The herald., 1896-02-09


It's, and come to me as your friend in any
trouble you may have. Only l will have
no meddling with my daughter.
"ALMUND MORPETH."
1t was cruel letter even in its pretend
ed kindness. She could only bear sem
tence at time, and every sentence was like
a stone flung at her affections and self-re
spect. Yet, in spite of all, she wept pas
sionately over her slain love and her faith
less lover All through the long night she
could realize nothing but that he had left
her forever. As morning dawned she fell
asleep and lay senseless and dreamless un-
til the noon hour. In the moment of waking
she endured it all over again. But the
necessity for action was imperative. and
she went at once to lawyer.
She knew him only as 4 Mr.. Nugent, the
son of an Independent minister who had
once been associated with her father, but
he proved to be the Very friend she needed.
He heard her whole story without blame,
for he understood why and how she had
been so easily deceived in her marriage. She
had never seen an Episcopal wedding, and
she had often seen the simple rite of her
fathers church-a few words of exhoraton
and promise and the gift of a ring. For the
same reason the lack of priestly vestments
did not strike her Her father had worn
none And when Mr.. Nugent asked if no
certificate had been signed, she answered:
Certainly. There was a paper about our
marriage, which Lord Morpeth, the priest,
the witnesses and | myself signed. Lord
Morpeth put it in his pocket, and l have
not thought of it SINCE
No! She had trusted everything to Love,
and Love had forSworn her.
Her friend was very honest. He pointed
out the complete weakness of her case. She
might, indeed, punish Lord Morpeth for his
baseness. She might make him pay her
money. He did not think she had other re-
dress. And as for the child, it was likely
any court would consider its welfare best
assured by the care of the father. To move
in the matter would be to gain notorety,
and nothing else; yet as Lord Morpeth
would be much annoyed by such notoriety,
she might in this way punish him if she so
wished. But Catherine did not wish to
punish him. She still loved him. and his
shame could not heal her shame"
'It is my child I want" she answered.
81 want to see her. l want to be near her;
to be sure that she is cared for and kindly
treated"
peth Court. l can find that out" answered
Mr.. Nugent. "And if you will be content
with Watching over your child and not
er-partcular as to opportunities. I can
arrange that much favor for you. You shall
hear from me in week, perhaps less"
In three days she was summoned to Mr..
Nugent's Office.
"Your daughter he said. "is now living
OF NJornatb Court IIor "a tbor 1oft ,1Iooo
yesterday. l have obtained a position for
you in the house as seamstress. You must
disguise yourself as well as you can''
"The nurse may see and recognize me-"
"No one connected with the ckild's old
life is near her. She is thought to be
ward Of Lord Morpeth's."
my little girl will know me-"
81 think you need not come in contact
with her But you must arrange for that
contingency yourself. This letter will in.
troduce you to the housekeeper, Mrs. Stead.
1t is the best l can do"
"You have done well for me. I am most
grateful for your kindness. 1 have settled
all my affairs, and am ready to leave by any
train"
"Then 90 at once" he answered, "and do
not lose heart. There is One greater than
law, and He can bring right out of wrong"
Early the next morning she was at Nor
peth Court, and an hour later she had pre-
scented her credentials, and gone to the room
assigned her.
"A strange, sad-looking woman" thought
Mrs. Stead; $50 young, SO pretty, and yet
her hair is white as snow. All in black,
too! III warrant she has seen trouble of
some kind
Strange and sad indeed were the circum-
stances that had brought Catherine as
servant to the splendid homo which ought
to have welcomed her as mistress. Her
place was in the linen-room, an apartment
at one end of long corridor the nursery
being at the other end. Here she sat sew
ing day after day, comforted at intervals
by the sound OF Adas voice or the patter Of
her feet on the polished gallery or the sight
of her going for or returning from her daily
drive Eagerly she watched and listened
for these tokens of her child's welfare. and
carefully she scanned the face of the nurse,
a young girl, who at least appeared to be
kind to her charge. AS the winter passed