The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-10-11
CrEo BEroRE TIE COURT

When theshock of the surprise had worn off, Jeanie learned from her proud father tat he had been engaged by the Duke to supeFintend his stock breeding establishment there. while Reuben had been appointed to the min istry of the church which had been left vacant by the recent death of the old incumbent.
 The Dukes representative conducted them to the pretty farm house, which was to be David's home and thence to the nearby manse, where workmen were busy making improvements, while others were carrying In furnit- ure that A-Tyle had ordered sent down from Greenoclss sa-E.
 with Ruben's future thus assured, making 1t possible for them to marry
 at last, there would have been nothing wanting to Jeanie's happiness had II not been for sorrow over her sister. Efao had been released under the
 pardon, but three days after she re- turned to her fathers. house she dis appeared. Jeanie suspected what had become of her, and the suspicion was
 confirmed within a few days. One
 evening as she was walking along a
 retired part of the shore her sister
 stepped from a thieket and clung to her, sobbing. With her was staunton.
 They acquainted Jeanie hurriedly with
 the fact that they had been married and that they were going abroad.
 not even correspond, for 1t would be
 guessed at once that the husband of
 Efle was the slayer of Porteous.
 Although Fine had thus married into
 a high station, Jeanie could not help
 but grieve over the union with so
 reckless and desperate an evildoer as
 young Staunton had proved himself
 L RaA A1 lrt hAn she shrank back with a feeling of
 internal abhorrence.
 We'll said he, 'It does not much
 signify. If you keep up the feeling of
 i'll will, at least you do not act upon
 1t. and thank you for your respect of
 my secret when a word, which in your
 place I would have spoken at once.
 would have cost me my life."
 Jeanie did keep the secret. Even
 after she was married to Reuben But
 Ter she held her tongue, deeply though
 she trusted her husband. Gradually, as the years went by, peace came back
 to her mind, and, though she never l forgot her erring sister, 1t was with a love that dwelled on their early years
 rather than on the terrible time that followed.
 Two boys and a girl had been born
 to the minister before Jeanie heard from her sister. Then a letter arr rived, most beautifully written, In
 which Fife told her astounding news. Her husband had succeeded to his un- cle's estate and was Sir George Staun- ton. and she moved among the people of her rank and had even met the
 minded him of Jeanie. and he told
 the beautiful Lady Staunton the whole story of her own life. quite innocent l of a thought that he was causing her exquisite suffering. Everybody be- | lieved her to be the daughter of Q great Scotch house. She had spent i some time in q convent, and had there
 received the polish and education nec-
 essary to support her position in so- ciety
 Splendid as her situation had thus | become, the whole letter still breathed | a heavy sorrow. Even Jeanie, untu- | tored as sh e was, could perceive that
 Efie and her husband were not happy: that they dragged the doleful, ever | increasing burden of past sins and
 that the fearful shadow of the past l ever menaced them.
 The week following the receipt of | the letter brought the Duke himself to l the island. He invited himself as a | guest at the manse and renewed his
 old acquaintance with Jeanie with in- tense enjoyment. Suddenly, one day. l ne burst Oub WiAu tlG uiRAAS~N va
 cIamation:
 Your face reminds me of the beauty of the year--really the most beautiful
 creature that has been seen at court
 this year-Lady Stauntonr'
 Jeanie turned pale, but recovered herself quickly. She breathed fer i vent prayer of thankfulness that her
 sisters letter had reached here in 1 time to warn her.
 After this the sisters corresponded
 under elaborate precautions. exchang- i ing letters about twice year. Lady 1 Staunton spoke of her husbands health
 and as very poor. Her own seemed | also to be sinking; and one of the top ics that brought forth her most mourn l full remarks was their want of chil- i dren.
 1 Thus, while the letters from the humble parsonage were cheerful and l full of a homely and healthy content. those from the great hall of Willing | ham were gloomy and pathetic. David Deans died full of years anC | honors, praying at the last for the ont | that had strayed from the fold. whose | fate he had never learned. He lef | Jeanie l.5O0 pounds. and the Rev. Mr