Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1897-11-18
"What Is that, my denry'
"Why my Grandma Greviiie Is your

"WelI, yes. she is, slightly
"How do you mean dearT'
"Why. IL Mrs. Greville rs Colonel
Grcville's ~step-lnother, isn't she your
step-mother-in-lawT
.Ettie.' exclaimed Astrea, in a low
and hurried voice. do you mean 10
tell me that this lady is tie Mrs.
Courtney Greville of New York,
who
"Well. she amt anybody else! And
here she comes now, herself, 10 see
what we are at" exclaimed Elite, as
Mrs. Greville was observed to arise
and approach them.
The conversation between Astrea
and Elite had gone en- with great rap
idity. Answer had followed question.
and exclamation had followed conf
ment with GREATNESS yehemence. But
1t must not be supposed that 1T had
been u~nobserved. Mrs. Greville n
Lois had witnessed the meeting ana
the recognition at first with Stonis
ment and s~tupefaction. then they had
watched the excited interview with
tie deepest interest. Some parts OF
the conversation were perfectly audi
BILE; other portions, in which the par
ties lowered their voices, were NOT so.
Enough. however. had reached Mrs.
Greville's ears to convince her n a IN
this lovely young stranger Elite had
recognized the lost bride of Fuljoy's
Island. Twice or thrice. from the I'M
pulses Of b~enevolence, she had risen TO
approach the speakers. And as often,
from scruples of delicacy. she had hes
itated to intrude upon the interview.
She had hoped that Elite herself
would see the propriefy of presenting
her friend: but when she saw that
her rustic grandctild had no such in
tention. and when she heard her own
relationship to the young stranger al
luded TO, thus opening n way for her
graceful approach, she Immediately
came forward and, holding out her
hand. said. in a voice tremulous with
emotion, that even she. practiced wo-
mar of the world, could not entirely
suppress:
Yes, / am that Mrs. Greville. step
mother TO your husband. from he,
when a boy. in a fit of boyish pilue.
raj away. Through the most remark
able combination of circumstances, we
have been separated ana estranged
ever since. But you, my dear, l hope,
may be the means of uniting US. That
is, If he has not taught you TO hate
and distrust me-"
Astrea was trembling violently; but
she answered, though in a faltering
voice:
MY husband never mentioned your
name to me. But, from other sources,
/ know that the estrangement was not
of his making. AS soon as he had
uynn cnr,n hnnnvC OF tho nnltnO0 RI
which our uncle sent him, he wrote,
most respectfully. to inform you of his
success. Lady, the only answer he
received to his letter was a cold line,
disclaiming all knowledge of the writ
er. You cannot wonder that he never
wrote again"
Il do not. But, oh, my dear, it all
grew out of the strangest freak or
fortune that was ever played by Il
fish-bOy. At the very moment of writ
ing that letter. I was firmly persuaded
that my %step-son was under my own
roof. and that some imposter had
written to me- The story is too long
to tell you now. But this much | may
say: that a boy. the perfect image,
counterpart, fac-simile of my son, was
picked mp in the streets of New York
and brought TO me. He was a trang-
er in the city. There was no time 10
prove his proper identity; while there
were hundreds ready to swear that he
was Fulke Greville. my step-son. In n
word. ever after he bore that name
and held that position"
An imposter..' broke Indignantly
from the lips of Astrea.
mo. my dear, no imposter: but a
n~chle-souled lad. who vainly protested
against the privileges. honors and
riches that We're lavished upon him,
declaring that he had no lawful right
to them, until all his resistance was
overborne by evidence and authority,
ard he vas compelled to submit, at
least during his minority. But after
he became of age. and found himself
a free agent. he seized the first oppor-
tunity OF resigning a position to which
he asserted he had no claim. DO you
think 1t required no moral heroism 10
do that? ] tell you, it needed more
than you know of! But | declare to
you. that he has lost nothing, and
shall lose nothing by that act. He Is
the son of my affections, the betrothed
of my daughter; his name is Weiby
Dunbarr'
"'Welby Dunbarr" exclaimed As
trea, again struck by the familiar
sound of a name that it seemed to her
size ought to know. Then suddenly
memory lighted up the whole subject
as 1t lay in the past, and she smiling
ly said:
II no longer wonder, lady, at this
mistake Of yours. As a child. | came
owe in the same emigrant ship with
Welty Dunbar. l lost him in the
wilderness of New York. l was taken
down to Maryland, and was eventual
ly adopted by Captain Fuljoy. Heaven
bless him! And it was while | was
still at the island that Fulke came to
spend his holidays there; and, as soon
as l saw him, so perfect was the
likeness You speak of. that / declared
him to be Welby Dunbar, the fish-boy,
and none else. And ii was years,
Madam. before l was disabused of
this Illusion"
Il an well pleased to hear you say
SO: for your husband will the more
RET d.ly understand my own self-deccp-
ton. But, all this time. my dear. |
my negligence, and take this seat"
said the lady, conducting Astrea t. an
easy chair that was placed near the
sofa.
.