Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-09-25

a coronet of blue-black hair, bent low
as she listened to the answer Alvin
made to her laugh-talk.
A low, agonized cry broke from
Gloria.
All! kind heaven! This beautiful
girl, well born, and his equal in every
way, was his promised wife, and She
she, whom nobody knew who she
really was, or from whence she really
came, loved him with all the passion
of her soul.
My darling! my darling! she cried.
in her passion and pain, how can I
live without you! My love. my love!n
This was what he had to tell her.
Oh, God; could she only die before
the light of his laughing eyes fell on
her again.
All, God, how she lived through the
weeks that followed she could never
tell.
God had heard her passionate cry,
for the light of Alvin Emerson's laugh
ING eyes had not fallen on her during
the two dreary weeks that followed
her hearts awakening.
Business had called him away, she
heard and that was all, and then in
her woman's weakness her heart re-
peated its bitter cry.
All, to see him once again-once
again to hear his voice, even though it
told her the story of his love for an.
other, and the best of her life died
while she listened.
Her prayer was heard.
Standing on the low level stretch of
sand, her soul had cried out for him,
and he had answered it.
She heard his step upon the sand,
but she never turned till he stood be-
side her and called her name:
"Glorian
Then he turned, and low cry broke
from his lips.
My God! Gloria, have you been
i'll? Child, what has happened to youp"
With all her shy sweetness and re-
serve, the girl was proud-intenselv
proud in her own way, and she would
die before Alvin Emerson, the prom
ised husband of another, would read
the bitterness of her soul.
Il have not been very WELL" she
said, nor very i'll, either. The
weather, l suppose. 1t is very change
able"
He made no answer, only looked at
her. tender light coming into his
eyes.
Il said l had something to tell vou
Gloria" he said. .'Well, little girl,
you will have to wait another little
while to hear the news. | have to be
very certain myself, before | make it
public. Gloria, say you wish me
success"
Il wish you success" she said; why
should [ not?"
He looked at her in some surprise.
You are not like your usual self, :"
he said.
perhaps not" she answered coldly,
and then she turned her eyes seaward
again.
Two days later Gloria was looking
for something in an old oaken desk
that was seldom used, when, turning
away, her skirt caught in one of the
knobs, and before she could stop it the
old desk came down with a crash; and
as it did so a secret drawer in one side
sprang open, and a package of papers
fell at the girls feet, and her own
name in plain writing met her dilated
eyes.
''Io be given to the girl known as
Gloria Delmaine."
The words seemed to scar themselves
on her brain; her heart beat with
great, strangling throbs, and her face
grew palIid as death; and then she
opened the letter. and low cry came
from her lips.
'Delmaine had been her mothers
name, but not hers Thank God.
thank God!
Every proof lay in her hand that she
was Gloria Delmaine Emerson, and
heiress of Emerson Hall, for the old
man "who had been kind to her. had
righted her even from the grave.
You will forgive the bitter wrong [ did
you. Gloria" he wrote, when l am gone |
married your mother when abroad. | loved
her paSsi 'nateiy and She-she cared nothing
for me. Her parents forced her into marriage
making her believe the lover to whom her
heart was given was false to her. When
learned the truth | went mad and swore |
would never look upon her face again.
The position her parents duped me to win
for her would never be hers. She died, how
ever, when was faraway, leaving yOua little
babe
Even dead. could not forgive her the fact
that she did not love me, and l swOre never to
acknowledge my marriage or my child.
i kept my oath-kept it till l felt my days
were numbered. and death drawing near
Lave this with Mama to be given to you after
my death, All the proofs as well as the will
that makes you my heiress, are in the other
package Your father,
'CHARLES EMERSON"
She knew now who and what she
was.
For a moment she stood motionleSs,
the papers in her hand.
AT first she had been flushed and
triumphant, but the lovely face had
suddenly paIed to the hue of death.
The evenings were growing chilly,
and Il low, red fire burned in the CRATE.
She Went over to it, the papers still
IN her hand, and laid them on it.
"Oh, love. my Gain will never be
your loss" she murmured, as the
flames leaped up and licked the parch-
ment.
And then-well then, was it fate. or
chance, or Providence? but one thing
certain. that Alvin Emerson was in
the room. and holding the parchment
that left him penniless in his hand,
slightly scorched. but intact.
Gloria, why did you try to burn
these?" Then more gravely: Il
think | understand. for | know what
these are. Mana has confessed to the
hiding of them; her motive, lest the
change in your position should estrange
you from her. Gloria, l promised to
tell you something. Sweet, it is this:
| suspected almost from the first who
you were, for | found a miniature ]
almost deemed was you among Charles
Emerson's papers. and written below
it the words, my darling in his hand.