Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-10-18

utterance Oh tnOse broken ulscOLnecJeu
words. All that had puzzled and be-
wildered us was clear now-uncle Ar
chic had been true TO his one ideal, to
the fatal love that had biighted his
early life, and seemed likely TO bring
but little comfort TO his later days.
Mothers face flushed with enthusiasm;
once let her feelings be touched, and
my dear old mother was as enihusi-
astic as girl. She looked up at UNI
Gle Archia, saying eagerly
dear Archie, understand. You
have renewed the romance of your
youth"
But he interrupted her with a pas
sionate eager protest and look of
keenest pain.
mot that-not thatw he said, with
bated breath. II cannot make it all
plain now. You must think me vain
deluded old fool"
"Archiep"
Eyes; what else can you--can the
world think mep Bat that does not
matter, Gertrude" He paused again,
in evidently troubled thought. "Some
day you shall all read Violet Egerton's
letter-the letter she wrote on her
death-bed, confding her child TO my
care, begging forgiveness for the
wrong she did me long ago-the
wrong she expiated, by married life
OF utter misery"
HAS Mrs. Egerton only just died
then?" 1 asked. fascinated and
stirred strangely by his curious Sc
quence to the romance that had always
a supreme interest for me.
mo; she died years ago." answered
uncle Archie YEARLY; and then we all
turned, for the words were arrested
on his lips by clear, silvery, mock
ing laugh, the same laugh in which !
had found discordant notes before,
and, the velvet portiere being swept
aside, Estelle Gerard stood for a
moment prettily framed in the door
way, then came towards us with her
graceful gliding step, and turned her
great shining eyes from one face TO
another, evidently enjoying the con-
fusion she read on all.
She was dressed for the evening in
an apricot-tlpted robe of some soft
fabric mixed with silk. She had
Jewels in her hair and at her white
throat. and, as l looked at her, l an
swered at once and with an eager
affirmative the question that had puz-
zled uncle Archie. Whatever else she
might be. she was most beautiful-tall
and slim and straight, with a warmly
tinted skin, great hazel eyes. and hair
that was neither red nor yellow, but a
subtle combination of the two. And
yet, perfect as was her beauty, there
was an expression on her face that re-
PEELED rather than attracted me--a
look of hardness and insolence in the
dark eyes that made me think nothing
could abash that scornful glance; and
/ was sure that | detected craft and
cruelty in the curved scarlet lips and
thin dila,ed nostrils. AS l looked at
the beautiful woman standing so easily
and gracefully among US, l felt a
try as might-and for uncle Archie's
sake, | would try zealously to ingra-
tiate myself with the new lady of the
Hall-Estelle Gerard and / would
never be real friends.
"Well,h she said, drawing her chair
up beside poor mother, who looked
the picture of conscious misery and
guilt at her approach, $50 Archie has
been entertaining you with the story
OF our courtship and marriage. Mrs.
Walter. Very stupid Of him blythe
way, for he does not shine as racon-
teUr, and had much better leave such
tasks TO me. What has he told youP"
Mother looked steadily at the bril-
liant hooking face, and said, with a
sudden outburst OF recruitment
"For one thing. your mothers
name"
| thought that. in the circumstances,
such an answer should have crushed
her; but Estelle was not OF my opinion.
She leaned back in her chair, arrapg-
ed broad gold bangle more to her
satisfaction on her white arm, and
answered, with airy unconcern-
.'Of course that is the prime fact
which poor Archie relies on to explain
his apostasy from the perpetual cell
bate creed-to which, he tells me, you
and your daughter and all Ludleigh
believed him vowed. By-the-way"-
turning suddenly TO me-'you have
accepted his excuse and forgiven him,
l hopeP"
/ looked around for uncle Archie;
but he was gone-he must have slip
ped away noislessly almost directly
his wife appeared. She noticed that
had turned to look for him, and laugh
ed again as unsteady and as unpleas-
antly rs before.
''I on must answer me-your uncle
has vanished, Irene. Accept that as
a warning, my dear. All that any one
has to say to him now must be said
through me-"
1t was difficult to listen TO that speech,
even though it was spoken in half
testing tone; but, for uncle Archie's
sake. hoping against hope to keep the
peace with my provoking new rela-
tive, kept my temper, and answered,
almost civilly and quite sincerely, that
my uncle and | understood each other
quite well, and l had nothing to for
give