" but he
| could not finish the sentence.
1T means that his lawful wife is
dead" the librarian continued. This
man was married five years ago, at q
REGISTRARS office, to Ruth Heron. under
the name of Henry Hendricksen, which
was his mothers name. She died yes
terday at her sisters lodgings"
-Harry speak"
Its. a lie, he repeated, but feebly.
BY -" said Lord Perivale, Il be-
lieve it is true.
1T is true, said the librarian. His
| wife's sister sends me to inform him OF
this news. All the papers and proofs
| are III lawyers 5 ndnu6. IneTe 10 III
doubt possible.
Then what am II" asked Lady Bea-
triee, looking around helplessly.
The librarian was silent.
And what are my childrenP"
Madam" said Lord Perivale, III
this story is true, you are almost as ILL
used woman as the other, Ruth Heron!
You, sir, it V':ss your own wife-your
own wife-your own wife-that you
sent to convict prison."
The reason why Lady Beatrice sep
arated from her husband is not known.
Nor is it generally known why the
Honorable Harry Stoke left his fathers
firm and went abroad. His brother
knows, however, that he is forbidden on
any pretext whatever ever to return to
his native country. And what will be
done when he dies, and the question OF
| the succession to the title will arise, is
doubtful. The second son, the Honor
able Joe, is determined that it shall pro-
ceed in the legitimate line-that is to
say, to himself. And as for Naomi, she
| is married to the librarian. At sixty,
you see, one begins to feel the want OF
wife.