Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1900-07-12

Without introducing himself or his COM
panion at once, Dunmore answered in the
afhrmatiye, and the party were then ush-
cred into the little best room, which was
but dinay lighted. This was done with
out Mrs. Graeme appearing to notice the
little boy that Miss Muir was leading by
the hand, and the latter, after disposing
of herself in seat near an angle, con-
trived to thrust Robbie so much out of
sight between her and the wall as to have
his presence still further ignored by the
time an additional lamp was brought in
by Mrs. Graeme, which she proceeded to
do without delay
Then it was that Mary Graeme and
Agnes Muir looked at each other mar
rowly. The former fell to wondering who
her graceful, high bred and undeniably
beautiful visitor could be, while Miss
Muir, upon her part gaZed sympathetical-
| ly upon the careworn and sad-visaged
woman, of whose very existence she had
been unaware until but short time pre-
| viously.
Before / introduce myself or my COM
panion, madam" said Dunmore, Il will
briefly recount to you the object of our
calling here. A month or more ago, this
/
ed raft in mid-ocean. Among those to
whom death came was one who, with his
| failing breath, declared himself to me as
distant kinsman of yours. He babe
me seek you out, should l be spared to
reach my native land again. His name
was Alexander Mackenzie"
| Mrs. Graeme started to her feet, with
a wild, eager look in her pale face.
| eirf Is % tha
Craigengaelt, you meant" cried she.
| What, and died he so, poor man? l
heard a rumor that his sister Jean had
died. and then that he himself had wan
dered away to the Africas, taking along
with him" She paused, with a sort
of wall and sob, as though a great lump
| had risen in her throat, and then, as she
sank back in her seat, she covered her
face with her hands, and moaned out, in
| broken tones: "Oh, my BARN, my ain Rob
! bie'
MIR. Mackenzie said something of your
having intrusted your child to his care,
madam" continued Dunmore.
And did Sandy, in dying, tell you moth
| ing of the poor BARN, sir?" she asked,
/ wiping her eyes.
Indeed, he did," cried Dunmore, heart
! lily; land this lady, Miss Muir, who kind
ly accompanies me. will take it on herself
! to tell you the remainder of my message
| from the sea-"
Muir, did you say? Is it Agnes Muir,
| then?'' cried Mary Graeme, in a greatly
altered tone; and, again starting to her
| feet, she confronted Miss Muir with an
CRY and menacing looks.
| Miss Muir had also risen, and, as she
had done so, little Robbie had, in strict
| obedience to his instructions, slipped be-
/ hind her, where he remained, clutching
at the folds of her cloak, and altogether
out of sight
II am, indeed, Agnes Muir, Mrs
| Graeme," said Agnes, extending her
hand. "And, since l see by your manner
| that you are in some measure aware of
my unfortunate correspondence with Sir
Luke Dalziel, your lawful but unworthy
husband,sI trust you to listen to an ex-
PLANTATION from me"
II Mary bowed ,freezingly, and without in
lanywise unbending the stern look that
Yhad come into her face; but Miss Muir
went on hurriedly, and told her story. She
concluded with moist eyes and quivering
Hip, and again advancing a step, extended
/ what to do or say. Her breast heaved
with varied and contending emotions, in
which the thought of her own wronged
/ prosecuted and longsuffering self was
l naturally uppermost. She bowed her head
sullenly on hef breast, and held her hands
! stiffly down before her with the fingers
interlaced.
"You do not speak, am but a stranger
/ to you-your heart is too full of past
wrongs, perhaps, to find room for forgiv-
ing me-" said Agnes, with indescribable
gentleness and sympathy. See, them
Mary, my sister in misfortune, let this lit
tie lad plead between u.s." And she drew
the child from behind her, and fairly
thrust him. under the astoniShed woman's
eyes 1T is your BARN, your own Rob-
bic, that | have brought back to your
arms Take him.
Mary staggered back with great and
joyful cry, her lips parting, and the color
flying from her face.
.You don't mean it?" she screamed,
| brushing back the braids from her tenn
pies, and bending forward to gaze at the
startled lad.
1T is indeed true, madam" said Dun
more, with difficulty mastering his emo
! ton "The lad was left in my care by
Mackenzie as dying charge. Not only
| that but wealth, wealth in large amount,
is in my hands as your sons fortune"
But Mary only heard his first few
words, ord NOW she was on her knees,
! rocking herself to and fro with the child
locked in her arms, and with the great,
| devouring, unappeased heart-hunger of
years finding its expression in sobs and
| tears of thankfulness, in caresses. and
| kisses, aid pretty means of love.
! Dunmore and Miss Muir remained but
i a few minutes as witnesses of this touch
/ ing scene Then, at a signal from the
latter. they both rose, with the intention
of slipping away unobserved.
: But before they could succeed in reach
| ing the outer door Mrs. Graeme sprang
/ after them.
Not yet. not quite yet, till I've poured
i out my full heart to you hoth!" she cried,