The Atlanta constitution., 1900-04-02

me Harry they called me Young Mrs.
Monette.' 1t is to them / owe my for
tune
Il am almost done. | cannot expect
my daughter ever to feel a childs aifec-
ton for me. You must use your own dis
erection about infiictinS the shock this
letter must contain for her. But want
to make it clear that there is no stain oil
illegitimacy upon her name. Her father
was foreman of the store in winch
worked as shop girl for a year. My own
father was an impecunious preacher of
the gospel
II am not ignorant of the gossip that
has connected Diana's name with Mr.
Fielding's With his doubts as TO her an
tecedents removed The may be anxious
to consummate his patient su1t.
''She will not go to him dowerless. L
desire to deed to them the house l have
just fitted up as my wedding present to
my daughter, who will, of course, event.
uahy have all that / have.
Il cannot conceive of her ever having
an offer that will bring her better
chance for happiness. God bless her and
him. As for you, dear lady-dear friend,
if | may-this poor pen cannot convey
to you the gratitude and reverence l feel
for my little girls god-mother
She had to bend her head very low over
the flames to read the last line of TINS
long letter. She slipped it back In its en-
velope with a sigh. There were unshed
tears shining i'm her eyes.
Surely, surely some message of Kind
ness would come to her by this mail! In
their fun happiness they would not Tor
get her utterlyi She had done nothing to
put her outside the pale of their forgive
ness forever. They had so much. snr 80
Mttle They had each other, she nothing.
wave of bitterness swept over her
and the tears she had held back so long
came gustily She dried them quickly at
the sound of a mans football on the
brick walk outside, and got up with ner-
vous haste to light a lamp. Surely JIM
mie Nj would not come back to her
this time empty-handed!
With the g.are of the freshly lighted
Ianso sh.nlng full on hvr t-sr-stained
face o3scuring objects beyond. she called
out eagerly as the door opened:
AT last! | thought you never would
come"
Then YOU knew | would Gomez"
II was not Jimmie McNa.5s vo:ce-'t
was not Jimmie NIcNaib's face. smiling
at her from under the broad-b-immed
soft hat. framed in her sittinS-room
door. She stood as still as II turned TO
stone. All the vitality left in her seemed
to center I'm the glowing eyes she fasten-
ed on that smiling face.
Mr. Fielding! You here-pn-"
THE flesh? Yes. And really. dear Mrs
Monette. it rolls several years out of the
way to see you standing there just as if
yau were about 20 light the lamp for
Mlliy to play us tune on the old piano
cutie Ike old times"
He took refuge in commonplaCes while
he was getting out of his top coat and
gloves Then he came toward her with
both hands outstretched eagerly. She plac-
ed hers i'm them passively. They fiuttered
in his grasp like imprisoned birds.
~ want To hear you say YOU are glad to
see me-" he said with deep feeling In his
voice.
Harriet swayed slightly as if she would
have fallen. How strong and handsome
and-cruel he was. How should she an
swer him
He spoke again And If YOU cannot
say It. don't think | shall even sit down
in the dear old grandfather's chair"
"I-of COURSE am glad to see you. =
Fielding laughed joyously. "Then | may
sit down. | am desperately tired. ! walk
ed across the ridge four miles. The stage
is toilng round by the more tedious Ten
bridge route"
WITH g.
"Dina ana Milly and
Dina! Then you-know?"
81 l:now."
"And Dina is a-wife?'
no. But quite ready and willing to be
come one.
lie had seated himself before the hearth.
She had resumed the chair she left to
light the lamp. The glow of the fire fell
full upon his face. Hers was left in the
shadow Looking at him furtively il came
to her that he was acting and talking IN
der the influence of some strong emotion.
Should she show him her unhealed
wounds?
She obtained superb mastery of her
nerves i'm the brief second he bestowed
upon a burning log that had fallen apart.
81 thought" she said quietly. that
IlH6a