Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-06-21

disclosures filed ms with remorse and
shame. It was fearful to think of one
of my own flesh and blood dying in the
slums OF New York in dIrest poverty, to
be afterwards buried IN q pauper g
grave. II Annie had only written to me
everything would have been forgiven.
But she was too proud to let me and her
mother know to what straits she had
been reduced. Ana she died-sbe dIed!''
The old man g voice sank to q sobbing
whisper, and Mark could see the tears
ooursing down his checks. But Eliot
spoke not, although the narrative moved
him almost as much as it had stirred the
narrator; and again, for some moments
there was silence between the two.
And out of the west the light of day
was dying, and darkness was once more
yelling the great ruin the flood had
wrought
"When discovered that my daughter
had left son behind her." Mr.. Lin
wood continued presently, al resolved
to find him If it were possible, at any
cost Miss MILFORD could tell me nothing
ofyou further, than that you disap-
peared suddenly from the institution,
and never returned. What had become
of you. where you had gone, she knew
alive and in America somewhere. And
so for several mouths l advertised in
many of the leading newspapers, but, as
you are aware, nothing came of It. L
knew now that you were in England
then, but. until the other day, when
met you at Nineveh, l ha been forced
to conclude that you were dead. -
"And you are satisfied now, Mr.. Lin
wood - Mark said, "that am the man
you sought-the child of your daugh-
ter?''
Gully satisfied! Is there any room
for doubt now?' the old man re-
sponded.
"There would appear TO be little, -
Eliot answered. "Still it may be pos
sible that my mother and your daughter
were not the same person. The coincI-
dence of the names and the other mat
tiers may be purely accidental. and"
"No! MOI" Mr.. Linwood broke in.
"The thing is apostolic. l was inclined
to think as you do at first, but repeated
conversations with Hannah MILFORD set
every doubt at rest. One thing Miss
MILFORD told me made assurance douhly,
treUly certain. She told me one day
that she recollected that the Harriet
Lincoln she had known possessed a large
peculiarly shaped mole on her right fore
arm-it was in shape exactly like a heart
and my daughter had a birth mark
similar in every respect. That evidence
carried conviction to my mind. F"
"Mr. Linwood,' Mark cried ear
nestly, "may l ask if this mark you
speak of runs in your tamIly?"
~ believe it does. My father had the
mole on his arm, l have it, and, as
have told you, your mother had it also,
only in her case it was larger and more
clearly marked. Why do you ask?" the
old man said, with his gaze fixed on the
other.
because I bear the same mark
See!"
Eliot pushed up his coat and shirt
sleeve, and held it before the man at his
side A young moon was now sailing
low in the star gemmed skies, and by
the faint light it cast, Linwood was able
to see the dark, heart-shaped spot on
Mark Eliot right forearm.
'That only strengt hens my convic-
tions. Even you must be satisfied now
of our relationship.
"Yes!' was the only reply Mark had
to make.
Then there was silence again. Eliot
was thinking of the strange disclosure
that had been made to him that night.
His mothers parentage was established
beyond all question. But his father?
Who was he? Whence came he prior to
his death in New York? Suddenly he
asked
"Where is Hannah Wilford?"
cat my house in New Orleans
'Did she tell you nothing of your
daughters husband-my father?''
"Nothing that would enable me TO
discover his family and antecedents.
She said that he came from Lancashire,
but which pa t of it she did not know.
She, however, told me one thing which
may serve as clue in the unravelling of |
the mystery which enshrouds your IA
theirs IDENTIFY
"What did she tell your" Mark de- |
manded with some eagerness.
''That the man named Mark Eliot, |
who married Harriet Lincoln, had a |
friend in New York. This man and |
Eliot seemed to be old acquain tances, |
they we're together often, and Hannah !
MILFORD believes that, this friend was
also Lancashire man.
''DId she not tell you the mans |
''No. She had heard it once or twice,
but had forgotten 1t long ago, and she |
cannot recall it now. -
elf we could only discover that
nan!' Mark murmured dreamily.
"That may be possible YETI MIR.
Linwood replied. cit is probable that
be is still living, and we might uuearth
him by advertising and Offering sub
stantial rev ard for the Information we
desire TO obtain and which the unknown
man alone possesses.
elf alive the man might be found in
the way you suggest, - Mark replied.
But tn work of finding him would
prove a matter of considerable difficulty
and much expense.
1.-THE expense is nothing, I don't
mind spending a few thousand dollars to
clear all this MYSTERY up. What desire
S that you should undertake the work.
"lf you wish it am willing, Mr.. Lin
wood. Mark answered.
al do wish it-wish it above all things.
Now that l have succeeded in finding
you believe most fervently that the
discovery of everything respecting your
'ather is only question of time. -
"I hope SO, - was Eliot's response.
'After a while shall want you to go
% England-to Lancashire, to prosecute
'our inquiries and quest there. In the
Meantime Won must consider nv hnma