Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1900-07-27
CHAPTER XXI.

CHAPTER XXI.
Arriving at Carnleigh half an hour
later, for he had ridden hard, Ronald
found the colonel hobbling about near
the tennis court, a big stick in his hand.
Seeing the new arrival, he came to the
walk to meet him, his whole body work
ing with agitation.
Come right in" he said, giving Ron
aid his hand. "She's dying with impa-
thence. She wanted to drive out to
meet you on the road, but / made her
wait Did you ever hear of the like?"
Ronald wanted to say that he was
still in the dark, but his host was loud
ly calling to groom and waving his
hand towards the horse. Just then our
hero saw Mrs. Lancaster standing in
the doorway and wildly motioning
him to approach. Leaving the lame
man to get up the steps as best he could,
Ronald ascenaed to the woman, who
stood both hands outstretched, her dis
tended eyes boring into his own.
"Oh, don't you know YETI" 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 asif ITO draw
him away from all eyes save her own.
Mr.. Redding told me-" he began,
that 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 mother!"
He found himself unable TO articu-
late word. Something seemed to
bear down on his brain; for moment
there was blur before his sight. AS
If in dream he felt her leading him
across the drawing-room to sofa.
II am your mother" she said, as
she drew him down to seat beside
her. land I thank God for allowing me
to find it out before my death. l have
loved you in strange, unaccountable
way ever since l met you. When 1
heard you were in prison it almost
drove me wild. Evelyn wrote me
about your arrest, and then it was
q week before I learned of your re-
lease. My name is Elizabeth; 1 gave
your father that silver tobacco-boN;
and, moreover, lost you exactly where
am SO happy! am actually afraid my
joy will kill me-"
She began to cry silently, and in his
desire to 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 have 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
q laugh. Evelyn has been almost
dead with sorrow since he separated
WI ANsiiiN bCiICNC lC WIS
round anyway. Yesterday he said a
great deal about your nobility of char
acter and talent. He always listens to
me, and 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 selfish-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, that l
have the right TOP"
His mother drew herself up to her
full height. You are Lancaster"
She said, proudly.
When she had passed through the
heavy curtains obscuring room in
the rear, he sat for several minutes
fairly dazed by what had taken place.
Ills 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
firm, confident step, and put both
her hands in his.
1T Is all so wonderful" she said,
simply. II 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 dream to me-" he
made answer. 81 am afraid l 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. 1 shall never cal!
You anything but Ronald. Will that
suit you. sir?"
They were seated side by side on
the sofa.
Il shall never want you to call me
anything else" he smiled; but must
own up to little curiosity as to what
etn legally entitled to-"