The Irish standard., 1888-02-18

was Agnes surprise and delight, one day,
while driving in the park. to suddenly meet
the long looked-for one, and not poor,
wretched or haggard. as her feverish fancy
had painted her, but blooming. beautiful and
happy, and richly dressed and in company
with ladies of 1lnmistakable wealth and high
standing. =.
Little more is there to tell; you are gil
familiar with the burning OF the opera
| house. Agnes Armund and Oliver Dudley
were present and had just discovered the
! person they sought when the alarm OF hre
was given. BY mere accident they sue"
ceeded in saving her life and their own
This is the end. Agnes Arnund, on my
dying bed, have freely confessed the crime
committed seventeen years ago, and for
which have suffered living death ever
since But what reparation is in my power
make Tho rightful heiress of Caledon is,
OF should be, present in the person OF
Dorcas Lynn, adopted daughter Of Mrs.
Kent Her rightful name is Dorcas Caledon,
and she is the only living descendant OF
Phillip Caledon.
! Having made this reparation l rest con-
telt, trusting an all-merciful Providence
vii! not Judge me too harshly, tor the crime
committed in a moment Of frenzy, and con-
cealed afterward by fear, revenge and ;av-
aricious influence"
The lawyer paused, laid down the paper
and sat down. A deatlly Stiffness remained
! for several moments over all. Surprise,
| wonder, horror held every one speechiess,
fora time But the silence was broken by
| Mrs. Clayton, q strange wild Cry came from
her lips; she rose, tottered q moment and
| then fell forward on her face. All rushed
! to her assistance. Irna lifted her mothers
head, her own face white as the dead, her
! lips drawn, but outwardly she was culm.
Restoratives were applied, but it was long
before Mrs. Clayton reguined conscious
ness. and then she was not herself, but
raved wildly of false statements, of plots k,
rob her children of their inheritance, OF
Phillip Caledon, Agnes Armund and others,
| fusion. Mrs. Iceberg insisted on her being
put to bed and a physician sent Cor, which
| was at last done, though lr1na at first de-
clared her mother must leave with her, as
it Was very Important they should be at r
that night; but seeing how violent her
mother was becoming she finally consented,
| but prepared herself for leaving after SO
| letting Mrs. Liebergs attentions to her
| mother.
| She would not allow the carriage to be
brought, but started On foot for the railway
| station, though it was showing aid the
| wind blew fercely. Mr.. Iceberg, afraid to
trust her alone, accompanied her in site Of
her protestations, and saw her safely on
board the train and then returned TO con-
gratulate me, to wonder and talk and Won
| der again over the strange events and
startling revelations of the last few days.
CHAPTER XII.
will not weary the reader with minute
details Of my establishment at Caledon
| Heights, suffice it that in less than three
months after Miss Armund's death I found
myself installed as mistress there, though
could hardly make myself believe it, and
| it was long before could make myself at
home in the grand old house whose rooms
had once stolen through like a thief. / then
turned my attention to the Barretts and
Claytons. They had at first attempted to
dispute my claim, but unable to do SO ;hey
had vacated the Heights, refusing: how
| ever, to speak or recognize me in any way
all except Bertie Clayton, who came to visit
me and seemed really pleased at my rein
station. He begged ME earnestly, however,
to go and see if anything could be done for
Irving Barrett: he was ID wild, reckless fel-
| low, Bert declared, yet he was his brother
and it drove him wild to think Of his dis
grace promised to do what could, but
feared it would be little. VII confess that
at first my hatred of Irving Barrett and my
remembrance Of his unlzind treatment of
|. me for awhile hardened my heart and made
me half decide not to keep my promise to
Bert, especially when I Remembered tho
blow he had given mo and the scar / still
carried Of it on my temple. But rc'acn-
bered the words: "Except ye forgive ye
can not be forgiven and I relented. Ir1na,
too, excited my sympathy. Bert declared
she was wearing herself to a shadow griev-
| ing oven, her brothers. misfortune and re-
fusing to go out and see any one felt for
the girl after al proud and naughty as she
was This was 81 terrible blow to her. en-
gagged the services of the best criminal law
yer in the State TO defend Irving, and with
the influence of Mr.. Dudley, Mr.. Iceberg
and other rich and influential men whose
/ favor secured, and by {. most liberal sup
ply of money managed to secure I1ving's
acquittal.
Whether he really felt the extravagant
expressions of gratitude he expressed 1 can
not tell. But that he was exceedingly glad
to escape from the predicaments in to which
he had gotten himself am certain.
then proceeded to cffer the Barretts the
amount Of the legacy provided for them in
my fathers will. Irving took his share
eagerly, and soon after left for the West.
But Irma utterly refused TO touch cent Of