Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1901-02-08

him to approach. Leaving the anne
man to get up the steps as best he could,
Ronald assembled to the woman. who
stood both hands outstretched, her dis
tended eyes boring into his own.
ooh, don't you know yet?" she ques-
toned, as she read his blank face,
1'can't you guess the truth2" She wrung
his hand and stepped backward to the
door of the drawing-room asif to draw
him away from all eyes save her own.
s.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? I am your mother!"
He found himself unable to articu-
late a 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 a sofa.
81 am your mother" she said, as
she drew him down to a seat beside
her, "and thank God for allowing me
to find it out before my death. have
loved you in a strange, unaccountable
way ever since I met you. When I
drove me wild. Evelyn wrote me
about your arrest, ;Ald then it was
a week before I learned of your re-
lease. My name is Elizabeth; gave
your father that silver tobacco-box;
and, moreover, lost you exactly where
you were taken during the war. I
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 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 I are going to spend
next year abroad" she told him, land
you are going with u.s.. Col. Hasbrooke
says he is too old for the journey and
we shall need a man."
His face clouded for the first time
during the interview.
ssBut Col. Hasbrooke-"
''He is simply wild to call you SON
in-law," Mrs. Lancaster broke in, with
a laugh. Evelyn has been almost
dead with sorrow since he separated
you. I really believe he was coming
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! I never
was SO selfish-so thoughtless. I'm
going to send her to you"
She rose and he nervously> held her
hands, fixed look on his face.
care you sure" he faltered, ''that I
have the right TOT"
His mother drew herself up to her
full height. "You are a Lancaster"
she said, proudly.
When she had passed through the
heavy curtains obscuring a room in
the rear, he sat for several minutes
fairly dazed by what had taken place.
His 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
a firm, confident step, and put both
her hands in his.
"It is all so wonderful" she said,
simply. 81 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"
cit seems like dream to me-" he
made answer. II am afraid I 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 1 hate
| to pronounce it. I shall never call
you anything but Ronald Will that
suit you. sir?"
They were seated side by side on
the sofa.
81 shall never want you to call me
| anything else," he smiled; s'but must
own up to little curiosity as to what
I am legally entitled to-
| "Cha1les Erskine," answered Evelyn
Mrs. Lancaster was a Miss Erskine
How do you like it?''
Its not bad" he laughed; 'per.
haps 1 may grow up to it in time
just then Hasbrooke looked in al
| the door and limped towards them, an
almost boyish look of embarrassment
| on his face
81 am going to beg your forgiveness
for. what said the last time you were
here" he said.
81 did not blame you, Col. Has
brooke was the reply.
| '<But I blame you," Evelyn turned
on Ronald. suddenly. eff had known
your stupid reasons for giving me W
L should never have consented-never!
1 thought it was because-because YOU