The Irish standard., 1901-09-28
ooh, wait!" cried the girl in an.

"Oh, wait!" cried the girl in an
guish. "The woman-where is she?"
cat the Spotswood aud ill.," He felt
the blood running from stab in his
shoulder down his arm, and, fearful of
the effect should the excited girl dis
cover that he was wounded, he hurried
away to his assistant. Frances waited
at the gate, her face in her hands, her
heart aching. With sudden and de-.
spairing resolution she went back to
her room.
"Quick, nanny, help me to dress;
l must go to the hotel!"
Lord "a mussy, chile, what de mat
ter?'
"Help me, mammy-quick! Don't
ask any questions"
Frances started away, wringing her
hands and sobbing, but in the crowded
streets, where men were cheering and
cannon firing over the announcement
that Virginia had seeded, and thou
sands of torch-lights blazed the way,
she grew firmer. The general excite
;nent was in her favor and no one at
tached Importance TO her visit. She
reached and entered the sick woman's
room, and, motioning away the hired
nudse, dropped upon her knees by the
bedside. Louise, ca,mer under the OPT
ates administered by the doctor, re-
garded her as she might have one de-
scended from the clouds. Some thing
like spasm of fear passed over her, for
in the lovely face beside her she seemed
-
peated.
"Who are you?" she asked, wildly.
"Your friend. Don't excite your
self"
"Your name? your name?"
"Frances Brookin! And, oh, I am so
sorry for you, SO very sorry!" Louise
seemed to have heard only the name,
which she repeated softly, wonder
ingly.
"Frances Brookin! And your father
who was hep"
| "John BROOKLYN"
"Ah. my God!" And the face upon
the pillow was turned away in shame
and confusion. After awhile she looked
back, strange light in her eyes.
'What do you want of me?" she
asked, suspicously.
II wanted to tell you," said Frances,
covering her face and sobbing anew,
chat l didn't know-of you! That if
had no power on earth could have
won my consent. Oh. l have been de-
.eived--cruelly, cruelty"
Louise, who was ignorant that Fran
ces was the girl in the room at the
time of the shooting, now saw her OPP
portunity. She raised herself eagerly.
You are my rival, then. You came
only in pity"
"Ies. And to ask your forgiveness.
You have nothing to fear from me"
y glad light filed the eyes of Louise.
She could with difficulty restrain her
self and control her voice.
81 believe you," she said. "You will
not take him from me-from his
child!"
ellis child" Frances was shocked
and dismayed. ellis child! Is there
child-of his?"
Eyes" said Louise, "but if you reveal
that l shall never be allowed to see her
again. You will not tell, will you?"
no" said the wretched girl. "Your
secret is safe with me. And, oh, be-
lieved in hm-l trusted him sol" She
wrung her hands and turned away her
face.
1T is fortunate you found him out in
time" said Louise; with me, it was
too late--too late! But please do not
stay here. How did you find me out?'
1.-The doctor. He told me about you
He has told me verything, and want
ed to see YOU"
Don't cry, my dear child. What
seems great sorrow to you now is
really blessing. You have made
miserable woman happy by your
coming. Go now! He may enter at
any moment, and it would be painful
Go, and don't tell anyone of this
visit. Will you pro1mise?"
II shall keep your secret" said
Frances. cit is safe with me. For.
give me-if 1 have made you I'm.
happy"
81 am sorry for you" said Louise
simply. Frances lifted her head
proudly.
"You need not be. 1 am shocked
and mortified; that is all. To-mor.
row l shall cease to remember him.
She was going when Louise called
her back
"Let me see your face again, my
child. All, how beautiful you are!
Good-by, trust you. Don't grieve
about him. He cannot ever be trust
cd. You were to be the victim of 8
plot, and your friends are deceivine
you. Why, the man is poor; ruined
unless he gets your fortune. He
came from Europe to marry you-ah
God, he deserted me, he betrayed his
child-for your money. Trust none
of them, for they are desperate. They
take advantage of your youth-they
would persuade you into hurried
marriage"
"Eut I could not, 1 could not be
bound legally by such travesty-
, such q frnud!"
"YoNr fortune would. and that i.
. what he wants--that, and not you
Secure in that, he would be willing
to let you go forever. Oh, but know
+, him. Give him the shadow of a title
, to your fortune and you are lost!"
, "l'ut to think that DIR. Brodna1
could have deceived me Sony moth
er's friend! I cannot, cannot be
| lieve it,"
, "My child. trust no one. Possibly
the doctor himself was deceived: il
has been long since he knew him