The herald., 1896-02-12
SIN GABR|EL'S STRANGER
A Noble Hearted Mans Life
Wrecked by a Woman
SEARCHING THE WORLD
Dastardly Deed Of a Handsome
Italian Count
His Successful Pursuit and Ruin OF Happy
Wife, His Abandonment Of Her,
o,,d Eud
SEARCHING THE WORLD

hair and full beard seem in strange con.
trast to the virility of his step. His face is
a remarkably expressive one. Its usual
aspect is one of profound sorrow, and its
seat seems to be in the large, full gray
eyes, that only Tighten up in reply to the
friendly good morning of some fellow pe-
destran.
This is a man with remarkable history.
He was born in a remote Devenshire viii
lage forty-nine years ago, his father being
vicar of the little parish. His mother died
while he was yet an infant, SO that his
! early life was barren of those many de-
lights of childhood which the loving moth
er is alone able to afford. His father had
! little work to do beyond the services in
the little Norman church, and being man
of studious habits, sought solace for the
loss of his wife in his study. Here the boy,
Richard Bennington, spent much of hie
time even in babyhood, his favorite plac Q
being on a cushioned window seat, where
| his father used to place him with favorite
colley for company. His father was most
affectionate and only seemed happy when
the child was with him.
AS he grew to boyhood he became so in
terested in books that they became his
sole companions, and under his fathers
tuition he was at 0 years old a fair
classical scholar. The vicar was a
great pedestrian and spent several hours
each day in that exercise, and when his
son became old enough to stand the IA
tigue, he regularly accompanied his father.
When Richard was about IA years old his
father died after brief illness, and after
some small debts had been paid he found
himself almost destitute orphan. But
the boy had pluck, and going up to London
with some introductions. he soon found
employment in a barrister's office. Here
he remained till he was OF age, and as his
duties were light he devoted all his spare
time to study. Then he went in for So
ciety of arts examination, and now a
scholarship at Oxford. Here he main
career by coaching, and by writing.
In his last year, he met a young fellow,
the only child of a rich Lancashire manu-
facturer who died a few years before the
young mans entrance at the university,
leaving him large estate. A very warm
friendship soon sprang up between Ben
nington and Ashcroft, which continued
long after the former had graduated with
honors and become college tutor. Ash
crofu's tastes were studlouS and simple,
his chief pleasure being in driving and rid
ing, in both of which accomplishments he
his horse stumbled, fell and Ashcroft was
taken to farmhouse at hand in an in
sensible condition. He recovered suffi-
ciently to make a will, devisng all his
property to Bennington, and as
his few relatives were very wealthy,
! this caused no unpleasantness. Ben
nington, now a rich man, was
able to crafty his desire for travel for some
years, especially in Asiatic countries with
whose language and literature he was IA
miliar. One bright November day at Shep-
hard's hotel, Cairo, he met the Rev. Henry
Norman and his daughter, who were about
to pass the season in Egypt, and in COM
pany with others who had hired Dahebe-
jeh to slowly go up the Nile to the second
cataract. Norman and Bennington soon
became greatly interested in each other on
account of their similarity in tastes and
their interest in Egyptology, and, being in
vited to join the party, an invitation which
Miss Norman shyly urged. Bennington con-
sented. Nothing occurred to mar the en-
ioyment of the trip, their dragoman was
experienced, and was thus able to prevent
those annoy ances to the party which usu-
ually spoil the pleasure of Nile excursion.
And Nora Norman. the rector g daughter
with her radiant beauty and beautiful
voice, was queen of all.
Rather tall, with a svelte figure, soft,
creamy skin, hair like the golden hue
of sunrise, large brown eyes shaded
by long dark lashes and over
arched by delicately penciled eyebrows,
the glory of her beauty conquered Ben
| nington, hitherto proof against the charms
| of her sex. She was we'll educated, but her
| chief charm to Bennington apart from her
| loveliness, was her magnificent mezzo-
| soprano voice, and as he lay beside her on
| the poop of the vessel after dinner, with
the Syrian stars looking down, reflected in
the ripping waters of the mysterious river,
and the air all around filled with the me-
| lodious music of her voice, it seemed that
to win such woman for ones own would
| be to have ones cup filled to the brirn. He
became restlessly impatient to learn his
| fate, and one evening, as they strolled be-
tween the lofty pillars of the ruined temple
of Isis at Karnac, he told his love earnestly
| but modestly.
| He explained his position, and told her
his past history, and if she would marry
him his desire was to buy some quiet
| country home and settle down to the pleas
ures of English country life. He thought
he noticed a little shade. not quite a frown,
pass over her face as he said this, but at
the moment dismissed it from his mind,
| attributing it to the shadow from the pillar
underneath which they were standing. In
a charming manner she owned her liking
! for Bennington, and frankly told him that
| he would marry poor girl who was en-
trely dependent upon her guardian and
, uncle for support, and who had looked for
ward to the lyric stage for the means of
| support after the not distant death of her
uncle, who was rapidly aging, in poor
| health, and with only enough income for
their daily wants. And thus began Ben
nington's romance and the ruin of his life.
They returned to England and were mar
ried. A beautiful country place overlook
| ing the Solent was bought and the young
| couple seemed never to tire of each other's 5
company, and Bennington gratified his
| wife's love of music by many visits to Lon
| don when anything notable was going on.
And SO they lived their lives for six years,
he enjoying his books, the daily walk or
ride with his little daughter Rita, and at
other times attending to his duties as one
| of the county magistrates. During visit
! they had paid shortly after their marriage
| they had met in Venice an Italian count
| named De Veschi. a great favorite in soci-
ETY. on account of his many talents, the
! chief of which was a rich, sweet tenor of
| great compass and power. De Veschi was
| charmed with the voice of Mrs. Benning-
| ton and she no less with his; which re-
| suited in many muscales.
| De Veschi often visited England, was q
| frequent guest of the Bennington's on
these occasions, and was regarded as an iu-
| innate family friend, coming and going at
| his pleasure. AT his marriage Bennington
| had executed a deed of gift to his wife of
| his Hampshire property absolutely, and
| had made other most liberal arrangements
| with his bankers for her benefit. One Sat-
! ur(lay he went down to Edinburgh to at
| tend meeting of learned body, and be-
| fore leaving gave his wife some blank
| checks to pay outstanding bills, as he us,l-