The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1886-10-23
LEHIGHTON, Pa, OCTOBER

ally, my own childl l have found yo
at lastr'
And while Isca stands trembling an,
speechless, while Lee Grosvenor is to
overcome with astonishment TO fin
words, Mr.. Dinsmore suddenly appear
upon the scene. He utters low cry O
surprise.
'Iscal Good heavensr' he pant
wildly, "who-what is this womanP"
The woman drops Isca's sleeve an,
wheels about, confronting the master o
the house.
81 am Marion Arlingtonp' she say
savagely: "the wife of Royal Arlington
this girls father. She is my child, as
will soon prove"
Her words are wild-her manner rud
"A terrible spectacle to the guests VIII,
crowd around-horror-stricken, speech
less.
She goes own:
"We quarreled-he and land h,
sent me away across the ocean. l swor,
to come back and punish him; but tn,
years dragged by, and IL only learned
few weeks ago of his death. l hay,
come to claim my daughter"
There is wild incoherency in hel
speech, and her bloodshot eyes CLEAN
like wild beasts. Isca shrinks away
and creeps forlornly to her guardian
side.
She starts to see how very pale he
has grown.
"Arthur"-she slips her hand into
his-"could this thing be true? Do you
can you-believe itP Tell me-oh, ]
shall go madp'
There was some trouble between
your father and mother, Isca," he re-
turns. your mother was a plain, un.
assuming woman, have been told Il
never met her); but cannot imagine
her such as this creature. My child, be
brave-very braYe; we will inquire into
the affair"
The woman calling herself Marion
Arlington, goes on to prove by means of
papers in her possession that this beau
tiful, proud Isca Arlington is really her
daughter; at least no one can question
her proofs-not now.
Lee Grosvenor has been standing
covering like a whipped spaniel, at a
little distance from the scene; he goes
to lsca's side and gazes coldly into her
face.
"Miss Arlingtonr' (how his voice cuts
the silence) Il never dreamed OF
such IA disgrace as this. l am forced
to withdraw all pretentions to youl
hand, for the Grosyenors are stainless
our honor, our family name is para
mount to all other considerations"
She flashes upon him like a proud
young empress.
"You are an honor to your name
sirF she assents scornfully. Good
evening, Mr. Grosvenorr'- cool
ly by way of dismissal.
Arthur Dinsmore takes her hand il
his own and leads her away to a de
serted room.
81 must speak or 1 shall dier' III
cries wildly. "Isca, love you so. An
too old, to-"
1.-The best - the dearest of tru,
hearts!' she interrupts tenderly. "Oh
guardie, could you marry me with thai
that woman claiming me as her childi
Think of the disgrace, the shame, thu
humiliation to your proud name. Ant
the Dinsmores are as noble as the Gros
Yenors. And
"Kind hearts are more than coronets:
And simple faith of Norman blood"
He is holding her close to his hear
now, with tender kisses showered upor
the sweet, upturned face.
His promised wife; and the one tru,
heart is found at last.
Then the silence of that happy scene
is broken by the entrance of stranger,
two rough looking men, who prove tC
be keepers of an insane asylum, in ques
of woman calling herself Marion Ar
lington.
She is an escaped lunatic-the mos
desperate, most cunning and crafty cast
in the institution, so the keepers go OF
to explain.
She proves to be the late Marion Ar
lington's maid, who had been with tina
lady through all the journey.
The secret of the misunderstanding
between Isca's parents will never b,
known.
The madwoman had planned des
perate game. When Mrs. Arlington
was lost at sea, she had stolen the mar
riage certificate and other papers, keep
ing them in her possession.
Afterward, losing her reason, she had
planned the plot which was indeed
worthy of a madwoman, to claim the
girl who might $50 the maddened brain
had plottedl save her from the insane
asylum.
1t is all explained, and the poor crea,
ture is taken away; and old friends
crowd around lsca with congratulations.
She listens with sweet smiles; then
she returns gently:
"Out of all evil some good may come.
Had II not been for to nights occur
renee, / might have missed the happi-
ness of my life-I might never have
known the value of one true, tender
heart"
LIVC0LN's ADVICE TO A FRIEND.