The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1900-07-06

him to approach. Leaving rhe lame
man to get up the steps as best he could,
Ronald assembled to the woman, who
stood both hands outstretched, her dis
tended eyes boring into his own.
"Oh, don't you know yet?" she ques-
toned, as she read his blank face,
cant you guess the truth?" She wrung
his hand and stepped backward to the
door of the drawing-room as if to draw
him away from all eyes save her own.
''Mr. Redding told me-" he began,
shat you might be able to give me
some information"
Don't you see," she broke in, with
warm tenderness. Don't you feel the
truth? L am your motherl"
He found himself unable to articu-
late a word. Something seemed to
bear down on his brain; for moment
there was a blur before his sight As
if in a dream he felt her leading him
across the drawing-room to a sofa.
Il am your mother" she said, as
she drew him down to a seat beside
her, "and 1 thank God for allowing me
to find it out before my death. have
loved you in a strange, unaccountable
way ever since L met you. When
heard you were in prison it almost
drove me wild. Evelyn wrote me
about your arrest, and then it was
a week before l learned of your re-
lease. Ny name is Elizabeth; l gave
your father that silver tobacco-boX;
and, moreover, lost you exactly where
you were taken during the war. l
am so happy! l am actually afraid my
JOY will kill me-"
She began to cry silently, and in his
desire 10 comfort her he found him
self claspirg her hand and strOking
back the white hair from her brow.
''And l am glad you are my mother"
he said. simply. You nave been my
ideal woman ever since that day you
came to see me-"
They sat together for an hour, max
ing plans for the future.
Evelyn and l are going to spend
next year abroad she told him, land
you are going with US. Col. Hasbrooke
says he is too old for the journey and
we shall need man."
His face clouded for the first time
during the interview
"But Col. Hasbrooke-'
He is simply wild to call you SON.
in-law," Mrs. Lancaster broke in, with
a laugh. Evelyn has been almost
dead with sorrow since he separated
you. l really believe he was coming
round anyway. Yesterday he said a
great deal about your nobility of char
acter and talent. He always listens to
me, and l told him there was nothing
to be done but to let you have her.
But that reminds me; she is waiting
to see you. Poor, dear child! l never
was so selfsh-so thOughtless. I'm
going to send her to you
She rose and he nervously held her
hands, a fixed look on his face.
Are you sure" he faltered, chat l
have the right TOP"
His mother drew herself up to her
fun height you are a Lancaster, y
she said, proudly.
When she had passed through the
heavy curtains obscuring a room in
the rear, he sat for several minutes
fairly dazed by what had taken place.
His reverie was disturbed by the COM
ing of Evelyn. a flush was on her
slightly attenuated face, and her eyes
were red and sparkled as if she had
been crying. but she came to him with
a firm, confident step, and put both
her hands in his.
1T IS all so wonderful" she said.
simply 81 am actually too choked UP
to speak. I've been laughing. crying.
and doubling the truth of it by turns
ever since Mr.. Redding went away"
1T seems like a dream to me-" he
made answer. 81 am afraid | shall
wake and find myself back in my little
room over there on the farm"
Mrs. Lancaster told me just now"
said Evelyn, that she had forgotten
to tell you your given name. She
asked me to inform you. but l hate
to pronounce it. | shall never call
you anything but Ronald. VIII that
suit you, STRIP
They were seated side by side on
the sofa
Il shall never want you to call me
anything else" he smiled; "but 1 must
own up to little curiosity as to what
l am legally entitled to-
Charles Erslline," answered EVELYN.
Mrs. Lancaster was a Miss Erskine.
How do you like it?"
It's not bad" he laughed; "per-
haps l may grow up to it in time
Just then Hasbrooke looked in at
the door and limped towards them. an
almost boyish look of embarrassment
on his face.
Il am going to beg your forgiveness
for what | said the last time YOU were
here" he said.
Il did not blame you, Col Has
brooke y was the reply.
But 1 blame you" EVELYN turned
on Ronald, suddenly. IF l had known
your stupid reasons for giving me up
| should never have consented-neveri
| thought it was because-becaus Won
thought me too great a responsible