The Haslingden Gazette. — 1903-07-18 (Haslingden, Lancashire, England)

CHAFFER XXIII. " EVENT NAN TO HIS OWN IT. ACIII."  Reuben Blenkinsop could not return to 1114 1101.0 in Deseret Square. Always: of a weak and vacillating disposition, he dreaded a ineetft' g with :qrs. Blenkinsop, although lie wins now tirely freel from the fear of being indicted en iinconscioes bigamist. Thee was no occasion for him to remain in town, no one to be prosecuted, and the woman who had carried ete message from Evylyn to the Acropolis Studios had so fully divulged the plot which had been hatched against hhn that he had no fear of the legality of his becond marriage. He therefore chose the less embarrassing courg, of going straightway to Darkingham, and from thence answering all inquiries which might be put to him. Accordingly, leaving Arbrose Harding to attend to any mattee, which filight crop up with reference, to the descent of tho police upon the old house by the r: .1,1., and promising that the marriage should not long be delayed, Inc g tined the Midland Station w ith as little delay as rossible, and started for Dorkinghain by the evening train. Ambio, Harding had but little difficulty with regard to the fatal event which had followed thy raid of the police. The detective spared him all trouble, and lie was permitted to take away the body of his friend after the coroner's inquest had delivered its verdict. .4s noon as Inc had paid the last sad duties to his friend he started foe Darkingham, after amply remunerating the woman who had played so conspicuqus a part, not only in giving notice, of Evylyn a jeopardy, but also in rescuing her from the fiery peril by which she was surrounded. . . . . ... . .  "I've always got my profession to fall back on," remarked the woman, as she received with Blanks the two hundred pounds which the banker had sent her as a slight acknowledgment for her behaviour on the night of the fire, "and I am sure of a good engagement in the States now that I con make a bit of a show. Somehow or other my Ifeart feels dead like: Lucifer was a bad 'un after all, but I had been with him so long learning the business which has turned out so badly for him that I scarcely feel inclined to do any more. However, sir, I offer my best thanks to you and the old gentleman, and I wish you all health and happiness, not forgetting the sweet young lady. Bless your heart, though, sir, you ought to thank that Anak for finishing off the other gent, for he was dead spoons on your girl, as anyone could sae with half an eye." I In his heart Ambrose felt that this wits the 1 truth, and after he had seen his friend's remain, buried in Brompton Cemetery he hurried off to Darkingliam to join his intended bride and future father-in-law. News travels very quickly, and Mrs. Bienkinsop, who had established herself firmly in Deseret Square, now sent out an ultimatum ordering her truant husband to return, or else she would take such steps as would be most unpleasant for him. Fortunately, at almost the same moment, Mr. Blenkinsop received a letter from the detective who had been employed by Mr. Mauler to watch Ambrose Harding. "1 mild not find muck out about the gentleman," wrote the agent, "and so I kept icy eye on the lady and the clerical gent. I always like to have two string!, to my bon-. I don't say that there is anything wrong. but if you care to go in for a divorce suit I should be precions sorry both for respondent and co-respondent." When Mrs. Blenkinsop's letters bettme a little too menacing the banker despatched this letter to her, and suggested that souls compromise should be entered into. The lady, however, was so furious at the allegations contained in the private inquiry agent's letter that she brought actions against him both in the civil and criminal courts, and the result was that he, being stirred up to fight, bought a series of buch tremendous ehatges, coupled with proofs, against the lady, that the jury gave the plaintiff a verdict for one farthing damages, which did not, however., carry costs. The scandal, however, of the trial gave the banker a handle, and by the friendly int orven tion of family solicitors a deed orseptsration was arranged, by which the banker was at length relieved from the terrible incubus which the bishop's widow had so long been to him. Mrs. Blenkinsop, who had been very libarally dealt with by her husband, and in addition possessed private means of her own, carried out her pet scheme of an Asylum for Sinfill Women: with the Reverend Melchisedek Mauler as chaplain to the gtablishmeot, and as, under his merciless rule, there have been two suicides and an emeute, in which the chapwas very severely handled by the Magdalena, the retreat has evidently been as great a suce,?ss as such cellular attempts at reformation usually are. Mrs. Ponsonby Carter never knew that her husband had taken part in the abduction of Evylyn, and still went on pandering to his extravagance and worshipping the idol she had set up. Well, well; there are .01110 women , who are all the happier for being deceived, 1 and it is to be hoped that poor, good-natured I Lucy Carter will remain for a hug time in ht.r fool's paradise. As soon as the matrimonid arrangements, pr rather disarrangements, between the banker 'and his wife had barn completed, Mr. Blenkinsop and his daughter returned its Deseret Square, and it was from there that the marrims between Evylyn and Ambrose took place. The revelation made by Hamilton Ferrers in his dying moments pi °duce,' a profound impression upon Evylyn, but by degre+s the elasticity of her youthful disposition enabled .her to throw it on one side. The marriage went off with much eclat, and niter the happy pair had haft fm their honeymcoa W. ChipperMil was interviewed by some of the tradesmen who supplied the house ii, Deseret Square. "1 cant say how it will end," remarked the faithful domestic, with a sigh: "They are a vanishing f: 'lv. First the master goes off with Old Nick ; then Miss Evylya bolts, and at last mis-is goes off with it parson, as I hear; and now Miss Evylyn hos gone o i to be married: but, lor bless yol, I don't believe we shall ever see her again. They are a vanish. ing family, and that's the end of it." [The End.]