Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1888-11-30

would ever be received into our family.
| did not intend to speak thus plainly.
but your audacity has so provoked me. 4"
"You misunderstood me" began poor
Rene, hut the lady waved her hand ma
jesticallv
at shall not BEIGE will thank me
for this interference when he has waken-
ed from this mad dread Miss Arnold
since you will not respect mothers
feelings, listen to my words now : II
you refuse to break the bonds that he
was foolish enough to forge, then shall
disown him."
"Disown your sonl" gasped Rene.
yes; he has no legal claim. will
tell you now, he is tho son of my second
husband; my wealth came to me from
my first, for the Vetnors, though Of
high birth. have not been wealthy in
these latter days. so il you refuse to
recognize my CLAIM and appeal will
make him beggar r
Rene knew she was woman of her
wosd--knew there was no hope % merey
10 th.t hard, proud face before her. II
she married Lee Vetnor be would DO
beggared- her sake
"Oh, you are cruel p she faltered.
II am proud" replied Mrs. Vetnor.
| Will you choose 7"
A long silence, and then Rene raised
face.
''I--release him |" she broke forth.
"And you will go away without see
ing him again ?"
"Yes-yes ~
at is we'll, said Mrs. Vetnor and
drawing her costly mantle about her,
she went away without thought of the
misery that filled the young girls heart
81 have saved my son" she thought.
Rene kept her word she left the place
that night, and Lce could find no clew
to her whereabouts. He did not guess
bis mothers agency; he thought somo
strange caprice sent the girl from him,
and yet, recalling her lovely. love-lit
face, he knew that she loved him, and
could not believe that she was unfaitl,-
full; yet he could find no trace Of her.
and no word came to him, so hope died
within him.
!, Down narrow street lending from
the crowded thoroughfare man slowly
moved; it was early evening and the
street lamps sent forth faint glow.
Near the corner the solitary podes-
train saw female figure leaning upon
the iron railing Of his own mansion. aud
something in her attitude drew him to
her side
"My good woman, are you ll2' he
inquired, and then started buck ut sight
Of the white, anguished faca upon which
the light shone full
who are youY" he gasped. "You
have the face of Inez, my dead wife,"
II am Rene Arnold"
"Arnold--that is my name, her
name," said the man TREMENDOUSLY.
"But you are suffering--let me assist
you to my home"
Once within the mansion and re-
covered from her weakness, which was
the result of fatigue and hunger, for
Rene had long sought employment I'M
successfully, tho girl told her story to
her new friend.
''Lsten TO mine, said the man huski-
ly, II am Rupert Arnold. and twenty
years ago | married u fair young girl,
Inez Gaspard. I was insanely jealous
and she grew to fear mo at last my
harshncss drove her from me. sought
her in penitence, but alas, found that
she had died in distant land and her
babe had been cared for by strangers.
My wife dead, my child missing, wan
dercd forth heart-broken man. You
are that child, know IL. You have
my name, your mothers face Your
claims and mine shall be established"
They were established without flaw,
and Rene Arnold. the poor depend
ent," became belle and heiress Her
joy was complete wncn Lee Vetnor came
to her in answer to her summons, and
claimed her for his promised bride.
Mrs. Vetnor was kept in ignorance
of the affair till after arrangements wero
made for the wedding; then her heart
was made glad by the announcement
that Lee was to wed IN heircss who
bore name as distinguished and hon.
ored rs her own.
Imagine her feelings whom she stood
face to face with the girl she Ind so
outrageously scorned and insulted for
the first time her proud spirit shrapk;
but Rene was too happy to hold malice,
and advancing to the elder woman's
side, she held out her hand with sweet
smile.
Yet her words, though uttered un-
consciously, contained thrust.
''Let US forget the past, Mrs. Vetnor,
Lee and are happy, and your pride is
satisfied. | forgive you freely, for We
must be friends now"
After all, Rene owed that lady debt
of gratitude, perhaps. for it was Mrs.
Vetnor's pride that drove her out into
the world--and into tho arms of her
long unknown and repentant father.
~e&