Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1907-05-30
ole EARL'S HEIR !
........ By CHARLES CARvICE !


convey their proper significance TO
Norah, and she looked at him vaguely
she was thinking of Catherine; then
she started, and her eyes opened
upon him.
What was that you said?D she
asked
Il said that it is the portrait of your
mother" he repeated, with a sinister
smile, an a CLEAN of triumph in his
eyes.
My mother. That is Catherine
Hayes, not my mother, not the
Countess of Arrowdale!" she ex-
claimed.
1T is rot the Countess Of Arrow
dafe,' he said; but it is Catherine
Hayes, your mother
Norah held the portrait tightly, and
looked at him.
Are you--are you mad?" she
gasped
He smiled
1T is not an unreasonable ques-
ton. can appreciate your astonish-
ment, and l sympathize with you; in
deed and indeed do. / am speak.
Ing the sane and sober truth; that is
the portrait Of your mother you hold
in your hand, Norah."
She did not notice his intentional
omission OF the Lady" she was too
amazed. too overwhelmed. She sank
into the chair, Unlocking at him as II
she were waiting.
1t is a terrible shock" he said, ii. a
tone of gentle sympathy "for one who
has always regarded herself as of no
BILE birth, to find.that instead of be-
ing the daughter of an earl she is
only the daughter of commonplace
lady's maid, companion"
Norah began to tremble.
1T is not true she said, almost in
auoibly. why have you tod me
this falsehood?"
1t Is quite true, alas" ne said:
and it is better that you should her
1t from me. who owe you and can SYM
path,ze with you, than from the lips
of strangers, wac would simply EN-
JOY the romance of your dsappoint-
ment."
Il do not believe II" she filtered.
Il am not surprised at that" he re
torted, in the same slow voice, easy,
cool as that of one confident in the
truth Of what he asserts. Il do not
ask You, to believe it without proofs
have come prepared for your in
/ creduity though, II you ask yourself
| what purpose ! could hope to effect by
telling you string of falsehoods, you
viii find 1t difficult to find an answer.
In a word or two, the flcts--the
lamentable facts,--are these: Just
before the countess left the court and
went into exile. Catherine Hayes conf
| mitted the folly of marrying. She
msrr.ed mana northumberland
Woodfern, James Woodfern," he add
ed taking paper from his pocket.
and glancing at It. Catherine MD
asked and obtained a holiday, and had
spent 1t In Plymouth, There she met
this gentleman Woodfern. He was
lieutenant in the navy, on few days
reave from his vessel'--he looked at a
paper egair-'the Enchantress then
stationed Mt Plymouth. 1t was a
case of love at first sight. Mr.. Wood.
fern wooed with the ardor of sailor.
and Catherine Hayes, being presum-
ably as much in iove as himself, con-
scented to marry him after the short
period of counting which the exigen-
cies of--this Lieutenant Woodfern
and Catherine Hayes--at st. Stephens,
Plymouth Permit me to hand you a
copy of the church register The orig
inal have seen within the last week,
and can testify that this is a correct
copy"
He placed the slip of paper In M
rah's HIND and waited
She looked down at 1t. an.; mechanic
ally read the formal document.
"What-whnt has all this to do with
me. with my mother, the countess ."
she asked with catch In her voice.
He raised his eyebrows. as II aston
'shed at her dullnes of perception.
You will see presently" he replied.
Lieutenant woodfern's leave was
short one. and the husband and wife
separated. He went on board the En-.
chntress: she who was Catherine
Hayes. but now Catherine Woodfern.
returned to the Court. and the service
OF her mistress. the countess. Thes
had agreed to keep the marriage a So.
cret Possibly the lieutenant wanted
to prepare his relltives for the sur
prise in store for them 1t was not a
very good marriage for him. and ne |
thought that he would break Ii 10 |
them gently. and present his wife
when he came back from the voya q |
ON which the Enchantress started |
few weeks after the wedding. Ii was
close secret Only one man was
admitted TO his confidence, the first
mate of the vesue'. man named Fur
long. You will find him duly set |
down in the certificate as a witness |
TO the marriage. They parted Cath |
crime went back TO her mistress. and
when the earl and countess separated |
which they did soon afterward-I