Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1890-03-14

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until the money for which your son
married her was let her by the old
uncle who died in Australia, had al
ways hoped that she would be my
wife one day. had worked for that
and hoped for that as the only kind OF
heaven l could think OF or care for.
But, as bad luck would have 1t, my
lady, your son saw her--and she fell
in love with him, POOR girl! He fell
in love with her mOnoy--nothing else,
although she was beautiful. Her par
ents were glad enough that a gentle
man--save the mark should marry
their daughter and she married
him."
There was silence in the room
once more; but no one broke it, Lily's
lace was hidden in her hands, and
Ovens arms were about her. Lady
Elizabeth sat still with the same fixed
blank face. Milly, half in sympathy
and half in excitement, was crying
softly. Aaron Blair resumed his
story in the same steady even way.
"Once married to her, my lady,
with her money to squander and spend
rs he would, you know what hap
pened-you knew twenty years ago,
and | don't need to look at your face
to see that you remember now. You
know how, from almost the very
day OF their marriage, your gentle
manson neglected, abused, insulted,
and struck the low-born girl VIII ose
money had made her his wife, and
who was so far beneath your notice,
my lady, that even on the night have
spoken OF, you might have pitied her
being a woman and mother your
self-you sent back by me a message
that you never had interfered, and
never would interfere, between your
son and his wife. Blame her." he
cried suddenly, stretching out his
right hand, clenched and quivering
with the powerful emotion which for a
moment threatened to master him
"cast your virtuous stones at her-call
me villain, because who would
have died for her tried to rescue her!
No; say that the villainy was your
sons, my lady, and part, at least, OF
the blame yours"
There was another brief silence; he
went on again in q quieter tone.
'She never loved me; she never
had loved me. 1t was not for love Of
me, but for hate and fear of him, that
she left her husbands roof and came
TO me with her child in her arms-yhe
child, my lady, that neither you nor
its father ever inquired for by so much
as word. She died in less than a
year, broken-hearted, and the last
words to me were to beg me to keep
the child, and never let her father or
you, my lady, have her. / swore an
oath l never would, and till now I've
kept it. / should have kept it still
adopted son. There is nothing
would not rather have happen than
that, and / tried to prevent it. 1t was
because found that hadn' prevented
it, and that she was pining for him,
that | came to you first / thought
that, If you wouldn't give in, and so !
must lose her. / have lost her.
leave her here to her proper name and
place, and to her husband, TO be
|
adopted son must marry his equal in
birth and station; and you won't deny,
my lady, that your own sons child
your own grand-daughter-is that"
Lady Elizabeth had risen, trembling
and paler still; but there was no sign
of doubt in her eyes. During the last
few minutes comprehension and con-
viction had been gaining rapid ground
in her mind, and her eyes, as they
rested for a moment upon Lily's
dropping head, and then were turned
again to the man before her, were
questioning only, not incredulous.
Aaron Blair answered her look as il
she had spoken. He put his hand into
the breast-pocket OF his coat and drew
out a packet.
IL have proof, my lady. In there
you will find certificates OF her birth
and baptism, and other things to
prove the truth of what 1 say. She
has been my daughter for twenty
years, and I'd hoped she alwaye would
be; but, all the same. she is your son s
child, your granddaughter, Liiias
/ OrmistOn. If wronged her mother,
L make atonement now."
He put The packet into Lady Eliza
beth's outstretched hand, and for a
moment stood with his own tightly
clenched and his eyes fixed upon the
ground, while his broad chest heaved
convulsivcly. Then he strobe across
the room to Lily, took her in his arms
and kissed her, put her from him
gently, and walked with heavy steady
tread out of the room.
With trembling fingers Lady Eliza
beth tore open the packet. Some
folded papers fell out, and something
else, crisp and cracking. She uttered
loud cry.
What is thsP' Her shaking
| fingers seized the stiff papers eagerly.
"Owen, look here! He has left her
the fortune he spoke Of that day! Here
are fifteen thousand pounds!'
Owen did not hear; and Lily, sob
bling in his arms, heard only the
heavy clang of II closing door below.