The Wilmington daily Republican., 1900-03-31

Hon, ItoD,' ana she put out an implor
ing hand, "promise me that you will keeE
silence for time | had motive il
coming. Don't ruin all and place ME IL
the light of an impostor."
Nell, l will make no promises, but
shall remain on the spot the rest of the
summer and act as seems to me right and
fitting to the OCCASION"
True to his word, he fingers on through.
out the season. Mrs. Winthrop accepts
the situation with inward joy and out.
ward calm. With rare diplomacy she
leaves the young couple to themselves
from day to day and trusts to time and
propinquity and the moving charm OF
summer to do the rest. Never before has
she been guilty of matrimonial schemng,
but her fears and forebodings have
wrought a revolution in that proud ma.
ture. Could the sweetness of the gentle
Lucie but steal her sons heart from its
past allegiance she would gladly overlook
all disparites of birth and fortune.
Robert can never reconcile himself to
the little comedy she is playing without
his consent and threatens at any moment
to force the situation.
And poor Nell's conscience has awak.
ened under the kind and almost motherly
treatment Of Mrs. Winthrop. She feels
all unworthy the confidence reposed in
her, and each day renders confession the
more difficult. till at last she becomes SO
frightened by the situation that she
would fain take refuge in ignominious
flight. Then again her careless nature
asserts itself, and she throws fear to the
winds, charms Robert to a happier mood,
and they sail away from the land like
children at play.
One evening she sits at the piano sing.
ing, while mother and son listen from the
little balcony and watch the great white
moon climb upward from the wutery
waste of the gray sea.
The girl has rarely sweet meZzo So
prano, with a certain sympathetic thrill
in it that goes straight to the heart. As
she wanders absently from one song to
another Mrs. Winthrop is much moved.
What a rare gift Of song" she mur.
INJURED. "Robert, my son, could this be
your choice it would make my heart glad.
You can search the world over and fail
to find loveier nature.' |
Mother" and he caught her hand in
an eager clasp, you really mean it-you
consentT
AT that moment Nell stepped out on
the balcony. Nell" he CRIED with a
joyous ring in his voice, mother has
given the consent dared not ask
"Ah, Robert, you have learned to love
her, then, thanks to the old lady's diplo-
macy"
"les. mother. have loved her long
and deeply"
But as she leaned forward to kiss the
speechess girl Nell recoiled from her en-.
brace. "No. no; not yet, dear madam.
First hear my confession and then con.
demn me if you WILL"
"Your coufession?" in bewildcrment.
In vain Robert laid q protesting hand
on her arm, implored her with his glance.
II will speak, | will, If forfeit all by
my confession. Dear madam, hear me.
l am not the modest, lowly companion
whom you have known and loved all
summer. | am an impostor. an innocent
one, it may be, but an impostor all the
same"
Hush, my child" in strange, star
led tone. ITO me you have been faith
rul friend. / care nothing for the secrets
If your past"
"I.isten to me, dear madam" she pant
I'd, feeling her courage fast ebbing away. {
II am Nella Ward, the actress your {
ION honored with his love-" {
"No, no! will not believe it,"
Still the pleading voice went on, while I
he lovers face flushed and paled, and Z
lrs. Winthrop hardened to sternness as |
he truth was borne in upon her. c
Il acted upon impulse when first I
ame to you. ! said l will know and win Q
he mother of the man love. She will s
lot come to me, but | will go to her, and
hen some day, when she has learned to o
owe me for my own sake, will make n
~ confession. IL can say no more" t
Ter voice broke, and she sank down by
er lovers side, hiding her face in her b
ands. =
Silence followed this broken speech,
nd when Mrs. Winthrop spoke again it
as in slow. measured tones that chilled E
he hearts of her hearers. fa
"You have laid siege to mothers
cart, betrayed her most sacred conf
ences, destroyed her faith in human ma "
Ire. You two have conspired against 0'
e," she famed forth. with growing FIRE
nd resentment, "while l have been the =
lling dupe Of your deep designs" =
mo. no, dear madam" pleadingly. 1T
as all my doing, and the punishment
,al be mine alone"
Never will believe in truth or inno-
nee again." she began, but the girl de- E
cted the waver in her voice, caught her I
md to her lips and kissed it. i
go away" weakly. "Ah, child, how
have. loved you, what hopes have r, r,
lcrshed this summer!'' And then, Nv
Gliding to impulse, she put her arms 70
,Out the kneeling figure and burst into ~ ~
ars. Of
II do believe In you. child" she sobbed, 70
md | forgive the deception that has r. r.
ught me much needed lesson" Va
And the lovers clasped hands In the 70
rkness, with hearts too full for speech. a. a.
Boston Budget. 70,