Hutchinson gazette., 1901-02-28

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more than Mrs, Ransom but | 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, Llndon conceived a des-
perate scheme. He would send away
the only person likely to betray him,
he would brlbe the nurse into silence,
his wife was so Ill a few months would
end ner life, and she would never
know his deception. AS soon as Brid-
get left we know he removed his fam
lily to another part of France, With
In month we heard Of Lillian's
death; but believe the child buried
as Uncle Franks daughter was really
Beryl Lindon,"
"You mean he changed the chill
dren?"
Harold nodded
But 1t would be impossible! How
could he pass off a child of seven for
a baby OF three?"
I'VE don't know that he did. He
placed the little girl In the care Of
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 80 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,
that little she naturally bequeathed to
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 n little
ready money, in spite of that high
sounding phrase; with Lillian dead,
he took everything"
1T would be the blacklist sin | ever
heard Of" breathed Mrs. Dynevor
Bridget Ransom nodded her head.
"But he did 1t, 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 worshlpped!"
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 1t was Mrs. Dynevor who
spoke, and to Beryl,
my dear she said gently, Mrs.
Ransom has come here chiefly to see
you. She has heard a great deal Of
you from a Mrs, Markham, and so l
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
be, Beryl Lndon; we think you are
my niece, Lillian"
"She Is her mothers image said
Mrs. Ransom; "and, though 1t Is not
a compliment to say so, she looks
older than eighteen. Twenty-Five at
Christmas would be Miss Lillian's
age"
The girl who had so long thought
herself Beryl Lindon burst into tears.
"Then it was not q dream that |
had played in the deserted nursery
at the Manor, that ! had had frock
like the one in the picture, and Pet
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
finished breakfast,
81 should play n game Of bluff" he
counselled, "and tell Mr. Lindon you
have discovered his fraud. Most prob
ably he'll give in and confess every
thing; otherwise, you'll have to go
first to Ponts-neuts, and see the doc
tor who attended the real Beryl Lin
don. then on to st. Jacent, where she
is reported to have died, and get
description Of the child buried in her
name. II the two gentlemen are still
practicing in the same townships the
task would be easy enough If they
have moved on, and have to be traced,
1t might take a long time; therefore,
as | say, | advise game of bluff.
Mrs. Tanners supposed letter had
come by that mornings post; but that
also brought another from the gentle
widow herself, saying she was per-
suaded to prolong her stay another
week. Mrs Dynevor would she knew,
be pleased to keep Miss Lindon, so
she hoped the change of plan would
be agreeable to every one.
Depend upon It," said Harold, "the
second letter came from Mrs. Wilmot,
and was written at Mr.. Lindon's re-
quest He must have caught glimpse
of you yesterday at the Manor, and
this is a ruse to get you into his
hands,
Must | go?" she asked anxiously.
mo" said Mr.. Proctor; but Har-