Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1897-12-17

% w SuS SOOu.Uy " HIS llltlS uuuSulCT,
and the friends who had been friends in
When she arrived the two gentlemen were
in the parlor, and she was shown in to
them. Every detail Of that interview
was impressed on Margaret's mind. The
table was strewn with papers, and Lord
Charlcwood, taking some in his hand,
said:
"You should have n safe place for those,
doctor. Strange events happen in life.
They might possibly be required some day
as evidence of Identification"
Not much fear of that" returned the
doctor, with q smile. "Still, us you say,
it is best to be cautious"
"Here is the first-you may as well keep
it with the rest" said Lord CharleWeod;
ut is q copy Of my marriage certificate
my little daughters birth and of my poor
wife's death. Now we will add to these
a signed agreement between you and N.Y.
self for the sum l have spoken about"
Rapidly enough Lord Charlewood filed
up another paper, which was signed BY
the doctor and himself; then Stephen Let
som gathered them all together. Margaret
Dornham saw him take from the side
board a plain oaken box bound In brass,
and lock the papers in it.
They parted, the two who had been
so strangely brought together-parted
with a sense Of liking and trust common
among Englishmen who feel more than
they express.
On arriving ut his destination, to his
great joy, and somewhat to his surprise,
Lord Charlewood found that his father
was better; he had been afraid Of finding
him dead. The old mans joy on seeing
his son again was almost pitiful in its
eXcess-he held his hands in his. In the
first excitement of such happiness Lord
Charlewood did not dare to tell his father
the mournful story of his marriage and
of his young wifc's untimely death. Then
the doctors told him that the old earl
might live for some few years longer, but
that he would require the greatest care;
he certainly had heart disease, and any
sudden excitement, my great anxiety,
any cause Of trouble might kill him ut
once. Knowing this, Lord Charlewood
did not dare to tell his secret; it would
have been ~plunging his father into danger
usclcssly; besides which the telling of it
was useless now-his beautiful wife was
dead, and the child too young to be rec
ognized or made of consequence.
For two years and a half the Earl of
Mountdean fingered; the fair Italian
cline, the warmth, the sunshine, the flow
ers, all seemed to join in giving him new
life. During this time his son had every
six months sent regular remittnnces to
England, and had received in return most
encouraging letters about little Madaline.
She was growing strong and beautiful; she
was healthy, fair and happy. She could
say his name; she could sing little baby
songs. Once the doctor cut a long golden
brown curl from her little head and sent
it to him; but when he received it the earl
lay dying, and the son could not show his
father his little child's hair. He died as
he had lived, loving and trusting his son,
clasping his hand to the last, and MUIR
muring sweet and tender words to him.
Lord Charlewood's heart smote him as he
listened, he had not mcritcd such implicit
firth and trust.
Father" he said, "listen for one mo-
ment! Can you hear me? I did marry
Madaline-I loved her so dearly, I could
not help It'll married her; and she died
one year afterward. But she left me a
little daughter. Can you hear me, faith
err"
No CLEAN of light came into the dying
eyes, no consciousness into the quiet face;
the earl did not hear. When, at last, his
son had made up his mind to reveal his
secret, it was too late for his father to
hear-and he died without knowing it,
He died, and was brought back to Eng
land, and buried with great pomp and
magnifcence; and then his son reigned
in his stead, and became Earl of Mount
dean. The first thing that he did after
his fathers funeral was to go down to
Castledene; he had made all arrangements
for bringing his daughter and heiress
home. He was longing most impatiently
to see her; but when he reached the little
town q shock Of surprise awaited him that
almost cost him his life.