The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1886-05-26

Tregarthen?"
eyes," said Phil.
1--WE will 60 together" said Marsh,
and they walked side by side for little
time IN silence. 1t was a sunlit after
noon, and there were window-gardens
at every house in the street, with bright
colored jalousies cleaning over the
flowers, so that pleasant sense OF
warmth and color stole to the hearts
of the two unobservant creatures as
they walked along, and frightened
their dreamy fancies. And suddenly,
as if she were in some way the product
of this unusual fullness of color and
radiance, appeared the charming Miss
Lima, accompanied by little girl of
twelve or thirteen years, who looked
like an attendant fairy. Phil saw some-
thing so surprising in the aspect of this
little stranger that he raised his hat
mechanically in answer to the young
lady's gracious salute, and looked at
the child with so curious an interroga-
ton that he plainly alarmed her.
HAS Mrs. Tregarthen daughter?"
he asked of Marsh minute later.
EYES," said the poet. 1--WE have
just passed her. A pretty child, is she
notp''
II should have guessed her to be
Arthur's child, or at any rate close
relative of his, wherever had seen her."
returned Phil. "Ihere is portrait of
Arthur's mother at Tregarthen, painted
when she was a child. l have been
familiar with it ever since lean remem-
Der. 1t might have been painted from
the child we have just seem"
This news would have been a relief
to Marsh years ago, but it had been
unheeded now for many and many a
day of certainty.
ut is not uncommon that child
should resemble its father" he said,
TRANQUILITY, cor its fathers mother. Is
Tregarthen like his mother?"
"Amazingly,n said Phil Ellis feat
ures are masculine, and hers were
feminine, but beyond that it would
puzzle you to find difference in their
pictures. The expression governs all. :"
The two made their call upon the
actress, and there was nothing in the
afternoon to distinguish it outwardly
from many others so spent before and
after But when they had left the house
and were walking home together the
poet made a confession.
II have been guilty of theft" he
said. "Send that to Tregarthen. If
there are any bowels in the man at all
it will bring him to reason"
He drew from his breast-pocket
photograph of the child, and Phil upon
his first glance at it gave a little ex-
clamation.
with change of costume" he
said, regarding the picture attentively,
"and another arrangement of the hair,
it might pass as photograph from the
picture;' and indeed the likeness was
remarkable.
He wrote letter that night Though
he had little hope of piercing the dark
ness in Arthur's mind, in which he
told how he had that day for the first
time learned of the existence of a
daughter of Mrs. Tregarthen's, how
the surprising likeness of the child to
Tregarthen had appealed to him, and
how he had been moved again by this
new knowledge to write in behalf of
most unhappy and yirtuous lady. He
inclosed the photographs; and having
posted the letter with his own hands,
awaited aresponse, without much hope
When it came he experienced shock
"My dear Phil Tregarthen's brief
letter ran, Gods hand has so nodded
my child's face that should be a fool as
well as villain to deny her. She at
least is mine. 1t may be that you are
right and that l have been mistaken.
/ shall resolve that doubt before long,
for | am dying"
Whether this news were true or fam
ciful he could not tell, and he could
not set his mind at rest except by an
immediate return to Tregarthen, but
before he started he must see Marsh and
consult with him, if only for mo-
ment.
IF he is DYING said Marsh, who
could not share Pills doubt, not
guessing at the reason he had for
doubling, or even knowing that he
doubted, "she should know it, and
should let her own heart decide whether
she shall see him."
You have known her longer said
Phil, "and better than have. You can
take the letter to her. If she should
decide to 60, she may accept my es-
cOrt."
Marsh accepted the errand, and full
filled it. In effect Mrs. Tregarthen de-
cided to see her husband, If he would
receive her; and she and her child, in
Pills charge, started upon the journey.
1t was now thirteen years since she had
so foolishly run away from home and
happiness, darkening her own life and
the life OF the man who loved her. But
that had never seemed her crime. Her
real folly was hidden in the shadow of
the mere reticence which had always
seemed criminal. Perhaps, since she
felt ii so, and had always felt it so, her
sin really lay there, though few people
would have cared to characterize it by
so harsh a name. She had reaped fame
and riches and heart full of regrets,
and none of the purposes for which she
had lived had seemed worth much to
her, except in so far as they seemed to
avenge Arthur, and then they became
valuable.
Phil left her, with her child and her
maid, at one of the hotels at Gorbay,
and crossed to the island alone to spy
out the land before her. Tregarthen
sat where he had sat before, and Phil
supposed at first that his downward
gaze was still directed at the bit of crys-
tai, but when he drew near he saw the
child's photograph in the fathers hand.
He had knocked at the door, and had
received no response, and now he had
to lay his hand upon Arthur's shoulder