The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1906-01-11
BEGAN EARLY AND LASTED
TO THE BITTER
END.

The Countess LeVerglen, a plain,
short person, who had few charms,
turned to a lovely little fairy at
her side.
"You don't want her, my pet, do
your"
The Lady Dorinda, only 6 years
old, eyed the plainly dressed wom-
an who appeared and then turned
her back on her. Even then had
the Lady Dorinda all the airs of a
spoiled beauty.
The Welsh woman eyed her with
a face that showed pain, as if she
had received a blow. She went
nearer to the little one.
she has forgotten you, and it's
better So" said the countess, Ian
guidly.
The nurse stopped to kiss her
nursing, but the baby hands struck
her away.
Il will not come again, until she
is married." said the nurse.
The bells rang a merry peal and
the sun shone on the fairest bride
that had ever entered st. Johns.
Dorinda was to marry the marquis
of Wellsbury, and the dean was to
perform the ceremony.
A deep solemnity pervaded the
church as the dean began. He had
come to that solemn sentence, 81
require and charge you both that if
either of you know any impedi-
ment@"
There arose aniv1 the breathless
silence a strong, deepfi yet silently
tremulous voice, 81 forbid this mar
riage."
The dean stopped and demanded:
What impeachment eXists?"
Then a woman, tall, bony and
hard featured, with a sunburnt face
yet bearing traces of great former
/ beauty, came forward.
There was much shrinking
among the dainty court danes as
this coarsely clad person advanced
toward the altar. "Just this" she
said; "the bride is not what she
seems"
There was a general exXclama'
ton of horror Dorinda turned as
white as her orange blossoms and
seemed ready to faint. The mar.
quis looked dazed as he supported
her in his arms.
That fine young lady is my own
child. | nursed her and | ought to
know. l am her mother, and now
my lord, you can marry her as fast
as you like"
Take her into the vestry," said
the dean. 81 cannot, my Lord
Wellsbury, proceed until this is
cleared up"
He was interrupted by the bride
falling heavily on the ground, for
somehow Lord Wellsbury was nc
longer supporting her, and she lay
there cold and white as the nose
gay at her breast. She was lifted
and laid on a heap of pew cushions
in the vestry, where the family adj
journed. The guests were quietly
requested to dispense.
The nurse being examined, the
| truth came out toto certainly. This
little heiress of Leverglen had TAX
en- smallpox and the nurse had not
dared to show her to the countess
so disigured. She had the little
one to nurse at her own cottage
while her parents were travelling
There was my own girl-a per
feet picture-healthy, pretty and
full of spirit. thought how the
poor defaced child would be looked
down upon by her relatives, and
how my beautiful Polly would be
come a title, so the evil one kept
whispering in my ear till | per
suaded myself it was the best thing
to do. But | got a sore heart by
it, for my Polly came to forget me
and beat me away with her little
baby hands"
Such was the woman's statement
sworn before magistrate, and the
wonderful likeness, allowing foI
age, hardship and poverty, between
Dorinda and her nurse was strong
presumptive evidence.
The real Lady Dorinda-who was
plain to ugliness, rustic and igno
rant in her manner-who had been
brought up to London, showed
through all the Disagreement OF
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