The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1893-04-29
LADY MAJENDlE
CHATTER N.-Continued.

EVAN returned he said there were guests
at DunmOnaigh.'
Lady Grisel sat thinking.
How old is your child?" she said,
suddenly.
give months old"
What is her nance"
"Margarct GriSclda."
A momentary fash of emotion passed
over Lady GriSeIS face as she heard her
own name.
This is vain talk after all" she said.
"Givc me the papers"
Assunta held out the roll, labeled, and
bound with its green ribbon. She felt
very faint, as though the room whirled
round and round.
''No hand but yours should open it,
she said Evan trusted you, Lady
Grisel, as be never could trust another"
Then she sat back watching the papers
that held her fate with claSped hands
aud blanchcd lips.
Angus rose suddenly and put his hand
on the packet; he bent down, and ex-
amined it closely.
That is without doubt my brothers
seal" he said. That Is quite right"
and he slipped the ring from his finger
and placed it over the impression of the
seal. Lady Grisel was about to open It,
when once more he stopped her.
Would it not be wiser and more just
to this lady," he said, that there should
lie independent witnesses to this trans
action"
Assunta bowed her head-she could
scarcely speak. Lady Grisel seemed
struck with what he said, and prayed
Master Malcolm to ring the bell. 1t
seemed as if the minutes were hours that
elapsed before the butler and house
keeper and Lady GriSeIs own woman
stood together in line, adding to the
strangeuess of the scene.
Lady Grises voice did not falter as
/ she explained shortly
ut is said that the laird was married,
/ aud that this lady is his wife. In proof
of this she has put into my hands these
papers to be examined before witnesses"
and she read the labels aloud
$50 great was the silence, that all
started when the seal cracked and gave
way; and slowly Lady Grisel unwound
/ the green ribbon. One by one the labels
unloOsed, fluttcred to the ground: with a
lond rustic the paper unrolled. One
glance of her eye was cnough-theV were
blank paper. Still Lady Grisel turned
them from side to side, and backward
I and forward. The Minister started up;
a faint smile had come over the faces OF
the impartial spectators, and Angus gave
a low, Earring laugh. ASsunta had sat
still with her head turned aside, and saw
/ not the strange looks they were casting
at her: but at the sound Of the laugh she
turned and rose to her feet.
Not yet did the cruel truth force itself
on her belief; she spoke not, but went
down on her knees on the ground, and
scanned every sheet Of the paper-up
and down, inside and out-all was white
and blank. Then she sprang to her feet
with cleaning eyes; pushing back the
clustering hair, and leaning against the
wall, she stood with painting breath, as
stands a noble Young stag at bay
At first no one spoke, but Master Nal
COIN stole gently to her side, and, would
she have allowed it, would have drawn
her nand through his arm
Angus broke silence at last "fOu
see mother" he said, I'VE were wise TO
invite witnesses to attest these most
binding proofs. You can go now" he
said to the butler and the women; but
Lady GriSel babe them stay, and she ad-
vanced a few steps toward Assunta,
holding ont her hand.
Let ali hear what | say" she said;
eyes, and she pointed to the papers, Il
could not have believed that son of mine
could have been So base villain"
1T is not So" cried Assunta. at is a
Ie' some one has deceived me. You, his
mother, who knew we'll what he was,
tell me it is not true, believe the evi.
dence of your own heart. Evan never
deceived me- there has been some treaCh-
cry here, @ God, how shall | prove my
husbands truth?"
Her words came forth with painting
breath and she pressed her hands or
her heart, TO control the violence OF its
beating.
As Lady Grlsel watched her, a burning
flush of shame came over her face
shame for her son: she held out her hanC
again and hot tears rose to her eyes.
What can do for you?" she said
would to Heaven had died ere | haC
seen this day
Assunta seized her hand tightly il
both her own, which were burning, anC
she looked into Lady Grisel'S face with
wild imploriug look.
"Iou are kind to me now she cried
"Why have you changed TO me? why Dc
YOU look at me like that?" and she tlunl
away tho hand she held, and raising be-
arms, She cried
Il swear 10y the God above us, by my
dead husband. by all we hold sacred il
Heaven or earth, that l am Evan Mac
monaCh'S wife,
one by one the servants had stOleI
away; Angus had again sunk into hi
chair, and was looking on very white
hiding his quivcring lips with one hand
The Minister laid his hand on Assunta'
Il i. 40, 4, No ofI
II am coming" she answered; AM
kneeling down, she gathered together al
the papers and wound the ribbons an
labels round them.
These are all the justice that is 70
me" she said, and turned to the door.
W,th swift steps Lady Grtsel foilowe
her caught her gown.
Forgive" she said family.
ASSunta'S whole face changed TO a
expression of deadly terror.
Forgive" she cried; you ask me t
forgive. Then it must be true. and h
has tcen false To me. false as hell itself
and am undone"" and she turned an
fled from the house-tled along the roa
as if terror and anguish had lent he
wings
"Ok. follow her! follow her, Maste
Malcolm cried Lady Grisel. "All tina
| can will do for her ana her child; yo
will be their friend?"
As the Minister went out, Lady Grist
bent her head and wept more bite
tears than she had done over the bury
ing of her iirSt-horn son.
When Master Malcolm reached home
he found kerenhappuCh waiting Tor hi
at the door
so hes deceived the puIr lass, Maste
MalCom"' she cried; Il couldna hae bt
lieyed that sicCan bonny lad could ha
so black and fause a heart She's da
WI the news, puir body"
The Minister shook his head sorrow
fully. Il take it, it was a pretenS
NJ L. rinr Z 80