Durant weekly news. (Durant, Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 190?-1944, 1905-05-26
They shook hands and Mr.. Reding-
ton took bis leave, M
CHAPTER XIX.

"He will be in directly. SIR answered
the clerk.
Mr.. Bedington was shown into the
solicitors private room. oue side OF
which was adorned with tin boxes full
Of papers Names were written out.
side them. On one larger than the rest
was Lady Mordenneld." showing that
Mr. Lucas was her ladyship's solicitor
When Mr.. Lucas came In. he appeared
surprised to behold his visitor.
Dear mer' he exclaimed. This IL
an unexpected pleasure. I heard you
were dead Have you seen her lady
shipT'
Lady MordenHslc aud 1 have met"
was the reply.
"It Is years since you and parted In
this very ROOM" continued Mr.. Lucas,
an elderly man. "and l can guess what
you want to talk to me about. but !
fear have not time now I have re
| celvsd a telegram summoning me to
HertfordshIre. An accident has hap
pened TO young Lord Mordenneld."
II am aware OF IT, He is dying"
Bless mer' exclaimed the solicitor.
This will be great blow to her lady
ship"
II, too, am going to Hertfordshire,
and n you have no objection. Lucas. l
will accompany you. and we can talk
on the wny." said Mr. Bedington.
/ with all my heart" answered the
solicitor.
In half an hour they were in cab
going to the station.
| Mr. Bedlngton WAS calmuess itself.
In the railway train he lost no time In
questioning Mr.. Lucas.
"You know as much OF my life. Lu-
cas-, as most people," he began.
''It would be odd IL I did not seeing
that / have been acquainted with you
for twenty years." answered Mr.. Lu-
cas-.
And during that neriod, you have
acted as my wife's sollcltorr
IL beg your pardon"
'It is useless to pretend ignorance to
me-" said Mr.. Bedington sternly. II
am determined to establish my rights
in a court of law IL necessary-the
rights that husband has over a wife"
"Oh. l understand, you have con-
tracted an alliance OF a matrimonial
nature during your residence abroad"
replied tho lawyer. as IL new light
struck him.
you know what l mean." said Mr..
Redington, displaying some irritation.
my dear sir, allow me to remind
you that lawyer knows nothing until
he is told" said the solicitor with a
cunning smne.
"Oh. II that Is the case | will repeat
certain facts for your information. To
begin with. you remember my mar
riage with the present Lady Morden-
field?'
Yes. She was then very attractive
} young lady. whose father objected
very much to the alliance" replied
Mr.. Lucas.
I'VE were poor. My wlfe's father
advised me to go abroad. I did so. say
ing that should send for my wife as
soon as got in a foreign land. left
my wife and infant child. We CORE,
sponded. but treachery was at work.
She never received my letters, and hers
were not allowed to reach me. In the
course of time she was told that was
dead. Am right so far?'
Perfectly"
after that fact, as 1t was falsely
called. was forced upon her conviction
she was brought into contact with Lord
Mordenfeld, an old but rich man, and
all the influence of her friends was ex-
erted to induce her to marry him. Her
, | ID.
from the old peer and her child-my
son-was sent away among strangers
His existence has been profound Sc
cTet ever since. OF course you as q
lawyer know that the marriage OF my
wife, being alive, with Lord Morden,
field is no marriage"
That is so.'
'Very well. have come back tC
claim my wife and child"
"Have you told Lady Mordenfeld
thlsT
: II have"
How did she receive the newsT'
"She defed me. She told me that
IL l claimed her as my wife l should
never know where the child is. But
events seem to go in my favor. If the
young Lord Mordenfield dies, as there
is every chance of his doing, her love
may revert to her first child, and. as
: am rich, she may be inclined to give VI
her rank and live with me, her lawful
husband, in the position of common
er. sufficiently well Off TO maintain her
in luxury similar to that which she has
) enjoyed Of late years"
"You are rich. am happy to hear 1t
And now what do you want Of mef'
"You know where the boy is
How should IY' asked the solicitor
elevating his eyebrows.
"Mr. ScratchIey has tol0 me that yOJ
deposited the child with him.
At this shot the lawyers eyes fell.
you have seen Scratchley7" he en-
claimed. "ADd-and the boy?"
oddly enough" returned Mr.. Bed
; inRton, ''the boy and l haye been nc