The diamond drill., 1890-05-10


CHAPTER TX. AND LAST.
Lady Elizabeth, with look OF
mingled astonishment and anger, rose,
as she had done once before, at the
sight OF Aaron Blair. and her hard
eyes widened with IA flash OF half
reluctant, half-resentful wonder as
she once more took i'm the fair pale
beauty OF the girl who timidly followed
him. Millicent was in the room too,
and Owen. and. at an entreating look
and whisper from him. she came for
ward. took Lily's hand kindly, and
led her to n chair. Nothing was said
until Lady Elizabeth haughtily broke
the silence, asking, in her most frigid
tones. the meaning OF this intrusion.
''My lady, replied Aaron Blair
quietly, lit is an intrusion, ! am well
aware; but, as IL is the last time that
you-that anybody here in this room
will be troubled by my presence,
I'll ask you TO bea with me. / hope,
that when have finished, you won't
be sorry that came herc. / know
Mr.. Ormiston will not"
He stopped, with moody glance at
Owen as he mentioned him, seeing
that he bent over Lily, and that he
was whispering some words OF conf
dcnce or encouragement TO her as he
held her hand. With sigh, Aaron
withdrew his eyes, and looked again
at Lady Elizabeth's proud face.
"My lady" he said, when | came
down TO you at Upper Datching, you
told me that you knew me, ask. did
you, be'o the day when your
adopted son mentioned IL to you, ever
hear my name beforeP'
Never: nor am ! aware Lady
Elizabeth began, with a wrathful
glance, when he checked her.
"My lady. be patient. You will
understand me in moment You had
never before heard my name. you sayP
Before that, had you ever seen me?"
"No.n
"My lady-yes. When you we're
almost young woman--when was
quite young man. Take back your
memory. my lady. for one-and-twenty
years TO the time when your husband
was living--to the time when your
son hal nearly broken your heart to
the time when you almost hated MIN
for The sake OF the poor girl whom he
had married for her money and whose
heart he was breaking as fast as blows
and curses could do IT, Do you re-
member me nowP'
"No.r Lady Elizabeth turned pale,
and almost trembled. as she sank
down into her chair, her thin fingers
grasping its arms. What do you
mean. manp When did l ever see
youp"
"At Edinburg. my lady. came to
your house one night with message
from your sons wife 20 her husband.
II he should be with you. as she sup
posed he was. He was not with you
afterwards heard that he was at
the theaior with u woman, that you,
my lady. would not have touched had
she been dying-so gave his wife's
message TO you, although you tried to
refuse 10 hear IL. IL was that she was
alone. penniless, lying lriendless in a
cold house. waiting for his child 20 be
born. and it imp ored him. although
he had last left her with an oath and
n blow. to come back to her. II only
for the sake OF the unborn child that
would be his as well Us hers. You
remcmbcrP"
..Yes--yes. Lady Elizabeth gasped.
passing her handkerchief over her
white facc--''I remember" Then she
again rose. trembling. ''Who-who
are you. manP"
IL am the man that. six months
afterwards, your sons wife ran away
WITH" Aaron Blair returned quietly.
.'Tha, Is whom am. my lady"
Lady Elizabeth uttered stiled ex-
clamaiion. sinking down In her chair
again. Aaron Blair did not turn his
head at the cry which broke from
Lily's lips. or see the sudden look OF
awakening compassion which flashed
simultaneously over the faces OF Owen
Ormiston and Millicent Heath. He
looked at Lady Elizabeth still, then