The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-04-04
@Yes, indeed, 7 do! II you nave news

| " I 6S, lnQeoQ, uO. IL you uGNo HcWs
| that I yearn to hear it will be better
than all the medicines have swallowed
| in lifetime. Doctor, tell me at once,
has the mystery been solved? Is my in
| nocence established?"
"Perfectly esta tablishcd. Your brother
was not murdered, only terribly abused.
| He has been found, and died natural
death in my own house"
Clasping his hands together, while
large tears rolled over his palld cheeks,
the innocent brother raised his eyes to
heaven and murmured, reverently:
@For this, Thy great mercy, thank
Thee, o God!"
A long pause ensued, Elfenstein pur-
poseIy refraining from saying more until
his first agitation had passed away.
Then, as discreetly as possible, paus-
ing every once in awhile, to note the
effect on his feeble form and to watch
his varying pulse, he slowly told him the
whole story, leaving the reading of the
affecting journal until another day.
"Oh, my brother, my poor, dear
brother! how terrible must have been
his feelings all those years of solitude
and despair. Doctor, thus you see my
the ocean compared with his"
@Most true;. and now, dear sir. you
must also be aware that, since both
brothers are dead, you have become pos
SCISSOR Of title and estate. Allow me to
be the first to Congratulate Sir Fitzroy
Glende1ling.n
The old man received the kind pres
sure Of his hand and tender words, with
deep emotion, then suddenly exclaimed:
"And to you, oh, thank God, it is to
you, and you only, owe this speedy dis
covery and this great joy"
Bowling his head upon his clasped
hands he remained thus silent and
thoughtful for several minutes.
At length he broke the spell with
these strange words:
"Since God in his great goodness has
thus established my innocence, l am no
longer afraid to own and claim my son,
and he need never be ashamed to call me
father!"
@Have you fndesd q son, my dear friend?
This, then, will be to him also JOY. !
did not understand that you had been
married"
"I had oeen secretly married, and my
wife, Clara Mowbrey, who was the or
phan daughter OF the late Presbyterian
minister in -, q small village about
fifteen miles from shire, came with
me to America unknown to any one, for
she had no near relatives. She en-
barked, I say, with me, bringing our
little boy, aged two years. A fever
broke out on the ship during our long
passage, and my darling wife died just
two days before we arrived in port. 1t
was after she had been laid away to
rest in Greenwood that my sickness
came upon me, caused by great grief and
trouble, and Mr.. Elfenstein came to my
relief.
at was to him I solemnlY gave my
only child, my little Earle. I then as
sumed the name of Rappelye, not even
his wife knowing of the change"
"Sir, what can you mean? Did hear
aright?" exclaimed Elfenstein, starting
forward, pale with surprise, as this sin
gular assertion fell upon his ears.
"You did! My dear son, you did! You
are my own child and heir, Earle Elfen-
stein Glendenning, and to you will fall
at my death my title and my estates.
Come to my arms, my dear boy, for it Is
twenty-five years since have held you
thee"
Clasped then in close, fond embrace,
father and son shed tears together
tears Of thankfulness and joy.
Thus, wnlIe Earle Glendenning still
mourned for the only mother he had
ever known, his mother by adoption, the
wound, SO suddenly inflicted, was par
TALLY healed by the gift of a fond father,
over whose feeble health and declining
days he now had. q perfect and tender
right to watch and guard.
AS soon as calmness was restored, the
young man again resumed his seat, and,
still holding his fathers hand, told him
the story of his meeting his sister (whose
countenance had reminded him strongly
of some person, and now he saw that it
was himself) and her niece on his out
ward trip; of that sisters death, and his
love for Ethel, and related her trying
history; then told Of their engagement,
and the daughter he should give him as
soon as they returned to their English
home.
The old man heard the story Of his
love and waiting bride with happy
smile, and decided to allow Earle to ar
range his business matters as soon as
possible, in order to start for the home
of his boyhood on a certain steamer,
which was, they found by consulting the
al l.. IL,