Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1896-05-20

him his proposition was cowardly one.

him his proposition was a cOwardly one,
worthy only of his fathers son."
His fathers son! Do you hate Frank
because he bears his fathers nameY
For moment the old lady hesitated; !;
her pale cheek flushed; her features were
strangely contracted; with an effort she
controlled herself, and quietly took the
girls hand.
Constance, my child" she said, you
have often asked me to show you the room
where your poor mother died. will show
it you tonight"
She took up a small oil lamp and walk
ed from room to room, followed by Con-
stance. They passed along the corridors.
pausing at length before a door which
had not been opened for years. Mrs.
Meason unlocked the door and stood IN
the middle of the floor, looking wearily
about her.
Come in,'' she said; 'cOme in, my
child, and look at the room. Constance
look at that bed: for weeks and weeks
your mother lay there, neglected and
alone, dying of broken heart. When she
was dead took you in my arms, and,
kneeling beside that bed and looking into
her sweet face, all white and cold, swors
that you should avenge her!
"Avenge her! How could do that
You say my poor mother died of broken
heart? know it; Frank has told me; II
was my father who killed her."
"Your father? He told you that? Then
I spoke wisely when l said he was his
fathers son. AS your mother was de-
ceived, he would deceive you. Your
mother, as he said, was cruelty murdered
but it was not your father who killed
herr
Not my father?"
"Your father had brother who hated
him because he was the elder son, and in
herited the title which would otherwise
have descended to himself and his heirs
Your father married, and from that mo-
ment the family, headed by this man, de-
termined to hunt your mother down."
''Oh! this is terrible"
Il hated them all, but most of all
hated one man, he who had prosecuted
my child through life, and drove her te
her grave. That man, Constance, now
bears your fathers title-he is the Ear
of Harrington-Frank Howarth's father!'
Franks father! he killed my motherv
"He broke your mothers heart"
"Oh, grandma, it can't be true; there
must be some fatal misconceptiOn"
mere Is nO iathSA huhl
ed your mother into her grave. Will
her dying lips she. the gentlest creature
ON earth, cursed his very name"
But where was my father that he suf
fered thisf"
'Your father, Constance, was an oil,
man. an invalid. entirely under the influ
ence of his brother, who is now a misera
bic man with a barren cOronet, which il
stained with your mothers blood"
II cannot believe it. Frank know
| nothing of this, and his father, who, yo,
say, behaved so UNANIMOUSLY, is quite will
| ing that 1 should become Franks wife.
"Shall 1 tell you why? 1t is becaus
| ne knows Frank is penniless, and that yo,
will inherit my wealth. The man VIII,
| killed the mother now pursues the daugh
ter: hut while l have strength to preven
it, my money shall not go to enrich tn,
Son of n man who killed my belovet
child!'
Half an hour later Mrs. Meason wen
! In search of Lady Constance's maid. Hav
ing reused her, she led her to the deserted
room in the west wing. where they fount
Constance lying in fainting it upol
the floor.
CTo be continued)