The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1897-11-12
sured your cousin how sincere 1 know

share my happiness" but something,
upnoticed' by the man, warned her 70
say no more-to draw back cklied, she
could scarce tell why, and send the mo-
nentary impulse of affection back to It's
fountainhead. A shadow OF underlined
dread crept over her; not even her low
cr's kiss, with his promise to return
early in the morning that the important
interview might be accomplished, could
dlssipate a shadow which to, K visible
form, as on the following { J she was
summoned from the breakfast room to
her uncie's study, and met her cousin
Just leaving it with an expression OF
triumphant assurance she was unable
to conceal.
With unusual urbanity, after careful
ly closing the door, Mr.. Fielding mo-
toned her to a seat.
81 hear" he began, clearing his-throat,
chat Mr.. Armstrong has asked you to
become his wife. This both ali2azes and
pains me. Amazed because you certain
" must have conducted your coGftship
with unbecoming secrecy, and panied
because it forces me into disclosures
which will make this marriage an i'm
possibility"
The shadow had fallen now. She felt
if suffocating her, but she awaited the
rest in silence.
Had your hand been sought by one
whose name was of less lustre, and
whose birth, station, and immense
wealth forced him TO less necessarily
maintain it, might have kept silent.
Now l cannot consistently do so, there
fore l must tell you your father is not
dead, as you have supposed, but still
lives, a fugitive from justice!''
Lives! My father! Thank God!"
From her white lips broke the exclama-
lion of gratitude, unheeding the barrier
which had forbidden ali these years his
acknowledging himself 10 his child.
81 will not here speak of the character
! of his offense, save that the clemency Of
one man saved him from Disgrace he
continued, restlessly pacing the floor, as
| though even his hard nature shrank
from his self-appointed task. His eyes
1 were glancing over at the white, suffer-
ing face of the girl he was stabbing
with each word. cit only remains fer
me to apprise Mr.. Armstrong Of these
facts to induce him at once to renounce
your hand of his own accord, or in
mercy to your pride inform him you
have repented a too hasty decision and
wish to be free. Which course will you
choose?"
''Sir, your blood is in my veins. The
| question is therefore scarcely neces-
sary. L shall never see Loring Arm
strong again. Word it as you will, only
if it be true that my father lives,
would share his exile, aye if needs be
his disgrace. Write him it is my wish,
and gain quickly his consent
mo letter could reach him. AS soon
as possible [ will let him know of your
DESIRE"
Slowly Bell rose and left the room,
wondering if years had not elapsed
since last she had entered it, A dull
wonder took possession Of her in the
weeks that followed as to why her lover
so calmly had accepted her sudden re-
| lection of his suit. She did not know a
faint hope had tempered the first force
of the blow, the hope that he would
break down any barrier, leap any OBJ
stacle which might prevent his claim
ing her for his own. But since the few
brief hours they had spent together,
when he had won her promise, he had
vanished. Not even Mays wiles could
draw him to her side SINCE he had dis
appeared from their midst. So. sit
ting alone and weary, she was startled
one evening, as the first snow lay upon
the ground, by the entrance Of q stran-
ger. Gray hairs mingled with the
brown. but as he stood silent one mo-
ment before her thrill of expectation
gave her premonition of the future
and when he opened his arms with the
talismaDic words 'sMy daughter" she
sprang to their embrace. But as he re-
leased her, another stood waiting, as
Loring Armstrong said:
Have I won my reward, Bell?"
CHANGING for one moment into the
noble features of the parent she had lost
so long, and failing to read one sign
wrong, she could no longer hesitate, as
with rapturous bliss she felt herself
once more EMBODIED in her lovers arms
Nor did he let her go when her uncle
was summoned to their presence, sc
changed, so white, so fear-stricken tina
she could but feel a thrill of pity at he1
heart, pity which made her plead his
| no1 hor ho L
the truth that to save him her OWL
father had assumed his crime. the
forgery of note. True to a promise
made to his mother on her death-bed tc
protect younger brother, he had gone
forth a wanderer, leaving home and
child-even his wealth--.for the guilty
one.
Loring Armstrong, insisting upon the
issue, had been reluctantly told, and he
1T was who determined to win the Dir
he loved at any cost, had sought and
found the father, who had sacrificed sc
much, and from whose lips, sealed sc
long, he wrung at last the truth.
you have daughter" confessed the
wretched man, when all had been told
restored to your arms Remember. ]
did this for mine, and forgive me-
So it was the heiress after all Lorine
Armstrong had won for his bride. anf
when on the eve of Bells wedding day
May Fielding's body was discovered
, beautiful and white and cold in death
and her uncle left his home wretche6
wanderer, unwilling to accept the free
forgiveness offered him, her husband
wiped away her tears, and in his and
her new-found fathers love she learned
81 the lesson that tsXThile sorro,,- 10 sc e.,