The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-02-19

life Corinne seems to have passed over with a rather vague and indefinite touch. Do not" she wrote Oswald, insist upon my describing to you how two men, whose passion for me Is generally known, sue cessively occupied my life before you. l outrage my own conviction in now re- minding myself that any one save you could ever have interested me. I twice broke the ties which the necessity of low ing made me contract, and could not re- solve to make them irrevocable. A Ger man noble would have married me and take me to his home; san Italian. prince offered me his hand and most brilliant establishment in Rome. But the first had no mental resources, and the Italian prince wanted energy, so that I foresaw that In any difficulty it would be I who would have to sustain and fortify-and there was an end of love! When you read this I shall hasten to you, and a look, sign will tell me my fate in q glance; for the heart, though weak, never mistakes the signal of its irrevocable des- tiny"
 These two confessions instead of sun
 
 closer together. They journeyed to Ven- ice In search of diversion and Cor inne was filled with hope that Oswald would there make her his wife. But Oswald considered that he had first duty to perform. He must return to England and force Lady Edgermond to acknowledge Corinne as her step daughter oontradcting the story of her death. in order that when he took Corinne as his bride to his native land she might be received as Lady Nevil ifest to him from an English news paper which was sent him. in which allusion was made to his travelling about Italy with the celebrated poet ess Corinne." Also his leave had ex- pired, his regiment was under orders for the West Indies. and he must join at once or forfeit his commission while | his country was engaged in war.
 | Filled with direct foreboding, Cor inne entreated, wept, became, In fact, almost frenzied. and attempted in ev- cry way to prevent Oswald's departure or to force him at least. to marry her at once and take her with him to Eng | land But Oswald was immovable, and while vowing his undying love for Cor | inne declared that wisdom and pru- dence demanded that the programme he had laid must be carried out. The campaign ended and Corinne acknowl- edged by Lady Edgermond, he would | return to claim her. and they would live together ever after. Of course, he said. there might be among his fath' CTS papers some dying request which he must ever regard as a command which would prevent his making Cor inne his wife. But In that case h. would return to Italy and dwell for ever near her.
 So Oswald departed and Corinne fel in her heart that she had lost him for ever. Her first attack of frantic grie now gave place to settled melanchol. which rapidly undermined her health She no longer appeared in public an' her old arts of poetry and improvisa tion were abandoned The Prince Gas tie Forte came to her and renewed his care of her. Corinne accepting hi fatherly attentions with a sweet bu sorrowful gratitude. Before leavin, Italy Oswald had given Corinne rini and sworn that as long as she kept 1 he should consider her as his.
 Meanwhile Oswald, upon stepping again upon his native shore. upon be ing again surrounded by those customs habits of thought and scenes whicl had been familiar to his youth. begal l ,,ito DF tafx him. He still loved Corinne with al intense affection but every week whicl he remained in England seemed to mak
 her appear to him in a light 'differen from that in which he had viewed he while in Italy. It frequently cam across him with a pang that Corinn
 was lily adapted to make a housewif such as was the conventional Englisl woman, and which not to be in Eng land would expose a woman to mis understanding and social ostracism. H felt that England and Corinne were no made for each other: but there was of course. always the possibility of hi settling down with her as his wife fl Italy. where she would be understood He sought out Lady Edgermond ant told her of his relations with Corinne Il lbeseeching her at the same time to ac knowledge her as her stepdaughter. But Lady Edgermcnd was adamant t' his pleas. He might marry Lucille or not that had been her wish and his fath CTS. But upon that point she would no press him. That he should marry Corinn' was, however, out of the question. WheI Corinne had first been brought to thu Edsermond seat in Northumberland, Os wald's father had made a visit there, anS Lie was at first his intention to arrange { match between the half Italian girl ant his son. But after watching her closel, he had become convinced that she wal not of character to make Oswald happ, as a wife, and had chosen Lucille,
 His conclusions in regard to Corinnt and the facts upon which he based then had been set forth at length in lette to Lord Edgermond, which letter wa: now in the possession of Mir. Dixon. thu Lord Nevil. Deeply distressed Oswalt sought out Dixon, who showed him tht letter. It was as Lady Edgermond hat said. From close study of the character of Corlnne. Lord Nevil had concluded that she was unfitted to be the wife O an Enslishman, and had pronounced hi flat against his son marrying her.
 Oswald felt that he could not undel these circumstances make Corinne hi! wife. But he resolved to marry no on, else; he would return after the war tt