The morning call., 1894-01-28
Ill
Denembar %.

Is this the same world?? What has hap
pened TO change all things so? Am |
dreaming now, or have | been dreaming?
| will write down what has befallen III e,
since there may be other eyes than Lau-
renre's that will care TO read it.
As sat in the library last night, with
the loose sheets of paper scattered abont
me, the door opened very suddenly and
Laurence came in. He was quite white,
and had in his eyes a new look, a look
which /, at least. had never seen there.
Father" he said, II have something To
say to you"
1t was solace TO me to hear his dear
voice, even with that new note of stern
ness In 1t.
Ipushed chair forward and smiled up
at him, hut he remained standing, his face
grave and white.
Father, do yOu remember my telling
you that my sweetheart hesitated to take
my love because she was not well born ?''
Yes, my son; but, my SON"
DO you know what that meant"
He stepped to the door. disappeared for a
moment behind the oak, and came In
again. leading by hand slight figure.
the figure | had seen in the South avenue.
"Maryp' [ cried; my loveI'
NO." said Laurence, coldly. "Marg aret.
your daughter"
The reaction from that moment of i'm
possible Joy was physical sickness and
faintness so intense that | laid my head
On my arms, and my arms on nv writing
table, and, as in a dream, l heard Lau-
:ence'S voice.
Yes. The daughter of the woman you
betrayed and ruined by false marriage.
Margaret didn't know anything about it,
but when her aunt came to Lynbrough
with her, and found out from the gossips
there what you and l were-I mean, your
name, and what l was to yOu-they made
up their minds that Margaret mustn't
marry me, and they've been hanging
about for two nights in the South avenue
trying to see me about IL,
81 wrote, you know" said a soft voice,
oh. so like my lost Mary's but OF course
you didn't have the letter TIL to-day be-
cause you weren't here"
But you don't suppose l shall let you
go?"
could not hear. rose to my feet trem-
bling. | pointed to the sheets Of paper
that lay scattered about.
"Read these" 1 said, Tread these, and
for Gods sake tell me what 1t all means
| cannot tell. l had 10 daughter-I never
BETRAYED any woman. What does it
mean ?"
Laurence began to pick up the papers.
But Margaret-God bless her !-looked in
my eyes and then took my hands.
81 believe you," she said. Father. L
believe you know nothing. 1t has been
some horrible mistake. Let me read this
and try TO understand"
They read the papers, and Margaret held
my hand. ] sat looking at her. noting n ow
bv the soft candle-light the little shades of
difference that made her not merely pic
ture of her mother, but new and beauti-
full treasure to my heart. IL that were true
which could not be true-if she were
no hoe
figure, but her eyes are not gray like my
dear's, but brown like mine; aud her hair
has not that Suft ripple that my sweet
hearts had.
As she read on, her clasp of my hand
frightened, and when the last page was
turned she suddenly threw her arms round
my neck and broke into passion of tears.
AZ am your child. | am YOUR Margaret,
too Let NE tell you. My uncle John
came home and he thought you had not
married nv mother. She would not say,
and he wrote to your uncle, who said, in
return, that 1t was mere piece of bovish
folly. Ont Eve seen the cruel letter, Offer
ing money, and saying you did Mt intend
to acknowledge any tie Can You. won
der that my mother swore never TO see you
again? But believe Uncle John was lot
content with this. He always feared my
mother would some day forgive You and
90 back TO what he thought was disgrace
So De lOlu ilbi yOu NOiO uOous
Course hm!'
"Hush he is dead long since. And your
guardian, too! 1t was he who did this. he
and my uncle"
"Bu: all my letters?" stammered.
81 fear your uncle knew more than
Oh, father, don't think of that! There is
no more to say. They are dead. and 1 sup.
pose your uncle thought He could not
have known"
MAY God forgive them both," said,
"for never can!'
She stood looking at me musingly.
"How you must have suffered" she
said. Your hair is quite white, and il
used to be such a pretty brown"
who told you SOP"
She did not answer, but smoothed my
hand in hers. Something was still to say,
it seemed.
my uncle john" she said slowly, twas
so determined that his sister should never
he wrote TO your guardian to say that she
was dead"
My heart was beating wildly.
go on" / said hearsely; "go on! J"
"There Is some one waiting for me now
BY tho mausoleum."
Your auntw said Lawrence. II will
fetch her,"
NO" said Margaret; "not my aunt. /
have no aunt II is my mother!'
We we're silent a moment / could hear
my heart beat heavily. The sickness OF
death came over me. prayed not to die
now. On, God. not now, with joy 40 near
''Shall fetch her 2" asked Laurence, in
low voice. grasping my hand.
no" said, mo; will bring home my
Wife"
And l went out, and there, in the old
trysting-place. found my dear.-E. Mes
bit in The Sketch.
Germany has twenty-one universities,