The Red Cloud chief., 1901-02-22

Z * LOVE rs BEST ~ 8
"A BY Florence HodShn1on -


Mrs. Dynevor; but even then
II have no proof said Harold, ANY
more than Mrs. Ransom: but l believe
we both think the same, and to me 1t
Is a strong conviction. | believe that
when he saw his own child's state
was hopeless, Lindon conceived a des-
perate scheme. He would send away
the only person likely to betray him,
he would bride the nurse into silence.
his wife was so i'll n few months would
end ner life, and she would never
know his deception. As soon as Bird
get left we know he removed his fam
lily to another part OF France, With
in a month we heard OF Lillian's
death; but l believe the child buried
AS Uncle Franks daughter was really
Beryl Lindon,"
You mean he changed the chill
dren?"
Harold nodded.
But IL would be impossible! How
coulu he pass OF a child OF seven for
a baby of three"
we don't know that he did. He
placed the little girl in the care OF q
country doctor some time after her
mothers death; but there is no tell
ing what age he gave her. Mother,
don't you see this explains so much?
Aunt Nina never guessed his hateful
plot. She died believing 1t was her
own child, Lillian Dynevor, who would
grow up heiress of the Manor. She
could have had very little to leave.
,hat littlA che naturally hannpafhph tn
her husband. The phrase all my real
and personal property was no doubt
his choice. II Lillian had been alive
he would have inherited only a little
ready money. In spite OF that high
sounding phrase: with Lillian dead,
he took everything"
ut would be the blacklist sin ever
heard Of" breathed Mrs. Dynevor.
Bridget Ransom nodded her head.
But he did il, ma'am. Why you've
only to ask his ~housekeeper, or the
young lady herself, to hear he had no
love or affection for the poor girl he
called his daughter. He treated her
with open indifference, II not neglect.
Now the little child | left in France
he simply w~orshipped!"
Mother" said Harold. here come
the girls. You won't let Beryl think
she Is less welcome because you know
her secret?"
Beryl and Kitty looked from one to
the other of the little group. bewil-
dered. II was Mrs. pynevor who
5 spoke, and to Beryl.
| MY dear" she said gently. Mrs.
T Ransom has come here chiefly to see
4 you. She has heard a great deal OF
you from a Mrs. Markham, and SO j
5 have learned your real name and the
link between us
and can you forgive me for being
my fathers daughter"
Your father, unless we all mistake,
was my brother-in-law, Frank Dyne-
vor. My dear, Mrs. Ransom lived with
your mother for years. She is ready
to swear that you are not and cannot
he, Beryl Lindon; We think you are
I my niece, Lillian
She is her mothers Image said
Mrs. Ransom; land. though 1t is not
S a compliment to say so. she looks
older than eighteen. Twenty-Five at
Christmas would be Miss Lillian's
a age"
= The girl who had so long thought
herself Beryl LindOn burst into tears,
Then II was not a dream that ]
had played in the deserted nursery
at the Manor, that | had had a frOck
3 like the one In the picture, and Pet
y was my own name after all"
Mrs. Ransom accepted the hospital
/ ity OF Uplands for the night. and a
telegram to Marion brought Mr.. Proc
; tor to the farm before the FAMILY had
v finished breakfast.
81 should play a game of bluff" he
cOunselled, and tell Mr.. Lindon you
e have discovered his fraud. Most prob
ably he'll give in and confess every
z thing: otherwise, you'll have to &c
first 10 POnts-neufs, and see the doc
d tor who attended the real Beryl Lin.
don; then on to st. Jacent. where she
is reported to have died, and get a
r description OF the child buried in heI
g name. II the two gentlemen are still
practicing In the same townships the
task would be easy enough: II they
d have moved on, and have to be traced
d 1t might take a long time; therefore
as | say. | advise a game Of bluff"
e Mrs. Tanners supposed letter had
i come by that mornings post; but that
d also brought another from the gentle
widow herself. saying she was per-
d suaded to prolong her stay another
week. Mrs. Dynevor would, she knew
be pleased to keep Miss Lindon, sc
n she hoped the change of plan would
d he agreeable to every one.
Depend upon IT," said Harold, "the
second letter anne from Mrs. Wilmot
and was written at Mr.. Llndon's re-
quest. He must have caught a glimpse
v OF o yesterday at the Manor, and
n this Is a russ to get You into his
hands"
n Must | go?" she asked anxiously.