The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1890-02-22
CHAPTER *.
"Afother."

FMOlUCr.
Irene, darlingl Thank heaven. you
are better at last My child. what a
week of torture this has beenr'
Dlmly and indistinctly saw mother
wiping the tears OF relief and gratitude
from her kind eyes. vaguely | felt her
kiss upon my cheek. did not attempt
to answer her or return IL; felt weak,
helpless, stupid, and | simply lay
there trying TO emember--trying TO
understand.
Ii was "a long, and at first IL seemed
a hopeless, task; but mind and mem
DRY gradually awoke with such keen
pang OF agony as almost killed me. |
had been very i'll. and mo her was
grateful that my life was spared. Oh,
cruel boonl Why--oh, why could |
not die, since Dick was false. and life
so much more terrible than death!
turned and hid my face In the
pillow with wild, despairlng, heart
broken cry that brought my mother
quickly To my side.
'lrene, are you in pain? Or is it.
look up and answer me. my child or
is IL that you are thinking Of"
"Do no speak OF him or her!" !
cried. Oh, mother, let mo forget
help me 10 forget--if you CAM
"Not |, my dearp mother answered,
with what then seemed to me madden
ing cheerfulness. You are better now,
dear-able TO understand things as
they really are; and though they are
bad enough. fancy you imagine them
TO be even worse"
Even worsep"
"You 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 will you speak OF
him TO me am in my senses now; |
know all-his shameful sin-his Il
his fight with Uncle Archie's wife ~
Poor child" mother said gently.
mo wonder that such fancies madden
cd 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.m
Oh, blessed, blessed words, falling
like balm upon my strained ears and
tortured heart!
Mother looked n little anxiously at
my fast-falling tears; but she was to
wise not 10 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 n 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 go
again.
She paused, and l seized her hand
"Was IL all a 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
II dare say the doctor will scold me
but IL will do you less harm TO hear
the truth at once than TO lie there
raclSing your brains in torture OF
suspense"
"Yes, yes-tell me all ! Estolle is
gone. you say P'
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 uncles wife ="
"And-Diclk. faltered. trying TO
find the clue that should guide my
startled senses through this labyrinth
OF surprises --''what had Dick TO do
with her and this ?"
"He recognized and unmasled her,
and set your uncle Free replied
mother, with triumphant smile.
"And now, my dearest child. that Is
enough TO ease your mind OF it's worst
burden enough for you 10 hear to-
day. The rest OF the story Dick must
tell you for himself"
To his CONTINUED.