Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1893-04-27
LADY MAJEND|E
CHAPTER V.-COntinued.


Glentyre?" she asked.
eyes; he bought Beaver and Raven,
the two retrievers.
Glow long did you stay Thereof
IT'LL the thlrtieth of that month; when
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 Eame?'
margaret Griselda."
A momentary flash of emotion passed
over Lady Grisels face as she heard her
own name. ...,....
''This is vain talk after all, she said.
~'Give me the papers"
Assunta held out the roll, labeled, and
bound with it's green ribbon. She felt
very faint, as though the room whirled
round and round.
''No hand but yours should open it, ="
she said. ''Ewan trusted you, Lady
Grise as he never could trust another. -
Then she sat back watching the papers
that held her fate, with clasped hands
and blanched lips.
Angus rose suddenly and put his hand
on the packet; he bent down, and eX-
amined it closely.
THAT is without doubt my brother
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, ''tbat there should
be 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 Grisers own woman
stood together in a line adding to the
strangeness of the scene.
Lady Grisels voice did not falter as
she explained shortly
lit is said that the laird was married
and 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
Embossed, fluttered to the ground; with a
lond rustic the paper unrolled One
Glance of her eye was enough-they were
blank paper. Still Lady Grisel turned
them from side to side, and backward
and forward. The Minister started up;
a faint smile had come over the faces of
the impartial spectators, and Angus gave
n low, Earring laugh. AsSunta had sat
still with her head turned aside, and saw
not the strange looks they were casting
y of gl,r
turned and rose to her feet.
Not vet did the cruel truth force itself
on ner belief; she spoke not, but went
down on her knees on the ground, and
scanned every sheet of the paper-up
aud 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 q noble young stag at bay.
At first no one spoke but Master NAL
colin stole gently to her side, and, would
she have allowed it, would have drawn
her hand through his arm
Angus broke silence at last. 'You
see, mother" he said, I'VE were wise to
5uvite 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 few steps toward Assunta,
holding out her hand.
LET ali hear what | say" she said;
sshad | not seen these with my own
eyes" and she pointed to the papers, Il
could not have believed that son Of mine
could have been so base villain"
at is not SOL" cried Assunta. sit is a
Iiel some one has deceived me. You, his
..-A- hot hn
tell me it is not true. believe the eyi-
deuce of your own heart, Evan never
deceived me! there has been some treach-
cry here. O God. how shall l prove my
husbands truth?"
Her words came forth with painting
breath, and she pressed her hands on
S.er heart to control the violence OF its
beating.
AS Lady Grisel watched her, burning
Y1ush of shame came over her face
shame for her son: she held out her hand
again, and hot tears rose to her eyes.
s.What can do for you?" she said.
<.Would to Heaven l had died ere | had
seen this day."
= Assunta seized her hand tightly in
both her own, which were burning, and
she looked into Lady GriSefs face with a
wild, implorng look
q s.You are kind to me now" she cried.
..Nhy have you changed TO me? why do
YOU look at me like that?" and she flung
away the hand she held, and raising her
arms, she cried
81 swear by the God above US! by my
dead husband. BY. all we hold sacred in
II Heaven or earth, that I am Evan Mac
4 nlonach's wife,"
1 1 One by one the servants had stolen
\ away; Angus had again sunk into his
II chair, and was looking on very white,
hiding his quivering lips with one hand.
II The Minister laid his hand on Assunta' S
shoulder. Come with me, he said.