A STRANGE TRUE STORY.

New Zealand Times, Volume XLX, Issue 8163, 15 August 1887, Page 3

A STRANGE TRUE STORY.

THE LANG WORTHY MARRIAGE. {Prom the Pall Mall Budget.) PROLOGUE. Four years ago last February, a wealthy Englishman, plebian in birth, but immensely rich was staying at the Hotel Braganza, Lisbon. His yacht, a floating palace, lay at anchor in the Tagus. He was on his honeymoon, and seemed jealously devoted to his spirituelle young wife, whom he was taking out to her new home in the New World. But in the mornings, when the time hung some* what heavy on his hands, he used to amuse himself by torturing the cats which frequented the garden of the hotel. It was rare sport to him, after tempting the cat within reach by caresses and dainties, to drop a red-hot coal fresh from the fire upon the cmfidincr and unsuspecting pet, and afterwards to see his cousin chase the tortured animal about the enclosed space, until in agony of fear, and mad with the pain of the seared and burning flesh, it would spring into the garden well. Then this English gentleman and his more active cousin wouid lean over the low parapet of the well and chuckle with glee at the straggles of the elpless creature in the water below. They aughed as they aaw it swim round, or heard ts plaintive cry as it tried once and again, and ever in vain, to scale the steep and slimy wail of the well. What better sport was there after the heated chase than to lean over the cool well-side, leisurely to watch the ever-weakening struggle below, and occasionally to drop a stone on the rippled water? It was not a very noble sport, perhaps, but it had the zest o. cruelty, the flavor of death. There were Bystanders, but most did not take notice of what was done. Those who did marvelled. Some were shocked, others were amused. But no one interfered. He was rich, and he paid for his sport. Why should the English visitor not amuse himself as he pleased? , ~ ~ That English milord was Edward Martin Langworthy, and the story of his marriage, ■which we are about to tell, is foreshadowed with curious fidelity in the horrible little episode of the Cats of the Hotel Braganza. It is all there, all we have to tell, the only difference being that in our narrative of facts the victim of a millionaire’s sport is a refined and cultured lady. There is the same treacherous caress, the cruel awakening, the ruthless pursuit, and the leisurely observation of the piteous struggles in the depths. There is also, alas 1 the same indifference or ignorance on the part of those who stand around. And if no one interferes, the end will also be the same. In spite of the law, which besets at defiance; notwithstanding the orders of our courts, which he treats with contempt, the millionaire will triumph. He has driven his deserted wife to destitution. But a little longer and he will force her to despair, perhaps to death. To avert that tragic ending to a heroic struggle of four years, to thwart the conspiracy of wealth and power, this strange and over-true story of to-day is published to-day. For such offences where the law is powerless, and the High Court of Justice is contemned, publicity is our last and only resource. Without more prologue we begin the narrative, which, although it may be incredible to the casual reader, is already familiar to at least half-a-dozen English judges. CHAPTER I. .rA NABOB OF THE ARGENTINE. Edward Martin Langworthy .was about thirty-five years old when he married a second ime. The story of his first marriage to the sister of the present Earl of Limerick may be told some day, but it does not concern us now. It is solely with his second marriage, or marriages, for it was a double one, and is now in a partial state of dissolution —the decree nisi never having been made absolute—that this narrative has to do. At the time of the second marriage Mr Langworthy, as we said, was about five-and-thirty. There was nothing in his features to call for special remark. He was a fleshy, selfcomplacent looking creature, with light brown hair and cut-away whiskers of a reddish tinge. In height he was about sft 9in, and in his yachtiag costume he was not altogether unpleasant to look upon. He was capable of great tenderness and apparent affection, Jealous in disposition, rude in manner, he was liable to gusts of tempestuous passion. Selfindulgence was the law of his existence. Except his mother, he feared no being, human or divine. The name he bore deserved a better fate than to be befouled with the shame with which he covered it. The Langworthya of Pendleton Cotton Mills, Salford, were well-known cotton spinners when the Queen began to reign. The Brothers Langworthy, cotton spinners, enjoyed no small repute in Lancashire in their time, and to this day the widow of Edward Riley Langworthy, the millionaire Mexican trader, keeps up considerable state in Victoria Park, Manchester. It was this Langworthy who, as Mayor of Manchester in 1848 50, cooperated with Mr Brotheratori, M.P., in establishing the free library in that city. Edward Martin Langworthy, of this narrative, was nephew of the Mexican, from whom he inherited, when he was twenty-one, the handsome fortune of LIOO.OOO, which, however, was said not to be a tithe of the,actual fortune of his uncle. Edward Martin Langworthy inherited another fortune of L 50,000 under his father’s will, but these sums,. handsome as they seem to others, were reputed but trifles compared with the wealth that was said to be awaiting him on the death of his mother and aunt. He was the only son of George Langworthy, and he has one sister, Florence. No pains were spared to fit him for the position he might have been expected to take. - ‘ After passing through Eton he went to Oxford, and when his University career was complete he ate his dinners at the Inner Temple, and was duly called to the bar in 1876 or 1878, about the same time that the Russian army of liberation was fighting its way. southward to Stamboul. Mr Langworthy, therefore, is a ba-rister-at-law, a briefless barrister, no doubt, but none the less for that familiar with the laws of his country, and a member of that honorable profession, a Templar.of our prosai! age. airs Langworthy, the mother, has her seat at Grey’s Park, Maidenhead. Her son is at.present domiciled in the Argentine Republic. At the time when he met Miss Long he was in Europe, spending mfist of his time in hisjsteam yacht Meteor, a floating palace of 265 tons, said to have cost him some L9OOO. When in London his headquarters were at the Royal Yacht Club, but he was also a member of the United University Club, in Suffolk-street. He is now, however, permanently resident at Bella Vista, a stately pleasure house which he has built for himself in the midst of his princely domain in the Argentine Republic. The Langworthy estates are one of. the most notable features in the sparsely-peopled republic, which was the scene of the_ early prowess of Garibaldi. Mr Mulhall, in his handbook of the River Plate, gives a glowing account- of; the magnificent d-unain known as the Lang worthy Grant. ,It covers 32 square leagues in the north of Tozcas, . On this he has Elanted a colony of 259 families, each coloni it eing provided with a brick house. The colony also boasts a town hall, a church, a schoolhouse, a sugar factory, a sawmill, and a tramway, the outlay being estimated at not less than L 120,000. This, however, is only one of his estates. The estate of Curumalan, on which Bella Vista stands, is about 70,000 acres in extent. In addition to this, there is another estate in Paraguay. The land is said to be fertile, consisting partly of open prairie, where in the same tropical climate strawberries and pineapples ripen side by side. Grain, sugar, rice and tobacco are cultivated to great advantage. The estate also abounds in fine timber. There is something almost patriarchal about the enumeration of his flocks and herds, Mr Mulhall says he owns 1000 horses, 2000 cows, -- ',10,000 sheep. Judging from Mr Mulhall s recount, Edward Martin Langworthy seems not unlikely to emulate in the Argentine Republic the success by which his unc!e_ is said to have made L 1,200,000 by speculations in Mexico.

CHAPTER 11. •a sweet girl graduate.’ Midred Sabine Palliser Langworthy, the heroine of this tale, is a lady by birth and education. Her father, Mr William Long, was brought up for the army by his uncle, MajorGeneral Hayes; but became assistant-agent first of the estates of the Marquis of Downshire, and then of the estate of the late Lord O’Neil. The relations between landlord and tenant have never been seriously disturbed in the far north-east corner of Protestant Ulster, and Mr Long seems to have been exceptionally popular among his neighbors. One local poet, inspired by ‘ love and gratitude and rustic song,’ describes him as ‘the best sub-agent that's beneath the shies,’ and even after due allowance is made for poetic license, it seems evident that he discharged the duties of his office with a conscientious justice that commanded the . respect and confidence of the tsaants. Her mother was a Miss Pasley,

daughter of the Rev Dr Sabme-Pasley, rector of a parish in Wexford, and she displayed in her new home a beneficent and evangelical activity which was more likely to be appreciated in Antrim than in her native country. In the Hermitage at Randlestmvn a numerous family was bora to them. Of these all survive but the eldest son, who died at the age of twenty from the effect of a blow by a cricket bill received when playing a match at Sir Capel Molyneux’s. Of the surviving brothers, one is now a member.of the Irish bar; a second is rector of a parish near Drogheda; the third, after serving for a short time in the Princess of Wales’ Own, went to India, where he is now engaged in the management of a plantation. Mildred is the elder of five sisters, all of whom are still at home with their parents. ■ In her childhood Miss Long was educated with her brothers by the family tutor. The family circle was her only world, around which spread a wide horizon of literature, Her only acquaintance with the outside world and its ways was from books. Quick, restless, passionate, and impulsive, she easily kept abreast of her brothers in their studies, and when her education was 1 finished.’ at the age of 17, she experienced to the full that impatient disontent which eats into the hearts of so many women who see their brothers told off to important posts in the tattle of life while they remain to mope at home. Her brother seeing how she chafed at inaction, suggested that she should study for the examinations for women which are held annually by the University of Dublin. She eagerly acted on this suggestion, and in 1873 she passed as one of the first six senior candidates, taking honors in French, Latin, Euclid, algebra, &c. In English literature and composition her essay was selected by Professor Dowden to read aloud. Not satisfied with Dublin honors, she went to Cambridge, and there passed with some distinction, taking the first prize in Group A. She also passed in Latin, and took the first prize therein Divinity examination. . In those happy days, when the girl s ambition looked no further —save in idle day dreams than success in a university examination, her family was very well to do. and her studies were pursued solely for the love of learning. She now began to see more_ of society, bhs vi.-dted at country houses in England, and made the tour of the Continent in company with an uncle, who was in the habit of taking his nieces in turn for a holiday abroad. It was some little time after she passed her examinations at Cambridge that her father lost the greater part of his, fortune through being security for a friend. Some time before a clergyman, who had been a curate at Raiidalstown, hearing of her success in examinations, h id written suggesting that she should utilise her certificates by teaching, mentioning Miss Benson’s High School at Oxford as a possible opening. In those days they seemed to want for nothing, and \lr Long decisively vetoed the suggestion that his daughter should go out teaching. She acquiesced heartily in his decision ; but when the news came some time after of the loss of his savings she made up her mind instantly that she would no longer remain at home a burden-upon her parents. It was on a Thursday that her brother broke the tidings to her. She left next day for Oxford to see Miss Benson, and from that day until her unfortunate marriage to Edward Lang_ worthy the independent, high-spirited girl never cost her parents another sixpence.

CHAPTER 111. THE LUCK OF LONDON. Miss Benson, the sister of the Archbishop of Canterbury, was very kind to her. Miss Long stayed some days looking over the working of the school, and then came up to London with a letter of introduction to the secretary of the High School Council. In her innocence she imagined that she would get an engagement straight off, and was not a little aghast when she was politely told that she must wait, and in due course she would hear when a vacancy occurred. Alone in London, without a friend and with but scanty means, what was she to do ? One thing only she knew, she would never return home.; Once before she had been in London, visiting a cousin of hers, Colonel Tulloch, and his wife; in Portland-place, but they had gone to India. When wondering what to do an extraordinary piece of good luck befel her. While taking a_ cup of tea in a confectioner’s shop she saw in the Daily News an advertisement for a certificated young lady who wished to gain experience in teaching. The address was Boston College, Chiswick. Miss Long started off at once for Turnhamgreen, and reached Boston College at seven. The lady principal, a tall, sedate, stately lady, after a few inquiries, asked where she_ came from. ‘lreland.’- ‘ And where do you intend staying the night? ’ ‘. Why, here ! ’ said Miss Long, to the no small amazement of Miss Oatchpole, who, however, after a consultation with her French. teacher, decided that it was very irregular; but she could read character well, and she had confidence; that all was right Miss Long was shown to her bedroom, and after some inquiries after references, was duly installed. As the question of character is vital in this narrative, it may not be amiss to insert here the letter received at Boston College in reply to an inquiry as to character, &c., from the Rev Dr Busby, St. Andrew’s Vicarage, Belfast:— ‘ The Rev-Dr B. presents his compliments to Miss: Oatchpole, and begs to acknowledge the receipt of her letter respecting Miss Mildred Long. Dr Busby has much pleasure in answering all . Miss G’s questions in the most satisfactory manner. First, the family is of the highest respectability; second, Miss Long is in manners, intellect; and piety most desirable for a select school; third, she is sltogether a desirable young lady for a select school. Dr Busby will be most happy to answer any further questions Miss Long, for whom personally he has the highest esteem.’

Mis's Long was a general favourite. Bright, lively, full of spirit and of talk; she even overcame the objections of five staid elderly dames who at first could not tolerate 1 her curls, her uppish air, and her fashionable; dress.’ .The next few months went very happily. She was engaged all day preparing the higher classes for Cambridge, and in the evening she, either sat with Miss Oatchpole or went out with her to visit her friends, who were all interested, not without reason, in the ‘ plucky Irish girl,’ who had, as Miss Oatchpole used to say, dropped ‘down upon her from the skies.’ It was-when she was with Miss Oatchpole at Chiswick that the shadow crossed her path which afterwards was to overwhelm her with the darkness and blackness of night. At.the time it‘ did riot even seem a cloud ; but afterwards she remeinbered it all too well. Before starting at Boston College Miss Oatchpole had held the position ‘ of governess In Lord Limerick’s family. She was devoted to Lady Alice—the only pupil she lud ,ever.cared for—and was never weary of singing her praises. Her .dear Alice, she said, had been one of the sweetest and most loveable girls the earth had ever seen, although she had a quick temper. Poor'child; she had married very unhappily, had been badly treated by her husband,- and she had died in mid-ocean. The name of this husband has never been mentioned. It - was not till long afterwards that Mildred Long remembered tho fate of Lady Alice when she found herself the second wife of her husband, Edward Martin : Langworthy. . This, however, was only . another's sorrow* and Miss Long could pot then feel much,sympathy.with the wife whom she was by an evil destiny fated to succeed. But the coincidence was curious. After spending six happy iribnths at Chiswick, Miss Long was offered and accepted the head mistress-ship of-St. Margaret’s High School, Richmond. Her salary began at LI 00 ,- and sheihad besides a maid, private rooms, and board. : She enjoyed the-work, the walks, the.independence of her position. "Still keeping up the salutary'custom of her Irish home,, she never went out alone, always accompanied by her maid. After a year at Richmond, she was offered. and accepted a position in one of the High - Schools Company’s schools at Norwich. The salary was only Ll2O, but the chairman complimented her bn the range of her subjects. Pew,-, he said,'could boast of so many, au l he promised her the next vacancy. Before going to Norwich she accepteda holiday engagement . to coach the son of General Cbokson, Easterlands, Wellington, Somerset, for a Woolwich examination. Nothing could excsed the kindness with which she was treated, and although there ■ were ‘difficulties at first she_ persevered, and the son went through his examination with success. At Norwich Miss Long was successful enough, but her health broke down, and she resigned, after being there three months. Residence in a southern county brought her round, and she next had a private engagemerit at Mr NettlefordV, of Birmingham celebrity, giving lessons besides in the evening in her rooms That year financially was most successful. To have made L37D by teaching in one year was no mean achievement for the spirited young Irish lady who had never earned a penny in her life before she left home, less than three years before. Her health being now thoroughly restored, she wished to get back into ti.e High School, and with that intent came up_ to London in December, 1880, accepting a private engagement, the first she had ever taken that ref aired residence in the house with her pupils, t did not last long, doing out to skate one morning, she fell and broke- her arm. It was badly set, and she was obliged to rest. She left in February, and went over to. Paris with

her brother Herbert. They stayed in the Hotel Bedford, and it was there where she had the misfortune to meet Mr Langworthy.

CHAPTER IV. BETROTHED. Miss Long was staying at the hotel with her brother. She wore her arm in a sling—a circumstance slight enough in itself, but wnich ■ helped co alter the whole course of her life. Her brother was called back to London for examination, and Miss Long remained behind, chaperoned by Lady Honoria Cadogan, who was staying at the same hotel. They were sitting with some company in the small salon when Mr Langworthy called to see a friend with whom she was on speaking terms. He was shy, but a remark addressed to Mias Long by his friend drew him into conversation, A broken arm offers an admirable opening for small talk, and Mr Langworthy, who remembered some particular form of bandage which had been very serviceable to a friend of his, asked if he might bring her one next day. lie was very kind. She was very interesting with her pale face and her bandaged arm. She reminded him, he afterwards said, of a Miss Long, sister of Walter Long, M.P. As for her, she was not much impressed with his manner or his person. She was singing Gluck’s ‘ J’ai perdu moil Enrydice’ when he brought the bandage next day, and the acquaintance thus formed ripened into a kind of friendship. It was, however, somewhat remote, for her first idea was that he was a Cheshire widower cm the lookout for a superior governess for Ids children. He had questioned her a good deal about her educational attainments, and the mistake was not unnatural. Her brother returned to’Parxs and Mr Langworthy extended to him the interest he had shown in his sister. He sent her a great deal of music, invited them to visit his yacht, an invitation which was not accepted, and showed her in one way and another much attention. At last, however, in about six or seven weeks, the Paris visit came to an end. Mr Langwortny returned to his yacht, and Miss Long went to travel with some lady friends in Belgium and Switzerland. They did not meet again till September, when she had returned to Pans. Mr •Langworthy was there, and finding her arm was no better urged her to try a cruise in his yacht. Her brother could not go. ‘V\ hat m liters that ?’ said the tempter ; * if your brother can’t come, it is all the same if you have a lady of suitable age and position. Believe me,’ he added, earnestly, ‘ I would not ask you to do wrong ; I have too much respect for you.’ Foolishly, and thinking no evil, she partly consented, and he asked a Mrs Proctor to come at once to Paris. Mrs Proctor came, but fortunately Miss Long, on consideration, declined to go on the yacht. He was very disappointed, and broke off with Mrs Proctor, .who went as comnanion to Lady Louisa Meux, the Marquis of Ailesbury’s daughter. Miss Long returned to London, escorted by Mr Langworthy. He left her at Waterloo, going off like 'a dutiful son to sae if he could not meet his mother's wishes, and marry Miss Constance, a handsome, blackeyed girl of 20. . _ Miss Long settled clown contentedly m Eondon, giving lessons to the daughters a barrister in Ilchester-gardens, and taking lessons from Mrs Sterling and Mr Ryder in elocution, the better to qualify her for the appointment she was expecting in the High School. At that time she did some little writing in the shape of dramatic criticisms and occasional articles for the press., So the winter passed and the spring. The summer came, and with it Mr Langworthy. He had quarrelled with the, black-haired Constance. She was then living’ near her brother at JVtr Turner 3-2, Bloomfield - terrace, Belgravia. He called several times in the middle of the day, and at last induced her to go with him to the Savoy to see ' Patience.’ He saw her home, but left her on the doorstep. His manner throughout was courteous, respectful, and gentlepaanly. oh© suspected no evil, andby this time they both were pretty deeply in love with each other. ’ . After going to the theatre it was but a step to visiting the yacht. The Meteor lay at - Southhampton, and after repeated entreaties Miss Long consented to run down to see it. _She was shown over the pretty vessel, tried the piano for a moment, then abruptly, stopped. He opened a locker and took out some jewels. Returning to town, they dined, and he accompanied her home. It was the first time he had ever entered her house in the evening. Ihe denouement was close at hand. A.a she-threw her hat on the sofa and ordered tea he exclaimed, ‘ You don’t know how pretty you are, and, kissing her passionately, asked her, to be his wife, She consented. There is no need to linger over the scene. He had given her the rings he “had taken out of the locker of the yacht. There were seven in all —one of pink coral and diamond he said ‘ poor Alice ’ had always worn, the other of onyx she had given him. He vowed she was the dearest thing on earth, and now the independent darling was his,_ his alone. And so the brief visit ended in a plighted troth, and thus it came to pass that Mildred Long, was engaged to Edward Langworthy. CHAPTER V. ‘to a woman engaged in teaching, never ! ’ After the engagement all went well for a time. Mr Langworthy took his fiancee to matinees, spending as much time as possible in her company They only had one slight quarrel. Miss Long had promised to become security for some small sums for a widow with whom she had lodged at Birmingham. The widow advertised in The Times for a loan, and Mr Langworthy lost his temper when Miss Long showed him the advertisement, and angrily insisted that She should neither lend nor give any money to anyone. Letters in reply to the advertisement were to be left at a stationer’s. Mr Langworthy became Very excited, and declared that the stationer’s only object was to lend, the money himself and so to get Miss Long into his power. The suspicion was morbid. She had never. seen * the stationer, but as the incident subsequently afforded a slender basis fof^this imputation, it may be mentioned. _ Shortly after the engagement, Miss Long asked why Mrs Langworthy did not call on her future' daughter-in-law. He replied that his poof mother - bad ‘ a paralytic stroke,-and could not come.' But, he said, You must come to see her. She is sure to love you; She is so fond of clever, women. He, went down to Maidenhead to tell his mother of the engagement. He came back cowed and crestfallen. His mother,.he said, had taken the news very badly. Miss Long, she said, was an artful creature, who had laid a snare for him. She hid sworn to give him up if he married a woman engaged in teaching. This Mr Langworthy repeated to the woman who bad promised to be his wife. She started up indignantly when he repeated the remark about the artful creature, and her snare, and he exclaimed, apologetically, Darling, I walked into the snare very, willingly.’,- But the lady would not be appeased.- She avowed she would break off the engagement. She would , rather work for her bread all her life. She would never see him again. And so forth. Altogether it was a very pretty scene. He begged her to desist. My mother’s disappointed now, he said; wait till she sees you,' she wilFcome round all right. The irate damsel, however; wouldtake no excuses, and; tearing herself away, she took her departure - to Richmond. ? The .-next morning she received the following letter:— , ■My dearest Milly,—l really cannot tell what it is you want; you know I would do anything to make you happy. To succeed in a profession requires patronage, and that you are too proud to accept. Marriage with mf will restore you to the position which is yours by birth, by education, and by right; and which you have done nothing to forfeit; the well-bred will esteem you for yourself, the educated will value you for your learning, and those who know the self-denial you are capablt of,love you dearly., I had so much to. you to-day, but you would not listen. Looking forward to the happiness of seeing you . ■ Saturday at Paddington—you shall nere< regret the step,—Ever yours lovingly,. ■:. i ‘E. M. Langworthy.’

She consented. The engagement was renewed. Mr Lang worthy again pressed the old invitation for a cruise bn his' yacht, and this time, as she was betrothed, Miss Long consented. Mr Langworthy engaged a chaperon of irreproachable character to accompany them. It was not a very wise thing, nor prudent; but Miss Long was twenty-five years old. : She had been leading an independent, self-reliant life for a couple of years ? she had the most implicit confidencs in Mr Langworthy, and as she was, expecting to be married, and was assured by him repeatedly that the presence of the chaperon would remove any suspicion of impropriety, she. consented. Before gping, her sister Edith came up from Richmond, full of curiosity, to see the accepted suitor of ‘ proud Miss Long.’ and was much amused at the indications of affection which she noted in the lovers. . CHAPTER YI. THE EfiENOH MARRIAGE. On the 9th of September, 1882, the party— Mr Langworthy. Miss Long, and the chaperon —started from Waterloo to Dartmouth, where the Meteor was lying. The Meteor was what the lady called a dear little yacht. The saloon was beautifully fitted up. There was an excellent piano onboard and-nothing could be more complete .and luxurious than the furnishing of the cabins.

Miss Long’s was a charming arrangement in aillra and lace. The crew consisted of sixteen men all told. As Mr Langworthy was fond of shooting, he travelled with gamekeeper and dogs. At Dartmouth he introduced Miss Long to Mr and Mrs Simpson, Mr Dennison, the Hon Cecil Cad gan, and other friends, as his fiancee. Then time passed very pleasantly. Mrs Simpson and a young lady friend took Miss Long to the Dart in their steam launch. Mr Cadogan took her over the Britannia. After a day or two they went on board the yacht, and steamed across the Channel to Cherbourg. Miss Long was a bad sailor, and was right glad to be once more in port. There, as at Dartmouth, Mr Langworthy took her about to his friends, and among others the Hon Mr and Mrs Vereker returned their call and invited her to dinner. When at Cherbourg a thought which must have been slowly gathering form in the mind of the impulsive young lady suddenly found expression in the question which she addressed point blank to Mr Langworthy : Will these people, she said, not think it strange that I am here without any of nay relations? He laughed at her scruples, and waved them on one side by the conclusive remark : Do you think if there had been anything queer they would have come with their wives to take you out ? I told them all about you, and they admire you immensely. She was satisfied, but her question seemed to rouse him to a sudden and unforeseen resolution. Soon after this conversation had taken place he left Cherbourg for a day, ‘on business.’ On his return he said that he wanted her to visit Caen, and they started next morning accordingly alone, leaving the chaperon behind. After visiting the cathedral, Mr Langworthy engaged a carriage for a drive in the country. He gave directions to the driver. After they had gone some little distance he seized her hand, and declared passionately that she would soon bo his wife. He had made arrangements to be married that very day. Miss Long was startled. The sudden announcement almost took away her breath. _ She could only stammer, But will it be all right? Right ? he replied, enthusiastically; of course it will be right. I cannot bear long engagements, Don’t be cross, darling, but we are to be married this very day; all is arranged.

What a prospect! A discreet and prudent young lady, under these circumstances, would have known exactly how to act. She would have indignantly protested against any such preposterous notion. She would have scouted as insulting the idea that she was to_ be married secretly, without one of her relatives being present, and she would have shut the mouth of her betrothed by quotations from the French marriage law. Miss Long, however, knew nothing about the French marriage law, and she was an impulsive and somewhat headstrong, rather than a cautious and prudent one. She believed implicitly in Mr Langworthy. She adored him, and she was certain that he was devoted to her. If not, why should he wish to marry her ? She had no fortune. It was a love match, and why should she refuse to be married there and then? While pondering on these misgivings in her mind Mr Langworthy was pleading ardently for her; consent. You are [such an independent darling, he said ; I want to secure you so that I cannot lose you anymore. Poor Miss Long. Why should she not trust her lover ?' Was ha not making every sacrifice for her, and should she refuse him this request ? She hesitated, her head but half convinced, while her heart throbbed assent to the man who wished to make her his wife. The carriage stopped. They were at the door of the church—a Catholic church, some miles in the country, from Caen. Mr Langworthy alighted, and led her into the sacred edifice. They were received by a priest in a long black cassock. Mr Langworthy went with him into the vestry. - Miss Long wae left alone in the church. What could she do ? She decided it was too late to refuse, and, when the vestry-door opened and the priest returned with Mr Langworthy, she had made up her mind to go through with it.. The priest—a greasy-looking cleric, with sharp black eyes and a somewhat insolent smile —led them to where two chairs stood before the altar, and then, opening his book, he went through more service. It was in Latin—iMias Long but dimly apprehended its drift. AIL that she knew was that, in the course of it, Mr Langworthy put a ring on her wedding-finger. At its close, Mr Langworthy turned to her and exclaimed, ‘ Now I’ve secured my darling, and you cannot run away from your Bear (a pet name of his) any more.’ ‘ But don’t we sign our names, to anything ?’ she asked.* ‘ No,’ said he.. He paid the priest 400 francs, and all was over.

CHAPTER VII. WHY NOT AN ENGLISH MARRIAGE? Mildred—now in her own belief Mrs Langwortby—was rather dubious about the marriage. They returned immediately to England; nor did she live with him as his wife until after her return from Ireland. _ The servants wore not informed of the marriage ; but he mentioned it to the chaperon, oxplaining that, for private reasons, he wished Mrs Langworthy still, to be addressed as Miss Long. She expressed herself very freely on the point to Mr Langworthy. He said she was very reasonable, He was a barrister, of course, and knew the law, which she did not. He assured her again and again that it was perfectly legal, and said that, as a certificated captain of the yacht, he was legally competent to perform the ceremony himself in the cabin of the Meteor. She was but half-convinced. Very well,’ he said at last, ‘if you are not satisfied you can be married by your own brother’—who was a Protestant clergyman neat Drogheda. What 'could be more satisfactory ’ In pursuance of that arrangement he brought - her back to England. She left afc once for Ireland, the plan being that she should put in the requisite three weeks* residence in her brothers.parish, and that he would join her a. couple of days before the marriage, and be introduced to iler family. As he set her off at Euston Station, he kissed her tenderly. ‘ God bless you, Milly,’ he said. ‘ ‘lf all were as good as you, what a happy world it would be !’ . .. Mildred told her mother all about the after she got home, but begged her to keep it secret until Mr Langworthy gave her leave to tell it openly. Mrs Long consented to this : with some misgivings. Mr Langworthy, in the meanwhile, had gone to Maidenhead to break the news—so he said—to his mother. He seems to have had a bad reception; for in about a-week he telegraphed to Mildred to come to London. She, asking what was - the matter, obeyed, and went up to town, taking with her her little sister; Gertrude— a smart, wideawake, little lass of 9. He met them,at Euston ; and next day they had an explanation. Miss Long was indignant, and accused him of breaking his word, vowing that she would break, hers as well. He said that his mother was implacable. She would not hear of ms marriage. There was a great scene.- Why will she not receive me ? cried Mildred, through her tears. ‘ lt is very unjust; you are a widower, and of "ripe years —surely you are your own master;’ Mr Langworthy winced; but fear of his .mother was always before his eyes, But when his wifs, waxing hotter in her wrath, declared, French marriage or no French marriage, she would have nothing to do with him, but leave him with his mother, he broke down, and adjured her to unsay her threat. •Besides, darling, a French parson is as -good as an English one any day. Whatever you say, you are really my wife. Oh 1 Milly,’ he cried, ‘ you know I love yon dearly. Only give me time, and all .will be right.,’ And then, as a kind of apology for, his cowardice, he explained that he was not rich, but that his prospects depended largely on his mother and his aunt. My lady was too irate to care for his excuses, and departed m wrath. Next morning, however, brought such a loving, penitent letter, that she relented. Everything was settled on the understanding that she was to go" out with him on a, trip to Buenos Ayres, calling at Cadiz en route to be married beyond all doubt by the English minister there. ‘ 1 love my darling too dearly to wrong her,’ he said. ‘ Will you not trust me?’ (To be continued.)