The herald., 1896-02-12
'th. He did not see her again for some

north. He did not see her again for some
years,
Arrived at Edinburgh he was so occupied
with the sessions of the society and in
paying calls that two weeks passed away
rapidly, during which time he had written
two or three brief notes and had received
one loving letter. After the sessions of the
society were over he was urged to go on to
Dundee to see an old college friend who
was sick and in need, who had been help-
ful to him in his early college days. He
wrote to his wife of his movements, went
on to Dundee and spent three more weeks
with his friend. During this time he had
no letters from home, but they caused him
no anxiety, as he had written to say that he
might return at any moment. At last he
started homewards, and on his arrival at
the station near his house he was surprised
at the station master asking him if there
was anything wrong, as he understood that
he was with Mrs. Bennington in Switzer-
land. Then he was told that the house,
furniture, horses and carriages had been
hurriedly sold and that Mrs. Bennington
with little Rita had left alone, saying they
were going to join him on the continent.
He was SO dazed by this that his senses al
most left him, but he went up to London
by the first train and consulted his lawyer,
who was as amazed at the news as he.
They found that by means of the blank
checks all the money to his credit at his
bankers had been withdrawn, and all he
had left to him of his fortune was about
$4,000 in securities, which his lawyer had.
These he sold, and for ten years travelled
all over Europe, Canada, most of the
fact he almost searched the world to find
his child. The base treachery of the wife
whom he found had eloped with De Veschi
had rooted all love for her from his heart.
-Four years ago he was sick at a New
York hotel and was kindly cared for by
the housekeeper, Hampshire woman who
knew him we'll. When he was quite recov-
cred, with white face and trembling lips
she told him that his wife was in New York
| at a lodging house on Hester street and
dying of an internal disorder, and that she.
the housekeeper, was looking after her in
gratitude for kindnesses shown by Mrs.
Bennington years before. There was an
awful struggle in Bennington's mind, but
at last he went alone to see his sinful wife.
| At sight of her all the old love came back
like resistless torrent. In a moment she
was in his arms, and lying on his breast
told In broken words her story of De
Veschi's persecution of her, of resistless
influence he had been able to obtain, and
of her powerlessness to resist. Money
was what De Veschi wanted; this she gave
| him; otherwise she was innocent.
The little Rita died at an obscure place
| in Sicily one year after the flight. De
| Veschi had abandoned her five years be-
ioiSt oiLSo WiitCi tiilAe' Stio hou ouPPo. eOu
! herself as q music teacher. Three days
after this interview Mrs. Bennington died
and her husband came west. One morning
as the train was slowing up before entering
the Butte depot he bought morning paper
from newsboy and saw on the first page
au account of the shooting of an Italian in
a gambling den. A strange impulse COM
PEELED him to visit the undertaker's where
the body lay, and he felt no surprise when
he saw that the dead man was De Veschi,
with bullet hole in his forehead.
Mr.. Bennington has received an appoint
ment from the colonial Office and left yes
terday for his post of duty.