The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1894-03-16

Wiling to explain her strange conduct.
"Then you have given up Isabel?"
} "By no means. I'm satisfied sh
will explain all when it suits her
Meanwhile will spare her and mysel
the agony of such meeting as the last
But if she is what I'm half inclined t.
} think she is l will surrender my claim
when the evidence is all in, as lawyers
say, and the case is proved.
"You Wilt She is the best girl yor
ever knew, Laurence; IN surprised thai
you have changed so soon. Why, yor
actually intimate there is something il
the past so terrible as to make her I'M
worthy in your eyes,.
You misunderstood me-"
II wish l did, Laurence. You have
always been so generous and manly"
Listen to Inc, Mother st. Gertrude. "
"Say no more" she answered.
"Speak not of the past. if evil Turk
there. Let the dead lie buried, if the
resurrection be not glorious. Bring not
the spectral reminiscence of wrong to
haunt the paths of virtue. Laurence, if
you were not SO dear to Isabel, discard
ing her as you do, would ask you to
leave. It is as feared and told Isabel
the truth was not all told her.. E"
Truth not told her? Who says ]
did not always speak truly?'
mot you. meant another"
"Mother, 10 not be sarcastic with Inc.
Another! What other but you has ever
spoken to her of her parents? You
mean me, but let me tell you now. be-
fore you launch into words that sound
strangely to me from you, that when
said l would surrender my claim to her
! meant to convey sense of my un-
worthiness. .
mo confession" she replied. 1T
may lead to another from me or Isabel
that would not be to your good just
now. A friend is watching over you. :"
1.-THE Friend that watches over us all.
Yes, but what is this confession? You
are talking in riddles to me. But let
me say few words and then judge me.
l would not press my suit with Isabel
because it may come to pass that she
isl
WHAT" interrupted Mother st. Ger
trude, whose eagerness to hear the state
ment delayed its own qualification.
"What is she, Laurence, speak the
truth?"
IAN hejress to millions"
"An heiress?"
San heiress.'
"Do you know what you are saying,
Laurence!"
Every well, but it is not sure.
may leave for a time, but if the news
is not good it may be long before you
hear from me- r
"Tell me all"
She walked to corner of the room
and sat down. AS Mangan drew his
chair close, he said:
Nov, mother, you've been inter
rupting me ever since | came here and
using queer phrases. You must promise
to listen, now, for my story is lorg
one and to you will require many ex-
plantations.
II must promise, I suppose"
well, not exactly, but make up
your mind to listen.''
He went over the story again. To
make it Ineligible to her, he had to
give her a summary here and there of |
certain laws, mentioning not their Or
gin or their originator. He concluded
BY asking her for the letter she held
rom George Leland. She went back
INTO the convent and returned in few
minutes with it, and handed it to him.
It was a letter of four lines, referring to
IN inclosure of check, and the signature
caught his eye.
1T is the same, mother, the same!
sabel's father is the owner of these
ands. This signature is identical with
hat on the deed! Isabel, as | said, is
leiress to millions! She has gained
much wealth, and IL surrender her
ove!'
do you know what relation YOU are
O herr" asked the sister, feeling that
low had come the time to unfold the Sc
ret.
Nothing, now"
"Yes, want to tell You she loves
on, and you will have an equal share
With her in those millions when''-
Let me prove they are hers first.
Ter claim will be contested, and must
ay We have not yet the evidence that
'ould be accepted in a court of law"
This interruption, intended to shut
# what he considered to be prelude
, protestations of Isabel's gratitude.
nded what Mother st. Gertrude would
oil ho~ nno fossi,,