The Wahpeton times., 1891-04-30
tEHAPTER.KXI.
rfHB COMMON LOT.

@.N0'love can be like yours, Mamma
Nelly, " said Clara, in reply to the OBJ
serwatiOlrof her mother, with which
olr lastconcluded, as she threw her
self into Mrs. Customs arms, "as YOU
know wery,well. What can i do to
prove stnyou how .msch l respect your
Wishes?"
~'Ouly'beon your,H,ard against any
newadvances from.Mrs. Pierre. l do
mot wisfN you to be-seen in public with
her untitwe have ascertained whether
we arctic cherish,h her as a friend for
6fe, .or,to give her up entirely"
But l love her dearly; Mamma
Nelly, She is so charmiug-so indul-
gent to me-"
""She understands fattering you,
Clara"
las to that; everybody fatters me
but Wou and Charlie Ashton. Why
shall L think Mrs. Pierre more insin-
,osre than the restof the world?"
'::She may not be.so, Clara, but that
as'nDt now the question. I have your
promise. my darling, and insist that
you shall Withdraw as much as posi-
bleifrom the close intimacy she is en-
edeavoring to establish between you.
lasi ',is change the subject, Clara. Tell
une THE meaning ofthe signifcantg glance
which Ipassed between you and Ash
ton as you gaveEhim your hand at
parting"
''0h, nothing! That is, not much. He
Radlbean talking nonsense, and | be-
lieve 1, I,annoyed him little. 1t was
only a flash of mu tEal forgiveness, for
he said things l donot like either"
tfH,am! a love quarrel, 1 suppose"
Not quite a love quarrel, Mamma
Nelly: it has not come to that yet"
:She fitted away; end Mrs. Euston
remained alone to think over the eve
ningat Linden House, and recall tile
expression of deep suffering that swept
over the face of Ernest, when in reply
to a. ertremulous inquiry from him, She
Informed him that her efforts to dis
cover Madeline Gordon had entirely
failed.
Like;Mrsl Linden, ss.e was puzzled
to discover why, after so many years
OF indifference, he was suddenly so
deeply anterested in this woman and
her .dhild. What was the origin of
this interest, and when did it COM
mence?zweret queries she vainly asked
herself. .fThat worn face, with it's
eager ,aaestioningglance, itsexpression
of Keen anguish when assured that no
clue was wet found, had opened to
Mrs. Customs. mind host of conjec-
tures as to what this unhappy mother
had been to Linden, and cold shiver
crapt thnsugh her frame as the posi-
bility of wrong that could ,never be
atoned sers of treachery that was un-
pandonabley came to her heart.
For years. that early love had been
buried dsep-deep amid the wreck of
past hopes. 1t was dead, crushed out
of life by Hlmlen's falsehood; yet it
was haxd to. believe that she lrad not
been his first; love. Had another.claim-
ed that ShrineFbefore. her? and could
she wii0 had once been endowed with
the royaigift of his affection, be really
a wandeser amid the wilderness of q
great city, without friends or money?
Love was dead; jealousy could mot |
survive it, and she would seek aand
find this outcast, .and minister to her
wants; it was secred dlty. which |
must be diligentlNprosecuted until the
search proved. successful.
Thus meditating, Mrs. Eust on slowly
walked toward ihar own room. As
she passed GAra's doer, sheqpened it,
and said
"Do come in, and see what q beau
tiul match for my point lace under
sleeves has beennaadehexe the city"
She held up the collarlMade by Mar
yaret Seyton.
at is very beautiful indeed; but
what weary work it must h1ve BEEN to
the maker! To whom was che order
,iven, Gara?"
"To Madame Leoatine. who, With
my permission, kept the set in her
store to exhibit to her customers. 1t 4
vas only sent home this evening"
"Who does Leontine smploysh
\ II have forgotten her name, though
saw the young lace-maksr the day ] Il
,rdsred the collar. i intended to i
peak to her myself, for hsr tace inter. Il
stel but lolnA on 0laimed my Il