The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1889-10-25
THE
LITTLE " AIF.
A Story Of Absorbing Interest.
By BERNARD HERBERT.
IcHApTER xx.-Cosr1suEp.I

LCHAPTER XX.-CoNTINuEp.I
"How could comfort her? and
left her weeping. In the street looked
back and saw her standing at the win.
dow OF her apartment, waving mo n
fearful farewell. 1 shall probably
never again sec that sweet, heavenly
face in this world, but have her pic
= iis1sa0lf es.
" Yes, her photographs in the. charac.
ter OF Fides, the ia 'thful mother"
"Oh, let me see it'll Oh, NV good
friend, God bless youfor this comfort /"
She flung her arms about his neck
and kissed him as though he had been
her father.
Come into the house and you shall
see IL, he said.
After they had gone in little Stella
stopped to play in the soft radiance of
the sunset with her white kitten upon
the door step, and my lady Coras car
rage returning, passed at the moms mt.
her wandering eyes took in tho pretty
picture, and strange light leaped into
their dark depths, while an unaccus-
toned fiutter possessed her bosom.
upon the spur of the moment she called
halt and fastened to the child, VIII, }.
attracted by the rattle of silver chains
and the roll of the wheels, had turned
TO look at the passing oquipage.
Fascinated by the brilliant display,
little Stella trotted bravely out of the
garden gate and paused upon tiptoe
on the grassy bank. gazing up in won
der at the beautif II face bent above
her.
What pretty little girl you are!p
said The enchantress, in o swift, low
tone.
The child looked puzzled for an in
stant; then replied in French:
'Je ne con1prer1ds pas, mGddD,en
My lady Cora turned pallid to the
very lips.
You are Frenchp she exclaimed, in
the same language. "Where do YOU
come from?"
Paris, madame" answered the
child.
What is your name?'"
STELLA"
"Stella what?"
"Stelia Leonard"
Leonard ?"
1t was her own name before her mar.
riage, and, as the guilty woman echoed
IT, she sank back upon the cushions of
her carriage stupefied. Simultane-
ously voice within the houss called
upon the child to come, and in a
breath'ess way she gave orders to the
coachman to drive on at full speed.
The unexpected interview with LAWYER
Edgar, which has been narrated in the
preceding chapter, for the time being
drove all thought of the mysterious
child from Cora Boyden's mind; but
when she was alone in the seclusion of
her own chamb n with her door securely
locked, the mask fell from her features,
and, thrusting the heavy masses of
black hair from her pallid brow, she
cried;
: my Godl what am / to do? That
child is my own child! But how came
she here, to haunt, balk and ruin mep
IT IL some fiendish invention of INV
enemies, but I will circumvcnt them.
or die In the attempt"
She swept to the window, threw il
open, and looked out upon the peace
ful evening with desperate, unseeing
eyes.
MY days, oven my hours, rs heires3
OF this place are numbered" she NUT
tered; II know it, feel it in every bone.
The odds are against me, and my time
OF action is almost up. Sooner or later
they will discover tho will which will
turn me out penniless upon the world
again. OF course, can return to the
old life, but I sliudder to think of il.
Having tasted OF the life of great
lady, mean to continue to enjoy il, or
lose my soul. The time for action has
come; l can delay no longer.
with this half-crazed artist off nv
hands, am free to secure some alliance
with man of wealth and standing.
which will settle my futnrc for me,
Whatever happens. II ]. play my cards
+ properly i can represent myself as tho
nIoso and heiress of the rich Orrin
Clifford. No one need know that 1 am
me 4dow OF q man who committed |
scafold. s