South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-11-02
HENRY ESMOND-By William Makebean Thackery
CmdmnW Anna D. Hubbard

In the days when the Stuart was
playing his losing game for Eng
lands crown. a saIIow-faced. pre-
cocious boy was growing up. half
loved. half-neElected in Castlewood
house. knowing all the secrets Of its
hidden chambers. where cavalier
and priest could hide for a lifetime.
Harry was reputed the nlegitimate
son OF Thomas Esmond. Lord Castle
wood whose childless wife. herself
an Esmond. had been a beauty and
kings favOrite once. After Wis
count Castlewood had died. fighting
for King James at Boyne Water.
and King Williams men had taken
his lady prisoner. hiding En- her bed,
painted and powdered. respondent
in her brocade gown and gold
clicked red stockings-by her side
the japan box holding the papers OF
the Royalists-another kinsman.
Francis Esmond. had taken posses
sion or the old house.
20 dea certe." little Harry Is
mond said IN his heart, when
Rachel. the new Lady Castlewood.
in her lovely girlhood. met him IN
the yellow gallery. and there stir
red IN him the beginning Of a life
times devotion 20 her. 70 her beau
tiful children. Beatrice and Frank
N 10 his jOvial, new patron, Fran
els. Lord CastlewOod. As a loved
kinsman now. Harry had grown 20
manhood. when suddenly the small
box. ravaging the neiEhborhoOd,
destroyed for a time Lady Castle
woods beauty. and her gay hus-
bands heart turned to lesser loves,
though ne still cared enough 70 be
wildly Jealous. when Lord MOhun. a
London blood. made love 20 her. The
I'VE men fought. and Francis, foully
murdered by Mohun. on his death
bed made a written statement that
he had long known from the priest
who heard Thomas. Lord Castle
woods dying confession that Harry
Esmond had a right TO the name he
bore, and was head OF the house OF
C~astiewood.
This paper. stained with the blood
OF his dear master. Harry burned
and Notwithstanding Heaven that
he had been enabled TO make the
righteous decisiOn-that his mis-
tress should never know sorrow
through him. and that little Frank
should become Lord Castlewood in
his fathers stead.
Fate dealt hardly just now with
Harry Esmond. for as ne lay wound
ed and I'm prison as "A result OF his
part In the duel. his lear lady. visit
ing him. chose 10 believe that he
might have prevented her hus-
bands death. Perhaps because she
felt In her heart a tenderer love for
MIN than she dared confess. she
forbade him her home. and even
her friendship. The living of the
sarlsh church OF CastlewOOd, long
. since promised him. was given else
where. and Esmon would have
been penniless and friendless had
not the old dowager. his fathers
widow. who had long cherished
pique against the Younger and fair
er Lady CastIewOOd. summoned him
70 her new house al Chelsey. As he
kissed her witnsred hand and
saiuted her as MarchioneSs. some
thing in his assured bearing made
her guess that ne knew he was her
husbands true son and chief Of the
house. Half frightened. she drew
from him the story OF his renuncia-
ton. and when ne old her that his
fathers son would not a~ggravate
the wrong his father had done her
and asked only for her kindness.
her worldly old heart was touched.
HencewOrth ne was son Esmond'
TO her. and when her influence at
court had procured him an ensign's
commission, she was proud OF him
in his laced scarlet coat.
EDMOND served with some distinc-
ton under Marlborough abroad and
was wounded at Blenheim. but the
best thing his campaigning brought
him was q chance in st.
Gudule's church az Brussels with
Father Holt. the tutor OF his boy
hood. VINO told him his mothers
story. She had been OF hat very
town, and & most tender. faithful
creature. His father had deserted
her. married her secretly. and again
deserted her. and she had taken her
broken heart 10 that convent. Es-
mond knelt by her grave, took a
flower from the little hillock. and as
ne listened 20 the choir chanting
from the chapel, realized afresh
that love and humility were ell that
counted In life.
One great happiness had come 70