Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-03-26

'Oh, don't you know yct?' she qucs-
toned, as she read his blank face,
cant you guess the truth?" She wrung
his hand and stepped backward to the
door of the drawing-room asifto draw
him away from all eyes save her own.
"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? ] am your mother!"
He found himself unable to articr.
late word. Something seemed tc
bear down on his brain; for moment
there was a blur before his sight. AS
If in dream he felt her leading him
across the drawing-room to n sofa.
81 am your mother" she said, as
she drew him down to seat beside
her, land I'thank God for allowing me
to find it out before my death. I have
loved you in strange. unaccountable
way ever since l met you. When I
heard you were in prison it almost
drove me wild. Evelyn wrote me
about your arrest, and then 1t was
week before I learned of your re-
lease. Ny name is Elizabeth: | gave
your father that silver tobacco-box;
and, moreover, I 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 clasplrg 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, maxi
ing plans for the future.
Evelyn and I are going to spend
next year abroad" She told him, land
YOU are going with us. 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.
But Coli IIasbroole-"
"He is simply wild to call you SON
in-law," Mrs. Lancaster broke in, with
laugh. Evelyn has been almost
dead with sorrow since he separated
you. | really believe he was coming
round anyway. Yesterday he said a
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! ] never
was so selfsh--so thoughtless. I'm
going to send her to you"
She rose and he nervously held her
hands, fixed look on his face.
"Are you sure" he faltered, that I
have the right too"
His mother drew herself up to her
full height You are 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 attenuatcd 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.
ut Is all so wonderful" she said,
simply. 81 am actually too chokcd up
to speak. I've been laughing, crying,
and doubling the truth of it by turns
ever since Mr.. Reddng went away"
ut seems like dream to me-" he
made answer. 81 am afraid l 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 hate
to pronounce it. l shall never call
You anything but Ronald. Will that
suit you, sir?"
They were seated side by side on
the sofa.
II shnll never want you to call me
anything else" he smiled "but must
own mp to a little curiosity as to what
| am legally entitled to-"
"Chdrles Erskine." answered EVELYN.
Mrs. Lancaster WAS Miss Ersknc
How do you like it?"
TITS not bad" he laughed; per
haps ! may grow up to it in time"
just then Hasbrooke looked in at
the door and limped towards them, an
almost .boyish look of embarrass ment
on his face.
II am going to beg your forgiveness
for what ] said the last time you were
here he said
II did not blame you, Col, Has
brooke" was the reply.
But ! blame YOU" Evelyn turned
on Ronald, suddenly. "1f had known
your stupid reasons for giving me up
should never have conscnted-never,
! thought it was because-becaus Won
thought me too great a responsible.
ity, and a burden"
well, settle it between you" smiled
her father, And when he had quilted
the room they did.
THE END.
POINTED PARAGRAPHS.