The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1898-07-08

| utdIt Is tOO luii lor utttrduC3, Dub II
you could only realize what relief II
is to me to know that you are here tC
conduct matters you would understand
something of the gratitude feel"
/ uttered some commonplace reply,
all the time watching the wistful loob
upon her face. Then she said suddenly
1--WE have scarcely known each other
three days yet, but somehow / feel as
if, despite all you have heard of ne,
you are my friend"
And you are quite right in so feel
ing," said. believe me, l have for
gotten all tho foolish stories ! have
heard about YOU"
ought to do that" she continued, "be-
cause, you see, great number of them
are true"
"You wish me to remember them,
them" / cried in some surprise.
Eyes," she answered. 81 think you
ought to get clew for your own guild
ance ont Of them. But in saying that !
wish you to understand why / do so.
To do that involves my telling you my
history. Are you too tired to listen to
it tonight"
"Of course I am not" answered
quickly. only too glad of the opportuni-
ty of hearing story that others would
have given anything to have had related
to them. "But if it means recalling un-
happy memories, why tell it to me?
shall serve you just as faithfully with
out knowing it, +"
II do not doubt that for an instant, :"
she said. "But you must surely see, DIR.
De Normanville, that, being brought
into contact with you as much as am,
/ want to set myself right with you.
want you to know all about me- Hith-
erto you have only thought of me, re-
member, as-well, as a beautiful wom-
an whose pleasure in life it is to rob
and blackmail innocent and unsuspect-
ing folk in this distant portion of the
globe. Having seen your kindness and
gentleness to my unfortunate people to-
day and honoring you for it as l do, is
it to be wondered at that l want you to
understand my work in life properly?
May l tell you my story?"
"Please dol 1t will interest me Deep
ly."
She moved over from the gate to the
broad wooden rail that ran along the
path side and which had evidently been
placed there to protect foot passengers
from the abyss. Leaning on it, she
scanned the moonlit valley for some
moments without speaking. Then, turn
ing her face toward me, she began:
My father, you must know, Dr. De
Normanville, was typical Englishman.
He came Of good old Yorkshire family
and was an officer in her majesty's
navy. He was also remarkable for his
great height strength and wonderful
personal beauty. He was very popular
with his fellow officers and men and in
the early part of his career saw good
deal of active service in various parts of
the globe. 1t was during the time that
he was stationed in the West Indies
and soon after he was made commander
OF his ship that he met my mother a
beautiful creole, and married her. From
the moment of his marriage the good
luck which had hitherto attended his
career seemed to desert him. He lost his
ship on an uncharted rock, and when he
was appointed to another was ordered
to a bad station, where he nearly lost
his wife and his own life of fever. With
his recovery came the most unfortunate
part of his career, for Just as he was
about to be relieved charge was pre-
ferred against him by the admiral of
the station of so base and wicked a de-
scription that all those who heard it re-
fused at first to entertain the notion.
He was court martialed and expelled
the service. Since then the charge has
been proved to have been entirely with
out foundation, but by the time that
was known my poor father had died in
exile. He appealed, but what was the
use of that?
"To proud, headstrong man, con-
scious OF his innocence, such disgrace
was unbearable, and he at length fed
from England, resolved to shake its dust
forever off his feet. He went to India, but
the result of the trial was known there,
and every post was barred to him. He
passed on to Singapore, and finally to
Hongkong, but always with the same
result. BY this time everything that
was obstinate and worst in him was
reused, and when the admiral, the same |
who had brought the charge against |
him, was transferred to the China sta |
ton my father sought him out in Shang.
hal, decoyed him outside the city, re- |
quested him to publicly admit that the |
charges he had brought against him
were false, and on his refusing pro-
duced pistols, invited him to duel and
shot him dead. Then, while the police
were hunting for him, he fitted out a
boat, with large sum of money that
had some time before been left him.
collected dozen other men as desperate
as himself, tested them thoroughly be.
fore he trusted them, and having bound
them to secrecy set off to find an island
where they could lead their own lives
nnhindered by the outside world. This
was the place they came to, and those
Did houses near the harbor were their