The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-10-10

morning the girls eyes nuttered open.
Ms. Morton sobbcd aloud. She saw
the girl turn TO touch the child at her
sidc-her own little one. Her weak hands
put back the shawl; Anne Morton could
hear that awful cry ringing in her ears
oven now as the girl found nothing. Then
she had sought her poor invalid mother
TO speak The mother, with great effort,
had tried to tell her. but with q gasp had
fallen back dead.
Ammo Morton shiverod as she thought
of the young eri sitting, I'm and weak,
day after day. almost crazed by the
loss OF husband. child and mother. She
remembered the rich aunt from New
York. who came one OF those sad days
and took tho girl from the little home
in tho Rue Verte.
Wayne had decided to start for Vir-
ginia the next night at midnight, and
he called to say goodbye 10 Mrs. Nor
ton early in the evening. lie found her
IN the .drawing-rOom. you have spoiled
me, Mrs, Morton. for this room. by show
ing me one so much prettier. Won't you
take me in there again2' She hcsitated,
and ne continued: Besides. I am tired,
and there is not restful chair here"
Sho led the way There was a little
constraint Of memory upon them both
as they sat there, she in her low chair
before the fire.
what have 7 done, Mrs. Norton"
he asked. "I feel as L used 10 when father
called me 'Rivlngton Arnold Wayne
Ii was harder than she had thought 70
tell this youth I'm whom she was so much
interested that he must not he with her
so constantly in the future but She did il
in plain sentences that he could not mis-
understand
ooh. 7 wish YOU hadn't said that" he
said simply. Then he explained: you
see I am leaving for Virginia Tonight
so this was not necessary. / came 20
say goodbye, and 1 think Il IS nearly
time for me 10 go back TO tho hotel"
lie pulled out his watch. lie saw her
glance for a moment at the two rings
which hung there in place Of q seal.
"rhey were my mothers" he said.
holding them in his PALM glad to change
the subject
They are so small. She must have
worn them when she was quite young.
Mrs. Wayne was a large woman when
I knew her"
"Oh. they are not Mrs. Wayne's." There
was q look OF surprise on Mrs. Morton's
face
mo" ne said. IN answer 20 n. II was
not her child They found me IN an o.
phan asylum IN Paris when I was two
years old and adopted me ! have tried
90 find my own mother many times since
Mother Waynes death. They say that a
tail. fair woman dressed In mourning,
brought me 20 the asylum. she stipulat-
ed that ! was 20 keep as n second name
Arnold. with these rings which were my
mothers SOmeway ] never thought that
my mother gave me up willingly. think
/ must have been stolen from her. have
never told this 20 any one before"
"Do you know anything more about
vonr mother" she demanded
Eyes: detectives found a tiny board
inc house IN the Rue Nerte where she
had lived. but ended there" lie was
already repentlng his confidence. so he
eoid rapidlv: "The woman had died ana
nav mother had been taken away one day
nv n beautifully dressed wonan-and that
IS ali. ! think must say goodbye. Mrs.
Morton
"Afay T see the rirgs?" she interrupt |
ed. lie banded them 20 her. She was very
pale and her eyes glowed with excitement
as she held them. In the gold band she |
read. John to Anne and In the little
old-fashloned diamond ring was -. TO |
A."
MY Godg, she sssisimed. with white