Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1898-10-24
WonanAgainst Woman
.&BY.A
MRS. NJ. A. HOLMES.
&BY4
MRS. NJ. A. HOLMES.


hey. Fulke, my son, departed with
out me- l thought him surrounded
with his friends, but after few
weeks had elapsed l soon discovered
this was not so. To explain briefly,
Fulke had purposely visited the abbey
alone save for his servants, drawn
thither by a woman. This was girl,
a governess, whom he had met and
protected from some insult, and at
tracted by her great beauty, had fall
len madly in love with. The govern
ess, Margaret Dornton, soon after this
meeting left her situation. Fulke dis
covered she had returned to the only
home she knew, an old maiden aunt,
living in the town of Nestley, and
without a word he followed her. The
rest was simple: his love bore down
all her scruples. She was a depend
ent, unhappy, young.
"Fulke soon won his way. She be-
came his wife. Judge me harshly if
you will, but on receiving the news
refused to see them, to acknowledge
her as my daughter, or assist Fulke to
provide for the low-born wife he had
chosen, as I then called her. Since
then I have discovered that she was
the daughter of an officer, brave
and gallant man in every way my
sons equal; but blinded as I was with
rage and pride, I doubt if, even mad
known it then, it would have awaited
much. Two years passed, all letters
that reached me I burned unopened.
Ny friends tried to reconcile us. I
was firm. Then came the news-sud-
Gen, awful, terrible'-Sir Humphrey
Fulke was dead. I read it in a news
paper. He had had an accident, and
died instantaneously. Then my re-
morse began. I set out for Italy,
where my poor son lay He was
buried when I arrived. His wife had
disappeared, taking her child with
her. Year after year have searched
without avail, but few weeks ago
fate flung me against a farmer in
America, man named Brown, who
had lived in this neighborhood With
out knowing me he gave vent to q
grumble at the country, stating why
he had come away from England
The name of Margaret Dornton, the
girl Fulke had married, told me at once
my search was ended. Then with
threats and cajoling | got the truth
out of the man and his wife. My
sons wife had died under their roof.
B1oken-hearted, sick unto death, she
hf dragged herself from Italy to
place Fulke's child in my arms. Her
aunt was dead. She was utterly
alone. Feeling that her own end was
approaching, she travelled to Nest1ey,
hearing I was at the abbey, but before
she could reach me she passed away.
Brown confesses now that she left a
sum of money in their hands, with
her dying command that the child
was to be taken to me. How they
kept that command you know. On
every hand I have heard of their
cruelty and neglect of my grandchild
and their robbery of the money that
should have been hers. I had given
my word that they should go unpun-
ished If they told all, but I confess to
| having felt a desire to mete them out
the justice they deserved. When I
knew all I fastened to Nestley, trav-
eled down with Godfrey, and learned
that my search was far from ended.
and that the child I hoped was found
was ruthlessly torn from my arms,
perhaps forever.
Lady Darrell stretched out her
white hand.
Have courage, dear friend" she
said gently. "She will be found
am sure of it,
Roy bent and kissed his mother,
his face white and agitated.
''She shall be found if she is alive -
he said hoarsely. II will bring her
back to you myself, Sir Humphrey"
Without another word, he strobe
! from the room, and down the stairs to
the other two
II am ready whenever you like he
said abruptly.
Godfrey Armistead looked UP
from his notebook
Newton has returned from Nestley
NO one answering the description has
left the station. They have telegraph
ed up to London for more men, anG
have sent some police to Moretown
which place I propose we visit our.
selves"
Frank got up eagerly while the ear
buttOned his riding gloves in a ner
VOus manner.
Godfrey alone was calm-he was
TOO used to trickery and deceit-anC
lis quiet manner was as a rock O
strength to the other two men, wht
, were trembling with excitement.
eve will take Newton and anothe
man with u.s." he declared; and in
few moments the whole party wa
once more on horseback and away.
: -
/ Alice sat beside Myra as the pony
; urged by the whip, flew along the dar
5 path.
/ She not only grasped the side {
e the cart but clutched it as if it's fri
: hardness were barrier between he
q nd worse Than dnath