Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1904-04-14
CHAPTER XII.


/ There was a short silence after they
had departed, for each of those who
remained was wondering what would
become of them.
! Then BERTHE went up to Joan, who
had sunk into chair and was sitting
with downcast eyes and knitted brows.
81 am afraid you scarcely realize
what all of this means to you, Miss
Ormsby," he said, gently.
Joan started at the sound of ner
real name.
81 don't" she said, with little
sigh and gesture of wonder. Tit
seems like, a dream l know that / am
Joan Ormsby, but did not know that
| was related to the Earl of Arrow
field. Is it true?"
at is quite true" said BERTHE, grave
ly. Thanks to Miss Mazurka, who
has worked out her plot like the first
class strategist she is, we are in poss-
ession of full particulars. Miss Ma
zurka has been working for weeks
past, in conjunction with a sharp
young. lawyer, and she has not only
succeeded in outwitting that-Mr
Mordaunt Royce, and getting possess
ion of the will, but she has proved
your identity as Lord Arrowfield's
granddaughter"
ut is strange-strange," said Joan,
thoughtfully sadly. l am the grand
daughter of an EARL"
YES" said BERTHE. look back.
Try and remember as far back as you
can. Your mother"
II don't remember my mother"
said Joan, the tears yelling up into
her eyes. "She died when I was a
baby. My father l remember slightly.
He died when | was a child and con-
signed me to the care of Colonel
Oliver. He-the colonel-did not know
who it was that my father had mar
ried. l never heard the name of Lord
Arrowhead in connection with that of
my parents"
But that is easily explained" said
BERTHE. Your mother was the daught-
er of the earl's wife, from whom he
had parted. from no fault of hers, poor
lady. l think that your mother was in
ignorance of her relationship to the Ar
rowfields. Perhaps your father did not
know it, but If he did he was too proud
to claim kin with the wicked old earl
who had cast off and deserted his wife
But the earl knew of your birth; he
must have kept himself informed of
your mothers marriage and your
fathers whereabouts, and it seems to
me that there must have been always
IN his mind an intention to do you
justice. At any rate, he did you
justice almost at the last moment"
why did he hide the will?" asked
Joan. gazing at the fateful piece of
peper.
Lord BERTHE shook his head.
who can say? He was an eccen-
trio man, and old men never show
their eccentricity more palpable than
/ where will is concerned. Perhaps
he mistrusted OLD Craddock and wish
ed to hide the will At any rate, he
put it with the one thing he held in
highest estimation, his wife's portrait"
And it was you who found it?"
murmured Joan.
YES" he said, with a smile; sit
was | who was, by accident. instru-
mental in restoring the Honorable
Miss Ormsby to her estates"
/ There was silence for a moment
II shall be very rich?" said JOAN
presently.
Immensely" lie said with a smile
Almost the richest commoner in Eng
land. Certainly the richest lady
always excepting one. | do not suppose
that Lord Villiars has spent much over
the income, and if he has, you can
compel him to restore it to you."
Joan's face reddened as she started
slightly.
Lord villisrs! All, yes, she muir
INJURED, almost inaudibly. Il had
almost forgotten. 1t is all his.
1T was" corrected BERTHE, signiffi-
cantly. 1T is still, until you make good
your claim. But do not think, am
sure. he won't dispute it,"
at is so plain?'
1T is so plain" he assented.
Joan was silent for moment
"And--and-if he gives up the prop
erty he will be-poor again. He was
poor before, was he not?"
Il believe So" said BERTHE. But you
must not consider that. This immense
wealth is yours by right, by every
right. You are the descendant of the
late earl. II is TO you he makes the
repartion which was due to his dead
wife. May / wish you joy?"
Joan put her hand in his with a
troubled look in her eyes, and she
sighed
81 don't know. JOY? Is there such
thing in the world?" Then she
glanced across at Miss Mazurka, who
was talking to Emily. Il must not
forget to thank her" she said. in
low voice. why has she done all
this, taken so much trouble, and gone
to so much risk for me?"
BERTHE could have replied, For love
OF Lord villiars, who loves you! but