Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1899-08-03

never KNOW lllc ttuull. IL IlllS liheilcss
could deceive the husband, so now it
may serve the good purpose of deceiv-
ing her. We will tell her that Flor
ence. hearing Of her sisters return,
came here to find her. Florence is ly-
ing up stairs, very, very i'll. Dorothy
must lear the truth; but first, Her
bert must know. If Lady Montfort
comes down, tell her that Florence
Vane is lying ill beneath her roof. If
| know her Alright she will not wish to
see her, but will pardon her presence
here for Dorothy's sake. 1t is Il des-
perate resort, but l can see no other
way
The lawyer grasped his hand.
IF it succeeds, it is admirable he
said. But where is Herbert? He
must be prepared"
ASK Lady Montfort to come with
me. 1 thirk we can find him in the
grounds; and on the way l will ex-
plain all to her. 1t is nearly the din
rer hour. 1 leave you to receive Her
barts mother
Who so we'll could tell the sad story
as one whose love had already found
palliation for it's wrong?
Dorothy knew all when they two had
reached that little clump of trees be-
side the lake. and though her eyes
We're wet with tears and her voice
broken. she, too, felt only a great love
and a great pity in her heart.
On and on they walked. Arkwright
knew a favorite haunt of Bertie's,
where he had often sought to be alone
in any boyish trouble. Instinctively
he felt that he would seek it now.
1t was spot in the very heart of the
branches and let the wife pass in alone.
Yes; Arkwright had been right In
the fast-gathering twilight he saw a
mans form stretched on the ground.
his face buried in his outstretched
arms.
She went swiftly forward and laid
her hand upon his shoulder.
'Bertie!" she whispered.
"AIerciful God!" he cried. "Have
YOU again came to tempt, to mock
ne!"
And he sprang upright to his feet.
With Il yearning cry, she threw her,
self upon his heart.
'Rertie! Bertie!" she sobbed. ''God,
indeed. has given us to each other!'
The man tossed back the hair from
his brow, as if thus he could clear his
bewilderel brain; but already Dorothy
was sobbing out her story. and, as he
listened, his arms closed about her
tighter and tighter. and he knew that,
in very truth. the grave had given up
its dead.
The fever truly had spared her The
mistake which Florence had described
in changing the room had. in reality,
occurred. The wedding ring had been
taken from her finger and the certiti-
cate from her breast
These had come into Florence's pos
session at the hospital and had helped
her carry out the fraud.
But for one year Dorothy's brain had
been clouded by the fever mists. Kind
delirium. she fanced another name
hers, and no clue could be found to her
identity.
At last her mind had cleared. For
some time all inquiry was fruitless;
but. at last. she, too. had CHANGED upon
the advertisement which had also fall
en- into Florence'S hands.
This WAS the summary Of her story;
but Herbert scarcely heard or listened.
He could only feel that his arms ell
folded her, and that the second bitter
ness. which had been worse than that
of death, had forever passed.
The dinner hour had gone by when
they re-entered the castle. and Lady
NIontfort awaited them in the dining
hall
The lawyer and Arkwright were
with her; the latter only in the body.
His thought. his spirit, his heart. was
in that upper room where Florence lay,
moaning and unconscious.
My Children said Lady Montfort,
with a smile. extending her hand for
her sons wife to approach.
Dorothy went forward: but, as the
hands of the two women met, the
smile faded on the elder woman's lips,
and curious look of wonder crept in
to her eyes. She rose up in her digni-
ty. from her chair
.'Who is this?'' she said. This is
not Dorothy-not my sons wife-not
the girl whose likeness l thought to-
day. heaven had sent me in daugh-
ter!'
An awful silence fell upon the little
group Herbert lad been deceived
not so his mother. The older eyes had
gagged more keenly than they
dreamed.
So then. in broken fragments, they
unveiled to her the truth. 1t did not
kill her. as they had feared. She list
ened calmly, silently.
When all was told she took Dorothy
in her arms and kissed her brow.
my daughter" she said, 81 welcome
you to Montfort CASTLE"
Then excusing herself, with stately
courtesy, she swept from the room.
Only Arkwright OWNED where she had
gone.
Up the stairs she FASTENED to that
chamber where Florence Vane perhaps
lay dying. In the lovely azure eyes
was no recognition as that aged face
bent over her. nor did she feel the kiss
upon her lips. the tears which fell from
those old eyes upon her brow: neither
did she hear the broken words which
gave her their forgiveness.
MY poor. poor child!' murmured
that stern, proud woman. "Can | ever
love my sons wife as have learned to
love you. who had usurped her place,
not only in our home. but in our
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