Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1903-12-17
CHAPTER XXIv.-tContinuedJ


added:
MY child, you are the perfect image
Of your mother, and to my partial eyes
she was the most beautiful women |
| have ever seen"
These words were spoken in so low a
tone that the ladies present had not
caught their meaning, and murmuring in
return that she must introduce him to
the waiting duchess, he allowed her TO
lead him forward while she presented
him as my father"
Drawing close to her grace, on being
thus introduced, he turned a half quiz
aical look full upon her, which caused
her to spring up instantly as she met it,
cxclaming:
Edward! Can this be my son Ed
ward?"
my own, dear mother! then you do
know me after all these yearsY was the
answer as he held forth his arms to EN-
brace her.
Amazed at this unlocked for revelation,
Ethel and Lady Claire clasped hands in
mutual sympathy, and looked on in 81
lent wonder
After this fond greeting, the duke turn
ed and saluted his sisters child, whom he
had never seen, after which he took
Etheps hand and leading her to his moth
er, said
Now, dearest mother, let me ask for a
share of your love to be given to my
daughter, Lady Ethel Worthngton, for
in her you see your own granddaugh-
ter"
Edward, this is a surprise, inded," re-
turned her grace, as she pressed the
| ..-I l. ~. H.,
bright young brow. Ethel has already
won our affections during her brief resi-
dence here, without knowing that she
could lawfully claim them. But now,
please, tell your mother who you mar
ried, and why you kept your marriage so
hong secretY'
Before answering your question, my
dear mother, we will proceed to open the
package left in Ethel's charge"
, Taking the small bundle of what
semed papers and letters from his daugh-
ter's hand, the duke cut the strings and
drew forth the contents.
The first thing to met the eye was q
marriage certificate, setting form that OF
I Oct. Is, IS, just twenty two years be-
a fore, in New York City, Edward WOr
> Ellington, only son of Charles, tenth Duke
q
u to Florence Nevergail, daughter of the
late John Nevergail of London, by Rev
=, Henry Morris, ID. ID.
Next came to view a magnificent crcl,
J diamond ring which he had given to he
0 1.-THE time of their engagement and ;
' plain gold band, containing their join
7 initials and the date of their marriage
, The last was his wifes wedding ring!
4
' diamonds, containing the likenesses o.
both; and as he threw the gold chain, t.
I which it was attached over Ethels neck
Q he bade her wear it hereafter, "for tn,
e sake of her parents"
d AS the duchess and Lady Claire looked
at the beautiful face of Ethers poor
young mother, they were each strucl
with the likeness she bore to the picture
and thought she might almost have beer
I it's original
E Now, my dear mother and daughter
s l will tell you why | have so long con
4 cealed the fact of my marriage. You
mother, can scarcely blame me, when yo'
. remember the set and stern disposition
my father ever possessed. His will wa
. law, his rule a rod of iron, and chill
daring to disobey him was sure to be pun
| lSltu WIFI TIE uLIlOSC severity. '
= when | was only STRIPPING of nine
4 teen years | had accompanied my fathe
, to a fox hunt, and after the chase wa
over, on our return ride he commences
=, talking about my being heir to his It'll
:, and wealth, and about the intense desir
i he had that when | married | should Sc
e lect n wife from n certain number of Ia
dies belonging to the nobility.
I 81,
"a pected to love some sweet young Cir
and on that account solely to marry her
"'rhen your expectations will meet
sudden and grievous disappointment
was his stern reply.
wheeling his horse so that he face
me in the road, he extended his RICH
hand towards heaven and then and cher
took this solemn oath:
"'Once for all, Edward, hear me an
mark what | say; ! solemnly call o
heaven to witness that never will | cor
sent to your wedding any person not /
your own rank in life! Never, boy; re
member that Never
"From that hour matrimOny and ladie
lost all charms for me. l. as you know
mingled little in society, and found m
chief amusements in study, hunting an
travelling. When about twenty-six year
old l went to America, and while in Ne,
York l accidentally met Gertrude Never
gail, who was the daughter of Sir Geo
frey Glendenning, our neighbor at tn
hall. She, in making what they consiC
cred n plebeian marriage. had been ca,
off and disowned by her proud father an
all her friends and relatives.
At with her husband and his young o
phan sister Florence Nevergail, the
II had left England; and Nevergail soon b.
came a talented lawyer, respected an
received into the best society in Ne
York City.
nt "It was then. at their house, first m,
and passionately loved my heautfl
Florence. infatuated to the widest d
gree with this young lady, | could n,
"a leave the place, and before many weel
passed discovered that she reciprocate
my warm devotion.
"When she did confess her feelings,
ht saw at once that asking for the consel
III of my father would be useless, so ur
N ed private marriage To this she Co