The Chipley banner. (Chipley, Washington County, Fla.) 1893-1943, 1897-08-28

tanned an affidavit from the landlady Of
the lodgings. There Is no doubt pos
sible."
what ale you going-going to dor"
The man caught the back Of the chair
and showed o CHASTITY face. Man, 1t Is
ruln-absolute ruin-to me. You don't
know what mischief you may be doing.
will pay anythlng--anything."
AT the trial your wife would say
nothing; word from her would have
ruined you. A word from you would
have saved her. What forgiveness
what consideration can you hopper"
Il will buy silence at any price. Look
here, there are only you and ! present;
1t doesn't matter what say. It's all
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-
fcred terribly. Thought 1t was all over"
In her lifetime nothing was said. But
your wife is dead"
Dead? Is Ruth dead?" His face
frightened again. Dead Then 1t 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 tho whole truth
Just then the door was thrown open,
and Lord Perivale himself walked in; he
bore In his hand little bundle Of pa
pers, which he threw upon the table.
what Is the meaning OF this an
nouncement, sirp' he asked his son;
"and this, and this. In the st. James
Gazette-in the Pail Maitland in the
Observer this morning. What does 1t
mean, l say? 'On Friday, April 20,
Ruth, wife Il the Honorable Henry
Hendricksen Stoke, OF Chester Square
and Threadneedle Street, daughter OF
the late Nathaniel Heron, j. p, OF Bar
chester, aged as What is this, ask"
His son looked at the announcement,
but made no reply.
swhat is it7- roared his lordship.
1T means" said the librarian, what
1t says. Your sons wlfeis dead"
who put in this announcement"
Il did,"
1Then, sir, you shall smart for It il
there Is law in the land"
1T is true" the librarian said, quietly.
"Your son g wife is dead"
"Who is dead2"
It was Lady Beatrice who stood at
the door, dressed ready for church, and
asked this question.
"Who Is deadi" she repeated.
This mans wife Is Dead" said the
librarian, pointing to her own husband.
His wife2 What do you meanf"
His wife died on Friday. She will be
buried the day after tomorrow.
Harry! what is the meaning Of thls2"
She caught her husband by the arm.
Speak what does this meanl"
1T means-it means" but he
| could not finish the sentence.
at 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,"
tits a lie, he repeated, but feebly.
by -" said Lord Perivale, Il be-
lleve it Is true"
at Is true" said the librarian. His
wifes sister sends me to inform him OF
this news. All the papers and proofs
are in lawyers hands. There IL no
doubt possible"
Then what am ~" asked Lady BeN
trice, looking around helplessly.
The librarian was silent.
and what are my children?"
Madam" said Lord Perivale, III
this story is true, you are almost as Ill.
used a woman as the other, Ruth Heron!
You, sir, 1t was your own wife-your
own wlfe-your own wife-that you
sent to a convict PRISON.
The reason why Lady Beatrice sep
arated from her husband is not known.
Nor is 1t 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 10
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 1t shall pro-
coed 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.
THE END
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