Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1889-11-22
liked.

has learned to see what an escape she
has had-we may ali be happy together.
We shall none of US be rich, but what
does that signify?"
Her mind thus occupied, it scarcely
took her by surprise. though it set her
heart beating fast. when Martha came
up again, and, with mysterious face,
whispered
There's some one wants to see you
in the dining-rOom. Miss Bertha dear.
DO you GO down; III stay with Miss
Lena"
Bertha Mastered downstairs, but. in
order to reach the dining-room, the
breakfast-parlor had to be crossed-and
here she stopped short. st. Lawrence
had heard her light step. perhaps even
her sigh, and almost before she was
aware of it she found herself within
his arms.
my darling!" he said. fondly, ''is it
not hard that [ cannot bid you rejoice
with me, because | know what you
must feel on your poor sisters &C
COUNT"
you know what has happened them"
lnterrOgated Bertha, in surprise, gently
disen9aglng herself.
Know" repeated st. Lawrence,
puzzled in his turn.
You know, l mean, that the man
who called himself Mr.. FancouIt has
proved an impOstOr or worse? Sir
Stephen Langley has been here to tell
mamma" Bertha said.
is that all, Bertha? Did Sir Steph-
Ell say no more?" st. Lawrence asked,
smiling down upon her troubled face.
"Morer" Bertha said, again taking
alarm. SIS there more to hear?"
Look up, deareSt-lOOk at mel" St.
Lawrence cried, drawing her toward
him again. do / look as if the more
were anything very terrifying or dread
fulr"
Bertha raised her eyes to her lovers
face. The color mantled on her cheeks.
''Is it something you have heard
about yourself?" she said, eagerly
1.-The mystery you told me of is at an
end?"
Eyes. dear, at an end for ever" St.
Lawrence replied. Did Sir Stephen
not tell Mrs. Dalton that Lord Alph-
ington had discovered the heir whose
place that impOst0r had usurped?"
II don't know. Mamma did not say"
Bertha answered Il think she could
not quite have understood. F."
And yet it is not difficult to under
stand" said st. Lawrence. "Eustace
Sedley is my cousin. lie took advant-
age OF having the same Christian name,
OF being Of the same age, and OF know
ing all my antecedentS to uSurp my
place. He employed that old friend of
yours in the omnibus to rob me of the
proofs ] was bringing over TO England
III order to claim my rights. And now
it is EuStace Eancourt who claims the
promise made to Eustace St Lawrence
he comes to renew the pledge given
Inv the moor lanlSPdDp-Dalntpr u
BeTtha'S eyes. fixed upon the face of
her betrothed. dilatcd as he spoke; she
turned pale. lie led her TO a chair, and,
kneeling before her, clasped her hands
i'll his.
Bertha, dearest" he said, what is
it? What do you fear?" But for all
answer she leaned her head on his
shoulder, and burst into temS.
st. Lawrence sootHcd and cheered
her with many loving words, telling her
how Lord AlphingtOn was prepared to
welcome her. And then he drew pic
ture of the comfort they would be to
his old age, they two together, till Ber-
tina looked up and smiled through her
tears. As one remembrance after an
other came over her, her cheeks became
suifused with bushes, and she again
hid her face on her lovers shoulder.
And | told You of that prophecy
about the ring!' she said. But | did
not know"
mo, you didn't know, but did. " re-
Joined Eustace, smiling. II didn't
think then it would come true, though,
for believed it was Douglass life you
wou'd bless, not mine
They were too much absorbed in each
other to hear footsteps, and before
Bertha had time to reply the door
opened and Mrs. Dalton entered. See
ing st. Lawrence sitting by Bertha s
side, with her hands in his, she uttered
an exclamation of surprise and cOnSter-
nation. She did not know that any one
was there. and had come into the room
to see if any preparations for the morn
ing had been made that ought to be
cleared away.
st. Lawrence rose from his seat and
went toward her as she stood in the
doorway, the picture of stupeled aston
iShmPnt.
MAY | hope that the interdict is
taken off, Mrs. DatOn?" he asked
"Will you shake hands with me now,
and give me favorable hearing to the
petition have to makc?"
"Oh, Mr.. st. I,awrcnce-Mr. Fan
court. mean am So E!ait" respond
ed the poor lady, recovering her speech.
81 always liked you, and | never liked
MIR. FancOurt-Nlr. Sedley, that is,
mean. 1t will be great relief to Lena,
am sure, poor dear. | suppose you
We're telling Bertha?"
Yes, | found she was not aware that
it was my place Sedlev had uSurped,' -
Eustace replied. "Do | understand you
that Miss Dalton feels the breaking off
of this marriage a relief? l am most
happy to hear that she views it in that
light
Il dare say you are, Mr.. FanCourt,"
said Mrs. Dalton, taking the chair from
which Bertha had risen. Il am afraid
you will have to excuse Lena this even
ing; she has naturally been good deal
upset, and think she is lying down. "
Eustace begged Miss Dalton might
not be disturbed on his account he was
a good deal puzzled as to why he should
be supposed to wish to see her. Bertha
took the opportunity of making her es-
cape, leaving her mother and lover to-
gether.
Mrs. Dalton was n little taken aback
by the GOODNESS of st. Lawrence's tone;
she had expected that he would be in
ecstacies on finding Lena free. She be-
gan to smooth down her dress, as was
har habit when she did not very well
know what to say.
Il should not have left the house this
evening without asking to see you, st.
Lawrence began, as he stood before
her. As said, have a petition to
make"
"Now it is coming" thought Mrs.
Dalton, and she folded her hands, and
cleared her thrC Z, and prepared to lis
ten with becoming dignity.
Il have long loved your daughter,
Mrs. Dalton he went on, forgetting at
the moment that there was any one else
in the world but Bertha, land | am
proud to say that have received the
assurance of her love in return. There
awaits only yuur word to make me the
happiest of men. Lord AlphingtOn is
aware of my intention in coming here
this evening; it is with his full appro-
baton speak"
Il am sure what you say makes me
very happy, Mr.. St. Lawrence-Mr.
FancOurt, | mean" Mrs. Dalton re-
turned. But you surprise me by say
ing my daughter gave you any assur-
auce, and -and--wouldn't it have been
better to wait few DAYS? She is
scarcely prepared perhaps-so suddenly,
you know"
Mrs. Dalton stammered and colored.
Lena had not received the announce
ment of MIR. st. Lawreace's accession
IA the name and style of Fancourt at
all as she had NpeCted-iudeed. instead
of its restoring her to cheerfulneSS. she
had looked the image of grief and de-
spair, and. if Mr.. st. Lawrence should
press for an answer that evening she