Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-11-15
are better at last! My child, what
l. a Il. hno hnanff I

are better at last! My child. what 8
week of torture this has been!"
Dimly and indistinctly saw mother
wiping the tears of relief and gratitude
from her kind eyes, vaguely felt her
kiss upon my cheek. l did not attempt
| to answer her or return it: felt weak,
helpless, stupid, and | simply lay
there trying 10 remember trying to
understand.
1t was long, and AT first it seemed
hopeless, task; but mind and mem
DRY gradually awoke with such n keen
pang OF agony "a almost killed me. !
had been very !. and mother was
grateful that my life was spared. Oh,
cruel boon! Why-Oh, why could
not die, since Dick was false. and life
so much more terrible than death.
l turned and hid my lace in the
pillow with wild, desDairng, heart
broken cry that bror2h. my mother
quickly to my side.
''Irene, are you in pain? Or is it
look up and answer me, my child-or
is it that you are thinking Of"
''Do no speak OF him or her!" !
cried. Oh, mother, let me forget
help me 10 forget-if you CAM
Not |, my dear" mother answered.
| with what then seemed TO me madden
ing cheerfulness. You are better now,
| dear-able 10 understand things as
they really are; and though they are
bad enough. fancy you imagine them
| TO be even worse.
Even worsc?n
sYou must listen, child" mother
went on, in her calm matter-of-fact
way 1T will be easier 10 hear the
story from me than from your poor
uncle, or even from Dick.
Mother. why win you SPEAK Of
him to me ? | an, in my senses now;
know all--his shameful sin-hls 80
his fight with Uncle Archie's wife y
Poor child mother said gently,
mo wonder that such fancies madden
ed and almost killed you But they
are wrong, dear--wrong from first TO
last Dick Martineau is the honest
upright man we have always thought
him to be, and he is your true lover
still"
Oh, blessed, blessed words, falling
like balm upon my strained cars and
| tortured heart
Mother looked little anXiously az
my fast-falling tears; but she was 10
wise not TO know that they had heal
! ing in them, and she continued quiet
| ly-
.Dick has been with me daily and
hourly through this weary week, my
right hand support--more than son
to the poor lonely old man at the
Hall. do not know how we
should have managed without him,
and am sure / can never let him 60
again"
She paused. and | seized her hand.
WAS it all dream-all delirium,
mother Is nothing changed-no one
gone not Estelle ?"
Mother stopped me there, hesitated.
glanced anxiously at my eager face,
and said. with sigh
Il dare say the doctor will scold me
but it will do you less harm TO hear
the truth at once than TO lie there
racking your brains in torture OF
suspense
Eyes, yes-tell me all Estelle is
gone. you say ?"
Yes; she has gone for ever. She
never had any right here, Irene; she
was simyly an impudent impostor-
not Violet Egerton's daughter, and
not, thank Heaven, your uncle's wife ~
"And-Dick. | faltered, trying to
find the clue that should guide my
startled senses through this labyrinth
of surprises what had Dick to do
with her aaG this ?"
"He recognized and unmasked her,
and set your uncle free, replied
mother, with a triumphant smile.
land now, my dearest child, that is
enough to ease your mind of its worst
burden enough for you TO hear to-
day. The rest Of the story Dick must
tell you for himself
TO BE CONTINUED.