The silver star., 1899-09-29

rac when I lapsed into utter uncon.
| sciousness. He made his resolution
| quickly, put me into cab. and drove
me to his own house. I had brain
fever. and. as he fully expected, when
recovered l had entirely forgotten
my meeting with him, and. indeed. ev-
erything that had taken place. In my
pocket, besides the letter to Cathie.
they found couple of biscuits.
wrapped in this
She held out another fragment OF
paper for Mr.. Martineau's inspection.
1t was apparently blank half sheet
torn of letter. and at the top was
written. in an ugly sprawling hand
| "P. S.-Leroy, of Lance Lane. E. c.,
has copy of the fathers will. You
can convince yourself II you like that
the offer is genuine"
| You see," said Marguerite, that
was evidently bit OF paper which
lust picked up from somewhere to wrap
my biscuits in. 1t may not refer to
my father at all. but DIR. Stelling
thought 1t worth while to try. 1t
| would be interesting to find my faith
er's will"
1T certainly would" said Mr.. Mar
tineau absently.
THE Stellings advertised" she con-
tinued, Saying that certain Marguer-
lite Lilbourne was to be found at their
house. but no one appeared to claim
her. The doctor next put in an adver-
tisement To Parish Clerks and 9th
ers. offering a small reward for the
certificate Of Marguerite Lilbourne's
marriage, on or about given date, to
person unknown at place unknown.
Still there was no result. One day.
when l was able to walk about, cling
ing tightly to Mary Stelling's arm,
we took walk, intending to go to the
new public gardens just opened near
where We lived. AS We passed a row
OF squalid looking houses a nun came
out and passed us swiftly. The sight
touched chord in my memory. Past
events came back: l was able to tell
them all have told you to-day. but
from the time of my falling out OF the
window to the time l awoke in the
Stellings' house all was blank.
could tell them nothing; indeed. 80
vague and indistinct was this idea OF
my marriage that should have been
satisfied that 1t was delusion had 1t
not been for one thing"
Yes. What was the one thing?"-
This"
She laid wedding ring on the table
before her.
Mr.. Martineau drew a long breath.
That seems tangible" he said.
"Dreadfully tangible!' she ex-
claimed. with a shudder. Can you
wonder that l feel l must know all?
Heaven knows that would sooner die
than return to my uncle-but l must
and will hear the rights of this dis
graceful fraud! 1t is a mystery, is 1t
not?"
1T is the strangest thing / ever
heard. and the most pitiful!"
THE Stellings are very badly or"
went on Marguerite. when they found
me / had only few coppers In my
pocket had evidently spent what
ever l possessed on my railway ticket.
l could not bear to live on their kind
ness. / did fancy needlework for a
time. managing to contribute my mite
toward the housekeeping till l was
quite strong. One day. in an inspired
moment. ! painted some little cards
for ball programmes. and sent them
to large West End shop. They caught
the public taste. Soon had as many
orders as could execute. and began
to work hard. / not only kept my
self-l put by little: and in our hap
py. busy life We almost forgot that l
wa married"
(To be continued)