Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1885-02-19
"Not a shade murmured the Earl, whose

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eyes sparkled.
'"What did you say?"
"Nothing of Importance, love. Some
time you will show me this picture, will
you not? Perhaps we may have it reno
vated."
"I am afraid that will be impossible"
"Well, we shall see. Now 20 on about
your mother; you have not told me her
name."
"Her name was Maud Elliott-my grand
father was Captain Elliott. I don't remem-
Der him at all; he died soon after I was
born. I think there was some trouble
about him. I have heard my father say
that he was obliged to leave home for some
reason that was not creditable to him--I
don't understand what it was. l hope it
was nothing very bad"
The Earl kissed her little hand. "What-
ever it was," said he, cit cannot affect us.
Tell me more"
"Well," said Maud, coloring, II ought to
tell you that though Elliott was really the
family name, it was not the one they went
by in England. I found that out once by
chance, from an old, old letter that was
among nv mothers things. And that
made me afraid that whatever it was my
grandfather had done must have been some
thing very wrong; else why need he have
changed his name?"
"Tell me his real name, Maud-I have a
special reason for asking"
SIT was Barrett, 1 think, as we'll as could
make out from the writing but the letter
had been wet, or stained in some way, and
was hardly legible."
"It was Barnett, Maud, darling. I know
the name WE'LL"
'Did you know hims" asked Maud, sur
prised.
II think did am sure I did, after
what you have just been telling me-"
"And my mother-oh, did you know her,
too?" was her next eager question.
eyes, Maud. Some day I will tell you
more about your mother than you yourself
know" replied the Earl, much moved.
"You cannot think how happy you have
made me. 1t is, indeed, more than chance,
my child, which has compensated me, by
the Gift of your love, for past trouble but
I do not wish to speak of myself now. l
have surprise in store for you, Maud, a
pleasant surprise, when we reach home-our
home. I have something there to show
you, which you will enjoy seeing; but you
must promise not to ask me beforehand
what it is"
II will promise anything you like" said
Maud. "Besdes, | would rather wait.
Only I want to ask you one thing-was
there any disgrace--you know what l
mean
''Child, there was nothing that can hurt
as; told you so before. There was some
money-trOuble-y grandfather got mix
ed up in bad speculations, and his name
was associated with some others that were
not we'll thought Of; and SO he left England
and came where he was not known. But
why do you trouble your little head about
such things?"
She looked down, her eyes filling with
tears.
"It seems" she said, sorrowfully, "that
am not fit to marry you you who are so
noble and honorable. There is something
to be sorry for, or ashamed of, in all my
relations. You ought to have found some
one else."
~ am the best judge of that" said the
Earl. "And you need never be sorry or
ashamed on account of being your mothers
daughter. You may be proud of her men,
ory, Maud"
Maud looked earnestly at him; there was
something in his manner, in the way IN
which he said your mother,' that awakened
a sudden idea in her mind.
"Will you mind," she said, "if ask you
another question:"
"No my darling"
"It is this, Manuel-don't he vexed!-
did you ever love my mother?"
EYES," said Manuel, parting the hair soft
ly from her upturned brow. "She was my
first love, Maud. But you are far more to
me, now, than she ever was"